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Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by scholti: 4:24am On Aug 20, 2015 |
nwanlecha: My pleasure. Thanks. |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by Phut(f): 4:31am On Aug 20, 2015 |
Scholti, I am saddened by the seeming, direction of this thread. You know I have been on this thread since day one, cheering you on. But I have to say this: No one knows it all. No one! As you are knowledgeable, so are there many other knowledgeable people on Nairaland and the fact is that if two, three or four people put their heads together, they will come up with a more superior product than one person working alone. You have established that an affix can have meaning all by itself. But the question is, does it matter if it's an affix or verb agglutination? How much time do you spend arguing that as opposed to getting on with the work at hand? Do you know that fresh eyes see what you may not see, even if you go over the text a hundred times? In the last page or so, I would say nobody out rightly rejected your ideas. Some suggestions were made as to why some of your affixes should be changed to familiar words which already exist in the language. But in each instance, you just argued that yours was better. Do you expect your suggestions to be adopted without a single change? Even those seeking to adapt a language must be themselves, adaptable. Now we have ChinenyeN saying that you are both in the same boat but rowing in different directions. His response was gracious but I have to tell you that it is a waste when a knowledgeable person decides to sit at the sidelines. It doesn't matter how many knowledgeable people you think you have. The fact is that you can never have too many. Don't think I am picking upon you. You are the thread starter. This is your love child, isn't it? So you have to work even harder to bring people together and see it come to fruition. |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by ezeagu(m): 4:33am On Aug 20, 2015 |
scholti: I know English has a history with those languages, but I was talking about more recent words formed after the Normans had long gone. Words like physics, television, and telephone were all deliberately taken from Greek. And it took less than 50 years for English to go into the background when the Normans came. Anyway. I agree that Igbo needs new words. |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by Phut(f): 4:50am On Aug 20, 2015 |
What I think you should have done is work with them to standardize the affixes we already have in Igbo. ChinenyeN mentioned an already existing affix for "able" as well as the letter "s". There is a methodology to using the already existing affixes. Find out that methodology that yields the expected result in every given instance and then make it part of the rules of Igbo grammar (kind of like BODMAS). Then where the grammar is insufficient, you add on your extra layer. Affix o! Verb agglutination o! It doesn't matter. People will not accept change for change sake. After you come up with these affixes, how are you going to disseminate the information? Is it through the classroom? What about the middle age or old people who will not see the four walls of a classroom, again? If the young people do learn, how will they communicate with the older generation or will there be a chasm between them? That is why it's important to not throw things out wholesale, unless absolutely, necessary. Are you going to disseminate the info via TV, radio etc. Well you will need an army be it script/screen writers, people that are good at animation, to create cartoons and write the shows that you need. So the earlier you get as many people on board the better. If Igbo were the lingua Franca of a country it would be much easier. All you would have to do is get in the presidents ear and once he or she directs that this is the way it's going to go, then it's basically a done deal (yeah! Yeah! Oversimplification I know, but you get my point). Unfortunately, our situation is different so all I am going to stress is cooperation and more cooperation |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by scholti: 5:08am On Aug 20, 2015 |
