Read this on Ndi-Igbo page on facebook and could not help but notice how everyone seem to believe theirs is the closest to central. As a neutral observer I noticed someone mention Mbano and I know it kind of agrees with the earliest Igbo literary history which was based on Isuama which Mbano is almost at the heart. But history also tells of how majority of Igbos were unable to understand Isuama. Without bias I will pick the dialect I have heard spoken in Idenmili, Onitsha and Asaba and believe it is the Igbo majority of other Igbos can understand almost at 1st hearing.

Abagworo: Read this on Ndi-Igbo page on facebook and could not help but notice how everyone seem to believe theirs is the closest to central. As a neutral observer I noticed someone mention Mbano and I know it kind of agrees with the earliest Igbo literary history which was based on Isuama which Mbano is almost at the heart. But history also tells of how majority of Igbos were unable to understand Isuama. Without bias I will pick the dialect I have heard spoken in Idenmili, Onitsha and Asaba and believe it is the Igbo majority of other Igbos can understand almost at 1st hearing.

The dialects you have listed are what we call "spoken central Igbo" but the written form is based somewhere in imo state. I think the Anambra dialects are easier to grasp than those in southern Igbo.

YET, Mbano people has at least 3 dialects. Nsu,Ehime and Isiala dialects are distinct from one another in Mbano.

afam4eva:
The dialects you have listed are what we call "spoken central Igbo" but the written form is based somewhere in imo state. I think the Anambra dialects are easier to grasp than those in southern Igbo.

Afam you are right. In the southern Igbo areas, the only dialect that is very understandable is the Aro Ndi Izuogu dialect.

Andre Uweh:
Afam you are right. In the southern Igbo areas, the only dialect that is very understandable is the Aro Ndi Izuogu dialect.

Aro Ndi Izuogu dialect is pretty much like those found in Anambra state.

Is Mbano an LGA or a people?

Abagworo: Read this on Ndi-Igbo page on facebook and could not help but notice how everyone seem to believe theirs is the closest to central. As a neutral observer I noticed someone mention Mbano and I know it kind of agrees with the earliest Igbo literary history which was based on Isuama which Mbano is almost at the heart. But history also tells of how majority of Igbos were unable to understand Isuama. Without bias I will pick the dialect I have heard spoken in Idenmili, Onitsha and Asaba and believe it is the Igbo majority of other Igbos can understand almost at 1st hearing.

It just goes to show the extent of the lack of knowledge present on that Ndi-Igbo facebook page.

Anambra and delta dialects aren't central igbo written or spoken.
I think the fact that anambra dialects are used in the majority of igbo movies has confused some.
I can hardly follow asaba or onitsha igbo biko unu

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ChinenyeN: Is Mbano an LGA or a people?

Mbano is an Igbo group under Okigwe zone. There is no longer Mbano LGA instead, there is Ehime Mbano and Isiala Mbano. The dialects in this two LGA's differs from another. However, there are some groups that come under Mbano now but are hitherto not Mbano people e.g Nsu.

.

some-girl:
Anambra and delta dialects aren't central igbo written or spoken.
I think the fact that anambra dialects are used in the majority of igbo movies has confused some.
I can hardly follow asaba or onitsha igbo biko unu

Asaba and Onitsha dialect seem to be easiest to follow plus they're like the english of Igbo language. Anybodyw who can speak these dialects are usually considered to be educated(Igbo wise). Even here in Enugu where our dialect is different, we speak the Anambra Igbo which I consider to be the spoken central. Igbo.

Nnenna1: I can better understand the onitcha/asaba dialect. But honestly this is because of proximity and the large influence of those dialects in my state. I can barely make out the original dialect from my home town.

Seriously though, We have to define what "central" means first, and then go from there. Is this per geograpahy, or widespread influence?

I believe central Igbo is differet from Igbo izugbe. Central igbo is the Igbo that's mostly used in Igbo movies, music etc.

Which state are you from?

.

Central Igbo is closest to the dialects of the people in Southern Anambra and northern Imo.

I also think that most people can understand northern Igbo dialects more than the southern/western/eastern ones. They say that northern Igbo is closest to the original root of the Igbo language.

I think that's the reason why northern Igbo speakers have a tendency to speak their own dialects to others whereas a southern Igbo speaker would have to alternate his/her dialect when conversing with others.

odumchi: Central Igbo is closest to the dialects of the people in Southern Anambra and northern Imo.

I also think that most people can understand northern Igbo dialects more than the southern/western/eastern ones. They say that northern Igbo is closest to the original root of the Igbo language.

I think that's the reason why northern Igbo speakers have a tendency to speak their own dialects to others whereas a southern Igbo speaker would have to alternate his/her dialect when conversing with others.

