Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / NewStats: 3,194,556 members, 7,955,061 topics. Date: Saturday, 21 September 2024 at 03:46 PM |
Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Culture / The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area (3114 Views)
Is Igbo Language A Dying Language? / Top 5 Places That Tell The History And Reveal The Culture Of The Igbo. / Igbo Language Teaching Centres In Ile-Ife, Osun State Launched (2) (3) (4)
The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by scholti: 5:33pm On Sep 16, 2015 |
The Igbo Language: a complete methodology of word creation in any area for knowledge We must look at the Igbo language as a breathing transcendental being rather than just a language of proverbs and Idioms. It is a language involved in a continuity that must yield to new realities to exist. Every generation must remould language to suit its reality in an ever-evolving world. Language reflects the extent of a people’s civilisation. Seventeenth century Igboland had no universities and books of sciences like medieval Mali and the surrounding nations and so the language saw no need to create a heightened level of vocabulary and new elements of grammar, beyond its level of existence. Today it is different. The Igbo language needs new words to survive, hundreds of thousands of them, that cover every linguistical need of humanity. We must not expect the Igbo language to record and communicate knowledge with its traditional grammar, effectively, because it cannot, the burden would be too heavy on it. In another thread, I created a comprehensive list of affixes, attune to this reality, that would allow the Igbo language to function systematically (this essay on word-generation compliments it). The aim of this essay is to provide a comprehensive guideline on word creation in the Igbo language. It aims to inspire – 'igwe bu ike' - the creation of an Igbo language that is rich with a broad and modern vocabulary. Some of the English words here already have Igbo equivalents but I have created new words for them to serve as synonyms (and thus militate against the boredom of a single or few words). Through these methods below, I have created many words of which few (1000+) are on this site in different threads. Extension of meaning. Between 50-75% of English words are of Latin origin and they all trace back to common, relatable, themes, experiences, situations and archetypes like the sun, moon, length, beauty, sadness, etc, exploited for their ability to describe human situations. All these themes and archetypes are embedded in most of the words we speak in English. Humans from time immemorial have sought ways to name phenomena, plants, trees etc, around them and to do so they reached out to their inward and external experiences. For example the root words, ‘luc, lum, lun, lus, lust’ from which words like ‘translucent’ (nyefeọku/egbukeìhè) come from, means ‘light’. The suffix ‘—pod’ comes from Greek and means foot [Greek pous, pod-, foot.]. The root words ‘crit-,’ and ‘crisi-‘ come from Greek meaning judge. (Greek, κρίνειν (krinein), κρίσις (krisis). I have touched briefly on extending words on my affix thread but here I would go into more detail. I have exploited the stern, authoritative nature of the words, ‘ikpe’ and ‘iwu’ to create many words that reflects them attitudinally like recrimination (mpkesaikpe), elan (ikpeije), instinct (ikpeime), facility (ikpeaku), intellect (ikpe ama), practical (ikpeoru) commonsensical (ikpeaka/agwa), prudent (ikpeuche), acumen (ikpeọsọ), savvy (ikpeomume), canny (ikpemma), shrewd (ikpenkọ), injustice (ikpefe, ikpemehie, ikpeda), repercussion (ikpeutali), district (ogbeiwu), domain (ubiiwu), authority (ikikeiwu), jurisdiction (iwuokiriki). I have also exploited words like the sun (anwu), moon (ọnwa), afternoon (ehihie), bitter (ilu) etc for their abilities to give meaning to diverse human situations. Their various natures and functions make them powerful for creating new words. Once again, I return to the fountainhead of