ChinenyeN: Thanks for your words and advices. The Igbo language is a dynamic language. I look forward to seeing an Ngwa dictionary in print and buying one. I believe that Izugbe must properly reconcile with the Igbo dialects as a vital part of it, in grammar and vocabulary. Plenty creates energy. |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by ChinenyeN(m): 6:16am On Aug 20, 2015 |
No, Phut. It's not like that at all. I understand just as much as anyone what it's like to take on a large project and have a vision in your head that you want to share. That's simply what Scholti has done. I'm currently experiencing that with my own linguistic project, and that's why I said that I'm in a similar boat as Scholti. Beyond that, I also believe in giving people room to develop and guide their work as they deem fit. The early stages of a project are critical in the mind of the visionary. They need to control those. No one else can do it for them, and if someone does, it quite literally can spoil the work in their eyes. nwanlecha:mm, i didighi hutu he o bu to. I've even been kind this entire discussion, writing in the Onwu orthography, standardized grammar and not using my own village lect. Anyway, yea. Igbo is complex, beautiful and capable of much, and I believe it can be moved forward as it is. That's not to say that I will discourage anyone else from trying anything different. If that different angle creates a good product, it'll likely get appropriated. Scholti, there actually is an Ngwa-English wordlist/dictionary. It's rudimentary, but a second edition is being produced currently as a much larger and comprehensive work. There are also some PhD books on Ngwa lect, done by Ngwa linguists, as well as other smaller academic articles on various aspects of morphology and syntax. With the way Igbo people currently treat Igbo, I doubt Izugbe will ever be reconciled with the lects. Instead, what might happen is that people will forget their lects and eventually only know Izugbe. But, because Izugbe is a weakened version of many lects, we will again see those same people who forget their lects and now speak Izugbe turn around to say that "Igbo is insufficient." 1 Like |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by Phut(f): 7:05am On Aug 20, 2015 |
ChinenyeN:Okay, Chinenye. I hear you |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by melzabull(f): 10:12am On Aug 20, 2015 |
waow! Phut I commend you guys for your efforts and vast knowledge of the Igbo language. At this point i have to confess that I am not as proficient or verse as you guys in the use of Igbo language. Nonetheless I appreciate your efforts at sustaining the rich Igbo language, culture and tradition. Kudos to you all. @Phut I have no idea dearie, perhaps ChinenyeN, Scholti, ezeagu metal can help with that....lol |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by scholti: 3:57pm On Aug 20, 2015 |
ChinenyeN: I found an Ngwa dictionary on amazon (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Okwu-Ngwa-Dictionary-Victor-Nwosu/dp/1482018675/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440082199&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=ngwa+dictionary+igbo). I believe that the reconciliation of the dialects and Izugbe, would come initially (with a good dictionary on the side, whether online or bookform) through robustly written platforms like newspapers, until their words and grammars are integrated and popularized in the Igbo language. |
Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by scholti: 4:02am On Sep 03, 2015 |
I wrote that I would be releasing a list of affixes. Here it is- 971 affixes (find the MsWord document below; I can't post it here because this site doesn't allow the delineation Word allows). The delay was caused by my not wanting to release a rushwork. I took time in translating passages from three international languages across different layers of usages, scientific, literary, political etc into Igbo to test the new affixes I am introducing. This work also doubles as a mini-dictionary because I coined many words (find a sample list below). Of these affixes only 20 - of which ten are science-related - are outright inventions (below). That means that over 900 affixes here are Igbo words as well as 98% of the coinages. In this work I have provided alternatives in Igbo to English affixes and to a minor extent, roots (although the two are somewhat intertwined). I believe that it is by unravelling the affixes of the English language that the Igbo language can create vocabularies