Southern Igbos don't alternate oo. They speak their dialect with pride. An Ngwa or Owerri person doesn't care that you're not from his place, he'll speak his dialect to you. The only people that alternate are usually Enugu and Ebonyi peeps.

afam4eva:
Southern Igbos don't alternate oo. They speak their dialect with pride. An Ngwa or Owerri person doesn't care that you're not from his place, he'll speak his dialect to you. The only people that alternate are usually Enugu and Ebonyi peeps.

I've noticed that most Imolites continue to speak with their 'sh' instead of 's' even when they try to speak Central Igbo. However, I've yet to personally meet anyone from Owerri so I guess I can't argue with what you said.

Most of the Ngwa people that I've met initially spoke Central Igbo to me, but maybe this phenomenon only happens in the diaspora. As for myself, I am a bit guilty of this also. I don't normally speak Central Igbo so I have a habit of speaking Arochukwu to people before I realize that they find it diffuclt to understand me.

What about wawa Igbo and Ngwa Igbo are they peripheral

Igbos from Enugu and Ebonyi happen to be the ones that there dialects are not prominent. Wawa people for instance speak like people from Anambra when conversing with other Igbos.

I think the major reason Southern Igbo is difficult is because they speak faster. If you listen to Owerri music and say Oliver De Coque, you'll notice how soft and clear Oliver speaks in the background while the Engineer Bruno is so fast that its difficult for someone who is not familiar with Owerri to grab. I do understand almost all Igbo dialects but Owerri is not really that much deviated from Idemili except for the speed and intonation. The most deviated language related to Igbo which I cannot really understand is Ekpeye language. The Ika, Ikwerre and Abakaliki area has a significant degree of deviation but not as much as Ekpeye. Apart from these people, the other Igbos like Nsukka, Ngwa,Egbema, Oguta, Owerri, Ukwuani, Ndoni, Ndoki, Etche,Mbaise, Ohafia/Aro/Abiriba/Bende all have element of difficulty for Igbos from the central(Idemili to Awka to Orlu to Okigwe) but the beauty of it all is that after a one month retreat in these area, as an Igbo man you'll start understanding them.

afam4eva:
The dialects you have listed are what we call "spoken central Igbo" but the written form is based somewhere in imo state. I think the Anambra dialects are easier to grasp than those in southern Igbo.

The written Igbo is based on mostly Umuahia,Enugu and part of Imo Igbo dialects and the Idenmili/Onicha Igbo also contributed a little but I think Umuahia dialects played a significant role. The Idenmili/Onicha dialects were the ones used in writing most church materials and we still use them in Anambra,Enugu,Asaba,Ebonyi,Imo and even in the Northern and Western Nigeria.I dont know much about Abia and Rivers area....Basically,there are two most recognized Igbo dislects; The Onicha\Idenmili axis and the Umuahia,Imo and Enugu axis dialect.

afam4eva: Igbos from Enugu and Ebonyi happen to be the ones that there dialects are not prominent. Wawa people for instance speak like people from Anambra when conversing with other Igbos.

nwa nnaa, the reason u think our enugu dialect is not prominent or that we speak the agboenu(anambra) dialect is because we the wawa people share the most common words with southern igbos and our fellow northern agboenu people, what i mean by common are those words we use every day when interacting with people, take for instance, anambra people use words like (f) eg, ife, ifeanyi, while we use (h) eg, ihe, iheany, with southern igbos, then the southern igbos also use words like (r) eg, ora na eze, while we, the wawa use (h) eg, oha na eze, with our fellow northern agboenu brodas, another eg, is the word (l) eg, ala for our southern brodas and (n) eg ana, ani or anu for wawa and agboenu, and the use of (ny 4 y, g 4 y, g 4 j), the example is endless, u wil also notice that anambra do not share most words with southern igbo, making enugu dialect, the dialect that link southen and northern igbo together, that is why an enugu person can understand anambra and souther igbo more than southern and anambra can understand each other. Another reason u think enugu speak more of agboenu(anambra) is because enugu is mostly dominated by anambra peopel and those people u see speakin anambra ar actually anambra people bcus u hardly see an enugu person speak (fi fi fi). For our ebonyi people especially abakaliki, that an abakaliki person is not speaking his dialect is that there is no other abakaliki person speak with, and they speak the same central igbo with enugu. Enugu have their own central igbo and when an enugu person speak u will knw.

afam4eva:
Asaba and Onitsha dialect seem to be easiest to follow plus they're like the english of Igbo language. Anybodyw who can speak these dialects are usually considered to be educated(Igbo wise). Even here in Enugu where our dialect is different, we speak the Anambra Igbo which I consider to be the spoken central. Igbo.