English vocabulary: Latin. The word ‘brilliant’ for example traces back to Latin, and it means ‘to shine’. Here are examples I have coined using the word ‘anwu’ (sun): percipient (anwunghota), ichaanwu (clarify), clarification (mgbanyeanwu), mmepeanwu (illumination), luminescence (zibaehihie) etc. Words from different categories can be extended, animals, plants etc. I have extended the meaning of stream (iyi) to mean source or something voluminous i.e. eloquent (ireiyi), vine (iyiọṅụṅụubi). I have extended the word, ‘nnunu (bird)’ to mean liberty, freedom. Here are examples: entitlement (nnunuahu/kwesi), flexibility (nnunuahu), prerogative (nnunuiwu), latitude (efennunu), impunity (nnunuọjọọ), immunity (nnunuiwu), dispensation (nnunuoge), free-minded (uchennunu). Inventing anchor words or affixes. Anchor words/affixes are indispensible words that are tied to many words. For example in the list of scientific instruments I invented, the affix ‘ozen-’ (-meter) which stands for instruments, because the native words that would have fulfilled the role were overstretched - and thus I came up with the affix to serve scientific instruments. And instead of borrowing over the words, it is preferable to come up with a made-up word, if the words or affixes are themselves borrowed. In my list of 97o affixes, I invented under 20 affixes that fulfil important roles, in the various disciplines they serve. One of such affix I came up with is ‘-zina’ to serve the suffix ‘-ium’, which means a container or compartment. I felt the extant Igbo words to be overburdened with roles and uncontextual. Examples of words ending with ‘-ium’ are herbarium (ahihiazina), auditorium (oluzina) FUNCTIONAL TRANSLATION. This is translating words according to their roles. For example, I was able to exploit the aquatic nature of the word ‘beaver’ to come up with a word for it, ‘okemmiri’, and many others like, ‘mmirime (emotion)’, which literally means ‘great inward depth’ in Igbo; wine (ọṅụṅụubi), which literally translates as ‘field drink’ (‘mmanya’ can serve as alchohol or as a generic term for drinks); nkweego (cheque); mgbochieoyiura (blanket); ball (egwuriokpa). Where length allows, functional translation is the best method for translating words. Unfortunately, word-meanings are not always straightforward. I advocate a 8-12 word-length in translating over words. Which brings me to the next point. HINTING AT THE MEANING OF WORDS. Sometimes the meanings of words are just too complex to contain them in single words. I avoid sentences or phrases posing as words because they do not transport around well. I want compact words that can adapt to different grammatical settings efficiently. Many of the scientific instruments I translated into Igbo hint at meanings because their overall meanings are too complex to be captured in whole words. FUSING IGBO DIALECTS WITH IZUGBE. The Igbo language is an exceedingly rich language with plenty of dialects and sub-dialects as well as a huge inheritance of proverbs, riddles, idioms etc. I am all for the complete emptying of the dialects into Izugbe. The Igbo dialects have had their day. They can’t stand the combined onslaught of Izugbe and English; they would ultimately loosen and fade if they do not wed to Izugbe. Now is the time to integrate them into Izugbe to ensure their survival. They all have rich stores of vocabulary that would enrich the Igbo language. Izugbe can absorb every Igbo dialect. Izugbe would continue having the upper hand over the Igbo dialects because it is actively written and studied at the highest levels of academia. And many new words, have come into Igbo through it. Examples of dialect words are agalaga (anchor), agbantu (gate), arọnka (style), deghedeghe (soft), deyi (cold), chichiriri (tight and woven together), bande (catch), anaghukwa (bicycle), amimva (rafters), aji (belt), akahi (last year), akparawa (young man), akirisya (oyster). REVIVING OLD WORDS. Where possible certain Igbo words should be revived. In old Igbo names and proverbs, one comes across Igbo words that are no