in all sections of knowledge, the sciences, politics etc; and in the process engender a language that is truly laddered, subtle and responds effectively to all registers of language. I am happy to announce that I have accomplished it with these affixes, for there is no English affix of Greek or Latin origin,- where the vast majority of English words come from - that I have not touched directly or indirectly. I have touched a few of them indirectly because their extant meanings in English have strayed from their origins. In your hands now, is a complete programme that is capable of translating any genre of written work into Igbo, as well as creating original works. Why are the affixes necessary? The Igbo language is a vast and beautiful language, but it dwells in a vastly different age, where it must adapt. Its grammar, whether the Izugbe or dialects cannot accurately communicate the sciences, politics, philosophy etc as it is. It needs some remoulding to enable it function in this new environment. Yes the changes would bring some obvious 'unnaturalness' to its grammar but it is worth it. There is no international language on earth that hasn't reworked its grammar to arrive at the stage it is - Chinese, Japanese, English, French etc. These 971 affixes hold the key to truly positioning the Igbo language as a serious language of knowledge and usage. Here are are the 20 invented affixes. They are not capricious inventions; they answer to serious needs in their various areas. They were invented because the existing Igbo words for them are overburdened with other functions or they do not quite define them or do so in a circuitous/non-efficient way. For example the word 'igwe' is used to define several metal types, when it properly means 'iron.' Here are the ten scientific ones I invented (1) kazi= -tome, (2) azi=toxic (3) macha=friction (4) reje= virus (5) ozen- meter (6) zym=gid (7) taxi=tesi (9) metal=igomi (10) warm = ron. The ones for more general usage I invented are: (1) -vo (-s); (2) -vi ('er', 'or'); (3) -omi (-ism); (4) -am (-ing); (5) -ogi (-ic); (6) -disi (various); (7) opan- (for electronic/ technological devices) ( zini for -arium (a place or container): herbarium (ziniahihia); terrarium (ziniala) (9) sidi=ville 10) -oid= ini i.e Indoid would be Indini I will briefly touch on some of the ones I invented. The suffix '-vi' serves non-committal roles (or nationalities) for humans or non-humans i.e swimmer (mmirivi), pedestrian (okwu), contributor (nyerevi), transitor (nyefevi) narrator (akukovi) projector (nnupuvi), originator (ebesivi). '-vo' serves as plural to complement the existing native plurals in tight situations. The ancient Chinese proverb, 'One happiness shatters a thousand sorrows would translate as, 'Otu ọnọduaṅuri na-egbujisịkwa iriujuvo puku.' '-omi' stands for '-ism' : Leninism (Leninomi), Marxism (Maksiomi). '-siti' stands for '-ist' when refered to non humans i.e 'the Platonist belief' (nkwekwe Platositi) 'oz-' is a reversive affix - 'un', 'dis', de - and it is there to complement some of the native words (and affixes), I have commandeered like 'nsepu' and 'nseda' for reversals. For example the statement, 'it is unwarranted,' would be, 'Ọ dighi [b]ozọ[/b]ọchọwo.' The 'oz-' serves as a reversal. Now a person can say, 'Ọ dighi mma,'; but this is a simple/colloquial register that doesn't flow or capture the register, 'unwarranted' operates in. This strikes at the heart of what I am doing here as apart from creating new words and introducing new grammatical elements into the Igbo language, I want to further dimensionalize the language. The are certain Igbo words that I stretched their meanings to produce new words, for instance I have appropriated the word 'akwa' to mean essence i.e akwandu (vital); ditto for the word 'eze' which connotes royalty, I have extended it to mean 'grand' or as an affix for the Greek affix 'magni-' i.e magnanimous – ezenyeaka; grandiloquent = ezeọnunrubeokwu; magnificent - ezeìhè; magnate= ezeaku; Magna Carta- ezeiwu; magniloquent – ezengalaokwu; magnificence = ezeebube; Magnum = ezeibu. I have also extended the word 'nne' to refer to roles refering to females of whatever age i.e dikenne (heroine). This would particular come in handy in dealing with gender-heavy languages. I have translated a list of more than 400 scientific instruments with affixes I have generated here as well as translated the first few paragraphs of the Plato article on Wikipedia to demonstrate the interplay between the new and old grammars. https://ig.