Towards Akokoid orthographies

Abstract

Language contact between Akokoid and Yoruba has resulted in gradual shift from Akokoid. Thus, the speech forms subsumed under Akokoid now face a precarious problem of extinction in the near future. As a step towards the possibility of preserving these speech forms, previous scholars have prescribed the need to analyse and describe them as well as propose good orthographies for them. In response to this prescription, the present study proposes two orthographies for the Akokoid speech forms. Jules Gillieron and Edmond Edmont's pioneering theory of traditional dialectology, served as the theoretical framework. The University of Ibadan 400 wordlist was used to obtain data from 34 informants. Selection of informant was guided by the Acronym NORM(s) (Non-Mobile, Old, Rural, Males). In analyzing the data, Pike's discovery procedure in phonological analysis and Williamson's Orthographic Conventions were employed. Lexicostatistics conducted earlier revealed that Arigidi and Erushu are 88.5% cognate and are also mutually intelligible, so we classified them together as dialects of Arigidi. By contrast, the Owon varieties, comprising of Afa, Aje, Udo, Oge, Igashi and Uro are 81.0% cognate and they are mutually intelligible, therefore they are classified together as Owon. Two distinct but related languages within the nine speech forms were identified. These are Arigidi and OW9n, jointly referred to as Akokoid. As a result of their endangered status, there is need for harmonization and standardisation within each group. This paper responds to this need by providing two orthographies, one for Arigidi and the other for owon as a preliminary measure towards their preservation and use in education