more in use (at least in popular usage); many of them can be revived. Across Igbo communities, there are ‘unique’ words used to describe limited/vanishing phenomena, these can be reassigned to other functions. Here are some old Igbo words of restricted usage that deserve general circulation: ete (climbing rope), gidigidi (great), garagara (clever), gadangada (over clever), agiga (corner). ONOMATOPOEIA. Creating words according to their sounds. Last Saturday, I went to a park near my house to take in the sights of nature; while there, I heard the sound of a nearby wind, ‘shishishi’ and I was struck at how alive it was and how nature’s language can feed the Igbo vocabulary as it has others. Languages around the world have exploited the sounds of nature, water, birds, animals etc to create new words. As humans, ‘word-sounds’ form a legitimate part of our linguistic heritage. They are not new to the Igbo language (it is afterall a tonal language), but they can be actively exploited to create more words. I appropriated the word down ‘shishishi’ as an Igbo word to signify the movement of wind and more extensively to indicate quiet footsteps. In the English language they are many Onomatopoeic words i.e. ‘roar’, ‘zip’, ‘croak’ ‘moo’, ‘mew’, ‘chirrup’ etc, and many animals have been named after their sounds. Onomatopoeia sounds in the Igbo language would form a powerful layer that would go beyond their primary habitats; we can exploit streams, vehicular movements etc for the meanings/wisdom they tell us through their sounds. Objects with harsh sounds can get harsh definitions to create mental associations. TAKING EXAMPLES FROM OTHER LANGUAGES. Languages the world over face the challenges of coining new words. How languages go about coining new words can offer us insight into the process of vocabulary generation. For example in Spanish, one word for appetizer is ‘abreboca’ which literally means ‘open mouth’. The word ‘surpass’ comes from French and breaks down to two words, ‘sur’(over), ‘pass’ and through this simple amalgamation a host of meanings are achieved – everything from excess to conquest. In German for instance the word ‘uber-’(over) has the same ubiquitous role and flexibility. I have adapted the Igbo word ‘elu’ to new meanings i.e eluihu (surface), eluugwu(surmount) etc. By being alert to the ways languages go about creating words, we can get cues about creating new words EXPLOITING THE NEW AFFIXES. One of the affixes I created was ‘oz-’ to serve as a reversive affix in response to the reversive affixes of English (and other languages) – ‘dis-’, ‘de-’, ‘a-’ - and beyond. When placed infront of Igbo words, it reverses it, i.e. oz-oyi (get rid of cold), oz-uda (get rid of sound), oz-akukoala (ahistorical), oz-mmuta (unlearn), oz-ebubeoyi (defrost). Similarly, the affix, ‘eme-’ (though not entirely new) which is the English equivalents of ‘en-’, ‘em-’ (both signifying an inward movement), allows the inlaying of words i.e. eme+okpu (cap)+wo – emeokpuwo (ennobled); emeugowo (literally means ‘enfeathered’) - enthrone; emendina (embed); emeokwute (solid foundation) . Affixes aid the smooth production of words and meaning. TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IGBO'S NATURAL AFFIXES. I advocate the mixture of the traditional Igbo grammar and new grammar. Every Igbo affix across all its dialects and Izugbe carries the seed of regeneration. The traditional Igbo affixes like ‘m’ ‘a’ ‘u’ etc, can be exploited to created new words i.e. uzughi (flawed); onyonyoagharia (retelevise) – the ‘-agharia (redo)’ is here used in a new context. APPROXIMATION. By finding words that tangentially hint at meanings, words can be generated. I have exploited this method to create words like fable (okwuokuko), which literally means ‘words of a chicken’, which is another way of saying ‘unreal’. COMBINING TWO IGBO WORDS. Two Igbo words can be fused together to accurately capture the essence of a meaning. For example to arrive at the word for purge, I combined, ‘hicha’ and ‘kpocha’, ‘hichapkọcha’. The word ‘purge’ goes beyond mere cleaning (hicha), it involves violence. By fusing together these two words the meaning is preserved in Igbo. It is important that the subtleties and register of a word is respected. VISUALIZATION. Taking advantage of mental images can go a long way in creating words. For example I have been able to create 'ugwuibu (heavy mountain)' for the word 'immense'. Words call up mental images in our mind and they can be harnessed to create powerful words. And finally, a close look at the meanings of Latin- and Greek-derived words (of which the English language is a great inheritor), would reveal that they took inspiration from the world around them – colours, stones, places, books, people etc - in naming plants, animals, creating vocabularies for the sciences etc. By taking advantage of the metaphoric and poetical words qualities around us, many new words can be created (find below 200-plus words). 1. gender- udiokike 2.butter= udeachicha 3.confidence = okweonwe. 4.mobilisation= nchikotaahu/oru 5.picture = usese 6.apple= mkpuruuhie 7.incurvate= ntubeime 8.splatter- gbasapiasa 9.nhuchi= belt 10.skittles= olaegwu 11.bonnet=nchedoikpu 12.brick =aja+wuru= ajawuru 13.ball= egwuriọkpa 14.drop= hapuda 15.commingle= enyikota 16.ally- enyiaka/ru 17.Purge= hichakpọcha 18.Confabulation- ọnukota 19.Explication- ntọwaokwu 20.complied= gbazugo 21.sideshow= ngosiakuku 22.confounded= gbabiisi 23.standstill= nguzootuebe 24.vivify= gba-ndu 25.appraisal= nkiriogegbe 26.cyclorama= anyaokiriki 27.prospect=ogegbembasa 28.panorama= nghasaogegbe 29.perspectives= ogegbeiche 30.multifarious=odiotutu/otutuaka/otutuuzo 31.disorderliness = onodungharaghara 32.unsound= azughi 33.flawed=uzughi 34.tenet= iwuaka 35.suppression = nbiaelu 36.patrimony= iyinna/osinna 37.desire= ọchọanya 38.bequest= iyinye 39.heritage= iyinatara 40.pedigree= iyibiara 41.fount= iyioma 42.provenance= iyisi 43.cognition= maramata 44.supersonic=ọsọkacha 45.carefree=agbasaghị 46.leisurely= ijeejula 47.sedate= ugwuejula 48.protract=ọkpaejula 49.ejupụtakarịkwa =awash 50.working-class people= ndiọrudum 51.rarefied= terakadum 52.abstruse= itiringhota 53.recondite= itiriakọ 54.sparkle= tuọanwu 55.coruscation= nchakeọla 56.command= ọnu/akaiwu 57.protectorate= alanchedoiwu 58.district= ogbeiwu 59. domain= ubiiwu 60.authority= ikpeiwu 61.jurisdiction= iwuokiriki 62.luminescence-zizaehihie 63.inundate= gbadommiri 64.overwhelm= gbojommiri 65.submerge= okpurummiri 66.insubstantial= ibuikuku 67.inconsequential= uruikuku 68. meaningless= okwuikuku 69.glitter=tosisiọla 70.privilege= nnunuiche 71.entitlement= nnunukwesi 72.flexibility= nnunuahu 73.prerogative= nnunuiwu 74.latitude= efennunu 75.impunity= nnunuọjọọ 76.immunity= nnunuiwu 77.dispensation= nnunuome 78.free-minded= uchennunu 79.advocacy= nnochiteikpe 80.impationality= ikpeetiti 81.loyalty= ikpeenyi 82.moderation = ikpeonwe 83.veneration= nsọpuruomimi 84.broad-mindedness= uchegbasara 85.rattle= haraoke 86.jangle= ikoroigwe 87.Ikoro= ikoroile 88.warmth= obiehihie 89.adoration= oromaanya 90.fondness= udaraobi 91.sunny= ihuanwu 92.cheerful= juruudara 93.refinement= ehihieagwa 94.convincing= ehiehieanya 95. valid= oluikpe 96.chance= akalakaeefu 97.plausible= puruiwu 98 persuasive= puruikpe 99.lucid= anwucha 100.rational= ikpeogugu 101.conclusive- mmesiaiwu 102. eloquent = ireiyi 102.coherent,= gbakorita 103.recrimination= mpkesaikpe 104 arrogant= nkoobi 105 affiliation – nkelekota 106 film= nkirianya 107 treat= ikpaikpe 108 dramaturgy= nkaejije 109 paramouncy= ezekacha 110 poise= okwaugo 111 elan= ikpeije 112 achievements= nrupurute 113 artifice= anyaikpe 114 canons= ọbankpa 115 instinct= ikpeime/nkoime 116 potential= nkaime 117 faculty= ikikeime 118 kpuda=kpudaomi 119 facility= ikpeaku 120 flair=ikikeiche 121 precocious= nkọgabiga 122 erudition= agwaakwo 123 genius= nkaiche 124 aptitude= agwanka 125 ingenuity= ikikenka 126 cleverness= ikikeisi,nkọ 127 nous= ikikeomume 128 upper storey= elu-ulo 129 mental capacity= ikikeuche 130 brainpower= ikeụbụrụ 131 intellect = ikpe ama 132 grey matter= umi agba-ntụ 133 