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato. I would post the 400+ instruments on a new page. consanguinity = mmekoritaobara Consarcination= nkpakoritauwe 1 extravert (ọnọputaezi), 2 introvert (ọnọkpuruime) 3.tangible (purummetuta), 4 contiguous (ndiketerita) 5 contagious (nfekọrita), 6 contingent (okpuruhere) 7 contigent = okpuruohere 8 preposition=tupuọkwa 9 premature =tupuọchaaracha 10 Petrochemicals= mmanugbanweta 11 Archaeoastronomy- nzaefeigwegbo 12 Glitterati - ìgwèchataza 13 audio-visual = udaanya 14 Basioccipital - ntọalaazuisi 15 Cryptobiosis - nzouzondu 16 electrocardiograph- edeseobi 17 Cerebrum – uburubua 18 Cerebrospinal - uburuahiriazu 19 cinematograph - nzankiri 20 helichrysum - rueleodoodo 21 Hispanophile - ọmasihispani 22 Hyperventilates - nkumeoke 23 hypothesis- okpuruntule 24 Hypocrite- ọkaọma 25 Ibero-French = iberifrenchi 26 Iconostasis= eguzooyiri 27 icosidodecahedron= akukuiriabua 28 Inexpensive= adighi ọnu 29 Infertile= adighimuba 30 Inarticulate – adiokpukpu 31 Invariable = apurumeiche 32 Inattention = apuruchedouche 33 Inexpensive= adighi ọnu 34 Infertile= adighimuba 35 Inarticulate – adiokpukpu/ọnu 36 Invariable = apurumeiche 37 Inattention = apuruchedouche 38 Insensitivity= apughinezili 39 Incapacity= apughiikike 40 Illegitimate= adighiiwu 41 Illiberal= adighifelele 42 Imbalance= adighinhara 43 Immoral= adighieziome 44 Impossible= apughiome 45 Irrational= adighiucheezi 46 Irregular= apughinọrouto 47 Incantation = ngayeabu 48 Incarcerate= gayenanpọrọ 49 Indoctrinate= ngayeokwuugha 50 Infect= gayeọya 51 inundate.= gayemmiri 52 insight= ngayeanya 53 intake = gayenaolu 54 Infrastructure = ndokoopkuuru 55 Infrared= uhieopkuru 56 Infrasound= udaokpuru 57 Infrarenal=okpuruakụrụ 58 Intercept = nwereetiti 59 Internecine ogbugbuetiti 60 Intercontinental= mmekongbakoala 61 Interfaith= mmekookwukwe 62 Interwar= etitiagha 63 Intercom= etitinkata 64 Interface= mmekoihu 65 Internet- mmekoọru/nkekọta/ngigauwa 66 Interoperate= nrukọru 67 Intermarry= nnukọta 68 Interglacial= etitiebubeoyi 69 International= etitiobodo/ mmekọobodo 70 Interdependent=nnọrọonwe 71 Intermingle=nnọdukọta 72 Interrelation= mmekota/ anurikọta 73 Intramuscular= ngaimeurughuru 74 Intrauterine = ngaimeakpanwa 75 Introspection= ngabaimeuche 76 Introjection= ndọnauche 77 trilithic = eguzookwuteitọ 78 Palaeolithic= ogeokwuteochie 79 Mesolithic= ogeokwuteochie 80 Neolithic= ogeokwuteokuru 81 Multidisciplinary= otutunzaommumu 82 Musculocutaneous= urughuruenuahu 83 Penecontemporaneous=nsoomeme 84 ọfuziakuimeala= phanerocrystalline 85 photochemical = ngbawetaọku 86 photon= ibuọku 87 photonics= nzaibuọku 88 photography=eseọkuove 89 photocall=ọkpọeseọku 90 photojournalism=eseọkuọchuntaozi 91 photomontage= njikọeseọkuọ 92 photoreconnaissance= eseọkuọọbianecha 93 Chlorophyll= agbaakwukwo 94 Xanthophyll = agbaodoodo 95 mesophyll =etiti Akwukwo 96 microphyll= nkponpkoakw ọ 97 sclerophyll =akwọsirike 98 pisciculture= omenalaazu 99 politico-economic= akunauba-ọchichi 100 politico-religious = okwukwe-ọchichi 101 politico-ethical = ọchichi- ezime 102 politico-military =ochichi-aghadi 103 politico-legal = ochichi-iwu 104 politico-judicial=ochichi-ikpe 105 Preternatural = ngabigaodinandu 106 preterhuman= ngabigammadu 107 preterition= nnenefe 108 Pro-arsenal = makaarsenal 109 Pro-arsenal = makaarsenal 110 Propel= yaihu 111 Prostrate=ntufularii 112 Proceed=yajebe 113 Prospect= nnenebata 114 Scapulohumeral = agụbaubuọkpuelu 115 semi-professional (ọkachamara- ọkara), 116 semi-conscious (ọmara-ọkara), 117 semi-retired (ọlaghachiri-ọkara) 118 semi-literate (ọguru-ọkara),119 semi-skilled (Nzara-ọkara), 120 semi-derelict (Mmehie-ọkara), 121 semiprecious (ọmasita-ọkara),122 semiconducting (nbuje-ọkara) 123 Sino-Japanese= chini-japanizi 124 Chromosome= agbaozoahu 125 Philosophy = Mmasinzaelulo 126 family-style (mese-ezinulọ) 127 therianthropic =zizaanunammadu 128 theriomorphic =zizaanu 129 Phanerozoic = ọdoanyarab 130 Palaeozoic= gbogborab 131 Mesozoic= etitirab 132 Chiroptera - nkuụsụ 133 Coleoptera = nkuebe 134Diptera=nkuabua 135 Ephemeroptera= nkufezeze 136 Hemiptera= nkuokara 137 Heteroptera= nkudiche 138 Neuroptera=nkuakwara 139 Orthoptera=nkuologolo 140 Isoptera= nkunhata 141 Lepidoptera=nkuakpịrịkpa 142 Palaeontology= mmutamakagbogbo 