Endangered Languages Project

ALSO KNOWN AS		Ijo (Kolokuma), Izo, Uzo, Ijo, Ijaw, Central-Western Ijo, Ịjọ
CLASSIFICATION		Niger-Congo, Ijoid, Western Ijo
CODE AUTHORITY		ISO 639-3
LANGUAGE CODE		ijc
VARIANTS & DIALECTS		Iduwini Oyiakiri Kumbo Ekpetiama Koluama Kolokuma-Opokuma Ikibiri Egbema East Olodiama East Tarakiri Ogbe Ijo Ogboin Mein Ogulagha Kabo West Olodiama West Tarakiri Bumo Arogbo Furupagha Apoi Oporoza Tuomo Operemo Oporomo Basan Gbarain
DOWNLOAD		As csv
MORE RESOURCES		OLAC search

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Information from: “Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th Edition (2009)” . M. Paul Lewis · SIL International

At risk

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available
1,000,000
Native speakers worldwide
MORE ON SPEAKER NUMBERS
1,000,000 (Williamson 1989). 100,000 Kolokuma (1991 UBS). 1,770,000 all Ijo languages

DATE OF INFO: 1989

At risk

40 percent certain, based on the evidence available
100,000
Native speakers worldwide

DATE OF INFO: 1991

DOMAINS OF USE

MORE ON VITALITY

"Izon, the largest member of the Ijo group has many dialects like Bumo (Boma, Bomo), East Tarakiri, Oporomo, Oladiama, Bassan (Basan), Apoi, Ogboin, Kolokuma, Opokuma, etc. There are some publications in some of these dialects, especially in Kolokuma dialect, which has a dictionary, prayer and hymn book, primary school texts, a course book, etc. Bumo and Oporoma also have portions of Bible translations. East Oladiama has a Reader and a collection of poems. Kolokuma is used for news broadcasts in the state."

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Yes

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT

Association of Rivers and Bayelsa States Languages (ARBSLA); missionary work

OTHER LANGUAGES USED BY THE COMMUNITY

English
Pidgin
Isoko
Urhobo

LANGUAGE CONTEXT COMMENTS

"Communication is not a problem in Bayelsa State. Although the state is a multilingual state, speakers of the smaller languages learn and speak the larger languages, especially those near them ... Isoko and Urhobo speakers also understand the Izon language and vice versa. However, English is used as the official lingua franca by the educated people, and Pidgin as the unofficial lingua franca as in the rest of the country."

"Many of the languages of the [Baleysa] state have been developed somewhat. This is due to the efforts of a collaboration between the institutions, the government and the communities."

Scripts (Writing system)

Yes

PLACES: Nigeria

LOCATION DESCRIPTION: Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Ondo State

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: "West Ijo is made up of Inland Ijo and Izon, all of which are spoken in Bayelsa State. However, Izon extends beyond Bayelsa and it is spoken in Delta, Edo and Ondo States as well."

Izon

Language metadata

Language information by source

At risk

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

1,000,000

At risk

40 percent certain, based on the evidence available

100,000

Discussion

	Languages of Nigeria			1	2003	Bayelsa State	The Languages of the South South Zone of Nigeria: A Geo-Political Profile			Imelda Icheji Lawrence Udoh									University of Uyo		Rachael Akpo	Rachael Akpo. 2003. "Bayelsa State." In The Languages of the South South Zone of Nigeria: A Geo-Political Profile, edited by Imelda Icheji Lawrence Udoh.							1991	100000						English, Pidgin, Isoko, Urhobo		Yes		"Communication is not a problem in Bayelsa State. Although the state is a multilingual state, speakers of the smaller languages learn and speak the larger languages, especially those near them ... Isoko and Urhobo speakers also understand the Izon language and vice versa. However, English is used as the official lingua franca by the educated people, and Pidgin as the unofficial lingua franca as in the rest of the country." "Many of the languages of the [Baleysa] state have been developed somewhat. This is due to the efforts of a collaboration between the institutions, the government and the communities."	Association of Rivers and Bayelsa States Languages (ARBSLA); missionary work	All	At risk (40 percent certain, based on the evidence available)			"Izon, the largest member of the Ijo group has many dialects like Bumo (Boma, Bomo), East Tarakiri, Oporomo, Oladiama, Bassan (Basan), Apoi, Ogboin, Kolokuma, Opokuma, etc. There are some publications in some of these dialects, especially in Kolokuma dialect, which has a dictionary, prayer and hymn book, primary school texts, a course book, etc. Bumo and Oporoma also have portions of Bible translations. East Oladiama has a Reader and a collection of poems. Kolokuma is used for news broadcasts in the state."	10			"West Ijo is made up of Inland Ijo and Izon, all of which are spoken in Bayelsa State. However, Izon extends beyond Bayelsa and it is spoken in Delta, Edo and Ondo States as well."	Nigeria	Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo State, Ondo State	4.965088,5.905151; 5.659719,5.899658; 6.648239,5.905151; 7.1554,4.921875
			16		2009	Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th Edition (2009)				M. Paul Lewis		SIL International			Dallas, TX					http://www.ethnologue.com/		Lewis, M. Paul (ed.). 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16 edn. http://www.ethnologue.com/home.asp. (15 February, 2011.)	ll_pub					1,000,000	1989	100000	1,000,000 (Williamson 1989). 100,000 Kolokuma (1991 UBS). 1,770,000 all Ijo languages												At risk (20 percent certain, based on the evidence available)

Izon

Language metadata

Language information by source

At risk

20 percent certain, based on the evidence available

1,000,000

At risk

40 percent certain, based on the evidence available

100,000

Discussion

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