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LANGUAGE
Here is an introduction into the Yoruba language.
The Yoruba alphabet consists of 25 letters, as shown below:
In case you are wondering, the sound samples are my aunt LETTER SOUNDS LIKE (IN ENGLISH)
a English word 'ahh'
b English word 'bee'
d English word 'dee'
e English letter 'a'
English sound of 'e' in 'let'
f English word 'fee'
g English sound of 'g' in 'get'
gb Very 'hard sounding' 'b'.
h English word 'he'
i English letter 'e'
j English letter 'g'
k English word 'key'
l English word 'lee'
m English word 'me'
n 'nee'
o English letter 'o'
English sound 'au' as in word 'fault'
p Very hard-sounding 'p'.
r 're'
s English word 'see'
English word 'she'
t English word 'tea'
u English sound of 'oo' in word 'loose'
w English word 'we'
y English word 'ye'
Within the Yoruba language, there are also accents that define how a syllable is pronounced. In the written language, these consist of the following options, and are placed on top of the letters, usually on top of the vowels.
ACCENT SYMBOL VOCAL SOUND
Intonation: Fall of voice
(nothing) Normal
Intonation: Rise of voice
Circumflex: long syllable
As an example, take a simple three letter word like 'igba' (remember, gb is ONE letter). It can have the following meanings depending on the accents (these sounds are my aunt too):
WORD MEANING HEAR IT
Time, period
Two hundred
Calabash cut in half
Locust tree
System of pawning
Also, like in other languages, the exact same word can have different meanings.
WORD MEANING HEAR IT
Basket used to catch shrimps & lobsters
god of iron, god of war
An inheritance.
Medicine
Sweat
War
Twenty
Here are some common phrases in the language, written and spoken. ound right in either language, and I can't even say the 'p' or 'gb' in Yoruba correctly.
ENGLISH PHRASE NOTE AGE MATE OR YOUNGER SOMEONE OLDER
Good Morning spelled out
more common
Good Afternoon spelled out
more common
Good Evening spelled out
more common
Good Night
(Until Morning) spelled out SAME
more common SAME
GoodBye SAME
Long time no see
Please
Thank You
Yes SAME
No SAME
IBO ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
Here is what I've been able to obtain as an introduction into the Ibo language.
The Ibo alphabet consists of 36 letters, as shown below:
Missing pronunciations are unknown. LETTER SOUNDS LIKE (IN ENGLISH)
a English word 'ahh'
b English word 'bee'
ch English sound 'ch' to 'chalk'
d English word 'dee'
e English letter 'a'
f English word 'fee'
g English sound of 'g' in 'get'
gb Very 'hard sounding' 'b'.
gh
gw
h English word 'he'
i English sound 'e'
English sound 'i' in 'ink'
j English letter 'g'
k English word 'key'
kp
kw
l English word 'lee'
m English word 'me'
n 'nee'
nasal sounding 'n'
nw
ny
o English letter 'o'
English sound 'au' as in word 'fault'
p Very hard-sounding 'p'.
r 're'
s English word 'see'
sh English word 'she'
t English word 'tea'
u English sound of 'oo' in word 'loose'
v English letter 'v'
w English word 'we'
y English word 'ye'
z English letter 'z'
Here are some common phrases in the language,
ENGLISH PHRASE IBO PHRASE
Good morning Ezigbo ututu (Isala chi)
Good day Ezigbo ubosi (Ubosi oma)
Good afternoon Ezigbo efife (Imela efife)
Good evening Ezigbo mgbede
Good night Ezigbo anyasi (anyasi oma)
Welcome Nno
How are you? Kedu
I am fine (response to above) Odi Mma
Thank you Dalu
Goodbye Ka omesia OR Ka odi
Long time no see Ote kwana
Nice seeing you again Anya m ji fu gi egbulam
Please Biko
Yes eee OR eyi OR ehe
No Mba
HAUSA ALPHABET & LANGUAGE
The Hausa alphabet consists of 29 letters, as shown below:
Missing pronunciations are unknown. LETTER SOUNDS LIKE (IN ENGLISH)
' glottal stop
a short: 'a' in cat
long: 'a' in father
b 'b in bee
c 'ch' in child
d 'd' in dog
a short: 'e' in get
long: English letter 'a'
f 'f' in fat
g 'g' in girl
h 'h' in home
i short: 'i' in hit
long: English letter 'e'
j 'j' in joke
k 'k' in kid
l 'l' in love
m 'm' in mom
n 'n' in no
o short: 'o' in hot
long: English letter 'o'
r either 'flapped' or 'rolled' as in Scots English
s 's' in sun
sh 'sh' in shout
t 't' in time
ts
u short: 'u' in put
long: 'oo' in 'noon'
w 'w' in win
y 'y' in you
'y
z 'z' in zero
Here are some common phrases in the language,
ENGLISH PHRASE HAUSA PHRASE HAUSA RESPONSE
Hello Sannu Yauwa sannu or Sannu kadai
Good Morning Barka da safe Barka kadai
Good Day Barka da rana Barka kadai
Good afternoon Barka da yamma Barka kadai
Good evening Barka da yamma Barka kadai
Good night Mu kwana lafiya Mu kwana lafiya
Good night (until tomorrow) Sai gobe Allah ya kai mu
Goodbye Sai an jima Sai an jima or To, sai an jima
Please Don Allah
Thank you Na gode
Yes I
No A'a
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