143 Palaeoanthropology=ọmumumakammadugbo 144 mid-air= okaraikuku 145 Basidiocarp = ntoalaahuosi 146 Protease = nduanusi 147 Dactylomegaly = nnukwumpirisiaka 148 Hendecasyllable= iriotunkejiokwu 149 Heptathlon = asompiasaa 150 Heptahedron=ihuasaa 151 Bacteroides= njepekaziza 152 Antheridium = zizannunu 153 Antheridium = zizannunu 154 Pyxidium= zizaigbe 155 Rootlet (mgbọrọgwụnta), starlet (kpakpando), 156 Oviduct= ụzọakwa 157 Oviparous=mmuputasiteakwa 158 Ovoviviparous=osiimeakwa 159 Ovipositor=zizaakwa 160 Urodynamics = nzaikemmamiri 161 Classics = nzaakoochie 162 pre-arranged (tupundozie), 163 pre-existing (tupundu), 164 pre-ignition 165 pre-planned (tupuatumatu) 166 Chiroptera - nkuụsụ 167 Coleoptera = nkuebe 168 Diptera=nkuabua 169 Ephemeroptera= nkufezeze 170 Hemiptera= nkuokara 171 Heteroptera= nkudiche 172 Neuroptera=nkuakwara 173 Orthoptera=nkuologolo 174 Isoptera= nkunhata 175 Lepidoptera=nkuakpịrịkpa Underclothes (uweokpuru), undercover (okpuchiokpuru), undergrowth (otookpuru), underpass (gafeokpuru), undernourished (okpuruorinni), underpopulated ( okpurummaduwo) ugbowiri (turbo-) turbine Carnivorous (orianu), incarnate (ọbiaranahu), reincarnation (ọbiagharianahu), carnal (ogboahu) Detach (nsepuahiri), (derange (nsepummezi), decrease (nsepummuba), deodorize (nsepuisiọjọ), deflate (nsepuikuku), degenerate (nsepummuba) Disallow (nsepukwere/ijuọnkwere)), dissuade (Nsepuọchọ), disconnect (nsepummekọ), disproportion (nsepunhara), disrespect (nsepunsọpuru), disarray (ndọwaunsoro) Medieval (afọetiti) , eternal (afọakwusina) transfuse (nyefekọta) Genetics (nzaọbara), eugenics (mgbanweọjọ), genealogy (ahiriọmumu), generate (imuta), genetic (udiisi), antigen (ngbochiimuta), pathogen (ọkpataọria) Gigabyte (ọdiijeri), gigaflop (nkpuruọsọijeri) paraprofessional (ọkachamaraakuku) paraphrase (ideaghariokwu) pathos (àgwànwute), sympathy (mmetutaebere), apathy (mmetuilu), telepathy (echichenefe) Urge (nuuobi) compel (kwanihu), dispel, expel (ikwaputa), propel (iyanihu), impulse (nyaobi) compulsory (nmeriye/odiniwu), expulsion, repulsive (nnuujeazu) Sequence (ahirinkpata), consequence (ọputanazu), sequel (ahiriome), subsequent (mmechaome), consecutive (nsorogaba) Signal (ọkuakara) insignia (akaraime), significant (ezeakara) Specimen (nkpurunkiri), spectator, speculate (nkiridinihu), inspect (nkiriime), respect (nkirianya), prospect (nkiriọma), retrospective (nkiriazu), introspective (nneneime), conspicuous (pụrụnkiri/nnene) Stringent (nkekọkpuchi), strict, restrict (iragidenaja), constrict (gbagodeala), restrain (sereike) boa constrictor (agwọ- gbagodeulọvi) paraprofessional (ọkachamaraakukul) paraphrase (ideaghariokwu Rejuvenate (okorobịagharia) Protection (nkpuchikọta) arcane = mmutazoro Hypoathroid= nkpokota beatification= ndonangozi rebellion = ikpoagha cachexia= mmefuahu intercalate= ifanyelarii decalescence (nsedaọku), eucalyptus= ntokpuchi calyx = ikooma incandescent = nzifeìhè campaign (ojeubi) Citation (nkpọrọta), cite (kpọmaka), solicit (ikpọenyenyemaka) indelible = adinhicha Eocene =ọwụwa anyanwụ fumigate = igba anwụrụ ọkụ adjutant - nzipuaka deliquesce = horommiri demeanour= ochionwe commiseration (nbekorita/nwutekorita/ nkwakorita) remonstrate (ngosiikpeike) from latin (monstrare mundane= ogbouwa panoptic= nkirinile adjacent= nlaruakuku decorum= mmaomume impaction= npiakoime peccadillo = mmehieo impeccable = apurummehie Polemic (aghaire), polemology (ntusisiagha) prehension= ijichiime pretermission= nhapugaba deprivation = nsepuuru protagonist= agwambu approximate -okachanso expurgate= nbechapu antiarrhythmic,=ngbochinruba arrhythmia= ajonruba dysrhythmia= mmehienriba robust = ikeiroko rumination= ncheakpịrị erudite= nguchichiakwo corrugation=mmechiindoli Saponification = mmeputancha saxicavous= ohereputaokwute scale= ububeibu consociation=ìgwèkota circumsolar= gburugburuanwu batallion= ìgwèagha surreptitious= okpuruanya Imminent (nnupuugba)
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Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by scholti: 4:08am On Sep 03, 2015 |
Second batch of the 971 affixes. I can't upload them all at once because they surpass the allowed upload limit.
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Re: Brave New World: Overhauling Igbo Grammar by scholti: 5:23am On Sep 03, 2015 |
This is the last batch of the 971 affixes.
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