native wit= anwu amaala 134 appropriate=nwereikpe 135 observant= nleleọsọ 136 discerning= nchabanyeanwu 137 effective= mmuputaoru 138 heuristic= nchoputaonwe 139 practical= ikpeoru 140 commonsensical= ikpeije/aka/agwa 141 prudent= ikpeuche 142 acumen= ikpeọsọ 143 acuity= nkoelulo 144 savvy= ikpeomume 145 canny=ikpemma 146 shrewd= ikpenkọ 147 discriminating= anwuanya 148 perceptive=nduanya/ nneneanwu 149 nimble= ijenfe 150 lithe= ligiliike 151 acrobatic= ufufeahu 152 agile= mpirisiọsọ 153 spry= okpaọsọ 154 limber= ahu+jete 155 nimble= ọkpandu 156 dexterous= nzaakaabua 157 adroit= nkọ+aka 158 astute= anya+mma(knife) 159 sharp-witted= anyaoso/nko 160 insightful= juruanya 161 percipient= anwu+nghota 162 ihu/obi+anwu=perspicacious 163 jideluanwu= highlight 164 ichananwu= clarify 165 ngbanyeanaw= clarification 166 Nkà na usoro =methodology 167 aka ji aku= chancellor/economic manager 168 guess = tuọ ile/ ọnu 169 competency= nmaraọru 170 proficiency= nmaraaka 171 aharamma= asymetry 172 ezeanwu= splendour 173 Nbilianwu= enlighten 174 ngbakeanwu= enlightening 175 nbiakọọma= convinience 176 decoration - nchimma, nbamma 177 outfitted= sonyereezi 178 ogbeọha= conventional 179 ndu agamebu=wiked life 180 nkwunyeanwu= illumination 181 embossed= rakwasi 182 mmepeanwu= illumination 183 lopsided= akukummehiewo 184 wholesale = ereùkwù 185 household = ụlọniile 186 brocade= uweaku 187 ụlọnkuzi=classroom 188 condemn= kpedacha 189 Okwulu= master chef 190 emperor = ezenile 191 purpose= nchọuzọ /eme 192 repurposed= nchọemeaghariawo 193 quintessence = agwaakwa 194 injustice = ikpefe, ikpemehie, ikpeda 195 invited = obiabatara 196 repercussion= ikpeutali 197 mankind/humanity= mmadudum, umummadu,mmadunile 198 affirm = kwajike 199 island= etitimmiri, alaonwe 200 conquer= gadoagha 201 kpanye= unravel 202 ogbanaragha= refugee 203 impetus = ikpeije/ihu 204 operculum= oberenpkuchi 205 adjacent= ndinaakuku 206 decorum= mmaomume 207 chrysalis= olaedompe 208 cacodemon= ajọmmuọ 209 brontology= mmutaégbèeluigwe 210 auspicious= puruọganihu 211 primeval= uwaizi 212 adornments = ngwamma 213 abundance= elu uba 4 Likes |
Re: The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by scholti: 9:52pm On Sep 16, 2015 |
This is to complement the section on onomatopoeia. 300 Onomatopoeia examples http://www.poetandknowit.com/english-definitions/onomatopoeia-examples.aspx Birds with Onomatopoeic names. http://www.writtensound.com/index.php?term=bird 1 Like |
Re: The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by chijiblaze(m): 4:19pm On Jan 16, 2017 |
It's like you're forming your own new language. Well, I like the effort,...Jisie Ike n'ọrụ...but somethings like new words and prefixes might not be considered to be Igbo. I'm a purist! |
Re: The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by ChinenyeN(m): 5:11pm On Jan 16, 2017 |
He's not forming a new language. Rather, it's more along the lines of introducing a new mode of speech that he believes will cover areas where the current language structure does not. 1 Like |
Re: The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by Sinistami(m): 10:35pm On Jul 06, 2018 |
Brilliant guy although I don't understand Igbo I like the effort Iam Ijaw by the way. it's good really good. |
Re: The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by Sinistami(m): 10:36pm On Jul 06, 2018 |
chijiblaze: Now I remember why I hate Purists. |
Re: The Igbo Language: A Complete Methodology For Word Creation In Any Area by Sinistami(m): 10:41pm On Jul 06, 2018 |
This is better than being hung up on trying to Prove superiority to other tribes like your man Eberejesus is doing. or being too hung up in the past with things like Civil war pity party or I dear say it Biafra. am so jealous I can't speak any Nigerian native language except pidgin. Too bad |
(1) (Reply)
Igbo Culture Permits Homosexuality...igbos Practice It --- Leo Igwe's Discovery / Why Do South Africa Have Many Full White Europeans? / Akure In Joyful Mood As New Deji Is Crowned
(Go Up)
Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 41 |