Is the Igbo language complete?
https://tentenjab./2015/09/21/is-igbo-language-complete/

It has since been a saying that Igbo language is not a complete language and this myopic saying emanate from ndi Igbo to the detriment of their language. The saying arose because most of the Igbo native speakers who say it are not informed on the issues of language and are not competent in the language.

Language is a living thing hence, it is dynamic in nature. This elucidate why words change their meaning, loose currency (become obsolete), sentence change order of precedence ( eg. from OVS to SVO) and sound change. In general, every language are of equal status since every language has equal features/characteristics irrespective of their distinctive features. What seem to make a language higher than the other is diglossia, the number of speakers and the official status. All these reasons are very inconsequential.

Every culture is propelled by language. Every cultural group is a potential speech community. However, the importance of language cannot be over emphasised. Have you taken a thought why most countries and tribes are named after their language? As important as language is to culture, culture is of the same importance to language. Thus, a language cannot grow above its culture. In other words, the number of words in a language is traced to the size of its culture including the encultured words.

Igbo language is one of the national languages of Nigeria spoken in the Eastern region. The language is among the languages predicted by UNESCO to go into extinction by the year 2020. The prediction is made following the language attitude of ndi Igbo towards their language and the preference of English language over their own language. The reason for this preference is their pride nature which gives them the mindset that speaking English is a way to show their academic intelligence and belong to the civilized class making Igbo language a language of or for ‘illiterates’ and English a language of ‘literates/elites’. Let me state categorically that Igbo language will not go into extinction because the Igbo language has and is still having literature and the younger generation is still speaking and learning the language and the scholars are still carrying out research on the language. No language is for illiterates or literates after all, all languages are subject to research.

Igbo language like all other languages is complete. Any word that is not found in Igbo language is probably not of Igbo origin. Every language gain their words through coinage, borrowing, blending etc. In borrowing, the words are mostly reconditioned phonologically. This means that the borrowed words are compelled to change their phonological pattern to suit the phonological pattern of the target language for instance, the English word ‘radio’ is borrowed into Igbo and phonologically reconditioned to be ‘redio’. There are so many words like that in Igbo language.

Most Igbo speakers ask what is the Igbo word for certain English words. The truth is that since they do not originate from Igbo language, it is the duty of the native speakers to either coin a word for it or borrow from the language following the existing rule. Let me state here that a word is not found in Igbo language does not mean that Igbo language is not complete. Igbo language has words for everything thing that exist in its culture and so it is with every language. It is important to note that there are some words which exist in Igbo language that is not found in English. If you argue, give me the English name for Ọfọ and èméré.

Some of uncommon Igbo words include the following:

Mpio window
Ọtụwa key
Ahụmihe experience
Nkwago stage
Igwentụoyi air condition
Igwenjụoyi refrigerator
Mahantịị nursery school
Mahanta primary school
Mahaetiti Secondary school
Ekereuche creative mind
Enyouche imaginative mind
Nsụagharị translation
Nzere/asambodo certificate
Conclusively, Igbo is a complete language just like English language so, every one should take note of it. I urge every Igbo native speaker to in contribute his capacity to the growth of the language. When language goes into extinction, the speakers suffer because language is a pedigree of a tribe and a make mark of identity. When a language dies, the tribe dies.

Truth be told as an. Igbo guy I can't make one complete sentence without adding english....that's what we call engiligbo

I laugh [in my head] each time I hear Igbo people say that Igbo is incomplete. It's not Igbo that is incomplete. It is Igbo people's understanding and utilization of the language that is incomplete. Instead of treating it like a tool, using it and shaping it as is needed, they treat it like some immutable wood carving. Incidentally, immutable wood carvings have a nasty habit of becoming corroded with time. How ironic. They think they're protecting something, when all they're doing is giving it time to grow brittle and die.

There's no such thing as a complete language.

scholti:
Is the Igbo language complete?
https://tentenjab./2015/09/21/is-igbo-language-complete/

It has since been a saying that Igbo language is not a complete language and this myopic saying emanate from ndi Igbo to the detriment of their language. The saying arose because most of the Igbo native speakers who say it are not informed on the issues of language and are not competent in the language.

Language is a living thing hence, it is dynamic in nature. This elucidate why words change their meaning, loose currency (become obsolete), sentence change order of precedence ( eg. from OVS to SVO) and sound change. In general, every language are of equal status since every language has equal features/characteristics irrespective of their distinctive features. What seem to make a language higher than the other is diglossia, the number of speakers and the official status. All these reasons are very inconsequential.

Every culture is propelled by language. Every cultural group is a potential speech community. However, the importance of language cannot be over emphasised. Have you taken a thought why most countries and tribes are named after their language? As important as language is to culture, culture is of the same importance to language. Thus, a language cannot grow above its culture. In other words, the number of words in a language is traced to the size of its culture including the encultured words.

Igbo language is one of the national languages of Nigeria spoken in the Eastern region. The language is among the languages predicted by UNESCO to go into extinction by the year 2020. The prediction is made following the language attitude of ndi Igbo towards their language and the preference of English language over their own language. The reason for this preference is their pride nature which gives them the mindset that speaking English is a way to show their academic intelligence and belong to the civilized class making Igbo language a language of or for ‘illiterates’ and English a language of ‘literates/elites’. Let me state categorically that Igbo language will not go into extinction because the Igbo language has and is still having literature and the younger generation is still speaking and learning the language and the scholars are still carrying out research on the language. No language is for illiterates or literates after all, all languages are subject to research.

Igbo language like all other languages is complete. Any word that is not found in Igbo language is probably not of Igbo origin. Every language gain their words through coinage, borrowing, blending etc. In borrowing, the words are mostly reconditioned phonologically. This means that the borrowed words are compelled to change their phonological pattern to suit the phonological pattern of the target language for instance, the English word ‘radio’ is borrowed into Igbo and phonologically reconditioned to be ‘redio’. There are so many words like that in Igbo language.

Most Igbo speakers ask what is the Igbo word for certain English words. The truth is that since they do not originate from Igbo language, it is the duty of the native speakers to either coin a word for it or borrow from the language following the existing rule. Let me state here that a word is not found in Igbo language does not mean that Igbo language is not complete. Igbo language has words for everything thing that exist in its culture and so it is with every language. It is important to note that there are some words which exist in Igbo language that is not found in English. If you argue, give me the English name for Ọfọ and èméré.

Some of uncommon Igbo words include the following:

Mpio window
Ọtụwa key
Ahụmihe experience
Nkwago stage
Igwentụoyi air condition
Igwenjụoyi refrigerator
Mahantịị nursery school
Mahanta primary school
Mahaetiti Secondary school
Ekereuche creative mind
Enyouche imaginative mind
Nsụagharị translation
Nzere/asambodo certificate
Conclusively, Igbo is a complete language just like English language so, every one should take note of it. I urge every Igbo native speaker to in contribute his capacity to the growth of the language. When language goes into extinction, the speakers suffer because language is a pedigree of a tribe and a make mark of identity. When a language dies, the tribe dies.

Jide ka i ji onye nke m