Central Delta languages

The Central Delta languages are spoken in Rivers State and Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Ogbia is the most populous, with over 200,000 speakers.

Central Delta
Geographic
distribution
SE Nigeria
Linguistic classificationNiger–Congo?
Language codes
Glottologcent2028

The languages are AbuaOdual, Ogbia, Kugbo, Abureni, Obulom, O’chi’chi’, Ogbogolo, Ogbronuagum.

Names and locations

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Below is a list of language names, populations, and locations from Blench (2019).[1]


Language Cluster Dialects Alternate spellings Own name for language Endonym(s) Other names (location-based) Other names for language Exonym(s) Speakers Location(s) Notes
Abua Central Abuan, Ẹmughan, Ọtabha (Ọtapha), Okpeḍen Abuan Abua 11,000 (1963): estimated 25,000 (Faraclas 1989) Rivers State, Ahoada LGA
Kolo cluster Kolo Ọgbia, Ogbinya 100,000 (1987 UBS) Rivers State, Brass LGA
Kolo Kolo Agholo
Oloiḅiri Kolo
Anyama Kolo no data
Obulom Abuloma Rivers State, Okrika LGA, Abuloma town
Oḍual Arughaunya, Aḍibom Ọḍual Oḍual Saka 8,400 (1963); 15,000 (1980 UBS) Rivers State, Ahoada LGA (F&J 1940) report 700 speakers, but in the 1970s, Barnwell (p.c.) found only 20 speakers living in a quarter of one town. The Odut are Mbembe speakers, and there is no separate language.
Ogbogolo One town only Rivers State, Ahoada LGA
Ogbrọnuagụm Bukuma Agum One town only, north of Buguma Rivers State, Degema LGA
Ọchịchị Ọchịchị Ọchịchị A few speakers; moribund, since speakers have switched to Echie Rivers State, Etche LGA, towns of Ikwerengwo and Umuebulu
Kụgbọ 2,000 (1973 SIL) Rivers State, Brass LGA
Abureni Mini Mini 3 villages Rivers State, Brass LGA no data

References

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  1. ^ Blench, Roger (2019). An Atlas of Nigerian Languages (4th ed.). Cambridge: Kay Williamson Educational Foundation.

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