I think that the Igbo spoken in the cities of Enugu and Onitsha is different from typical Onitsha/Idemili/Asaba dialect. The currently spoken dialect in Onitsha and Enugu is actually a blend of several dialects but closely resembles that of Anambra dialects not necessarily Onitsha/Idemili. I think you'll observe quite a lot of difference when you read a bible written in Onitsha dialect.

Those spoken central dialects is what you'll hear in Kaduna and Lagos, places I've lived for long periods. I don't know what dialect is spoken in PH.

some-girl:
Anambra and delta dialects aren't central igbo written or spoken.
I think the fact that anambra dialects are used in the majority of igbo movies has confused some.
I can hardly follow asaba or onitsha igbo biko unu

You're right. I think some people confuse what is spoken in Onitsha presently with Onitsha dialect.

Obiagu1:

You're right. I think some people confuse what is spoken in Onitsha presently with Onitsha dialect.

The Igbo spoken in Onicha city is a combination of Idenmili,Onicha and Asaba dialects which is almost identical. I bet if you hear an Onicha and Obosi man interacting in their core dialect you wont be able to point out who is who. I agree with you that there is a slight difference between the Igbo spoken in Enugu city and the one spoken in Onicha axis because of the homers(Enugu) influence.

Obiagu, my point is that there is a little to no difference between the Igbo spoken in Onicha city and the core Onicha dialect because the Onicha axis Igbo is a combination of Idenmili,Onicha and Asaba dialects which is very similar with little difference.

nedu210:
nwa nnaa, the reason u think our enugu dialect is not prominent or that we speak the agboenu(anambra) dialect is because we the wawa people share the most common words with southern igbos and our fellow northern agboenu people, what i mean by common are those words we use every day when interacting with people, take for instance, anambra people use words like (f) eg, ife, ifeanyi, while we use (h) eg, ihe, iheany, with southern igbos, then the southern igbos also use words like (r) eg, ora na eze, while we, the wawa use (h) eg, oha na eze, with our fellow northern agboenu brodas, another eg, is the word (l) eg, ala for our southern brodas and (n) eg ana, ani or anu for wawa and agboenu, and the use of (ny 4 y, g 4 y, g 4 j), the example is endless, u wil also notice that anambra do not share most words with southern igbo, making enugu dialect, the dialect that link southen and northern igbo together, that is why an enugu person can understand anambra and souther igbo more than southern and anambra can understand each other. Another reason u think enugu speak more of agboenu(anambra) is because enugu is mostly dominated by anambra peopel and those people u see speakin anambra ar actually anambra people bcus u hardly see an enugu person speak (fi fi fi). For our ebonyi people especially abakaliki, that an abakaliki person is not speaking his dialect is that there is no other abakaliki person speak with, and they speak the same central igbo with enugu. Enugu have their own central igbo and when an enugu person speak u will knw.

But who are the "agbenu" ppl? I remember my dadd use to refers to someppl as "ndi agbenu" which make me think it most be a certain group in Anambra or even Enugu bevause my uncle alzo reffered to some Enugu guys as "ndi agbenu"? Just curious tho.

Just curious, but does anyone here know Isuama Igbo?

NRI PRIEST: Obiagu, my point is that there is a little to no difference between the Igbo spoken in Onicha city and the core Onicha dialect because the Onicha axis Igbo is a combination of Idenmili,Onicha and Asaba dialects which is very similar with little difference.

That's quite interesting. I probably do not know Onitsha dialect the way I think I do. There used to be slight difference between Enugu and Onitsha (city) dialects but these days, it's virtually the same only that Onitsha has more slang and flavour that gives is that "swag".

NRI PRIEST:

But who are the "agbenu" ppl? I remember my dadd use to refers to someppl as "ndi agbenu" which make me think it most be a certain group in Anambra or even Enugu bevause my uncle alzo reffered to some Enugu guys as "ndi agbenu"? Just curious tho.

Ndi Agbenu are Anambra people that may include Oji in Enugu while Ndi Wawa are Enugu people, though both terms are archaic now.

odumchi: Just curious, but does anyone here know Isuama Igbo?

Isuama was brought to ruins by your Aro ppl

NRI PRIEST:


Isuama was brought to ruins by your Aro ppl

Lol . It's not our fault that some people were unable to comprehend Isuama due partly to the presence of Arochukwu. Isuama was just trying to blend dialects from every corner of Igboland and Arochukwu just happened to be in the extreme east.

Anyway... I found a few interesting (at least I think they are) documents. The first one is of Chinua Achebe's lecture in Owerri (1999) in which he denounced Standard Igbo. He wrote it in his own native Idenmilli dialect (NRI I know you will have no problem deciphering it) .

The second is the same exact document, however in Standard Igbo. Maybe they will help.

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00fwp/igbo/achebe/index.html

And yeah, if anyone knows how to speak Isuama please give us some examples.

Obiagu1:

I think that the Igbo spoken in the cities of Enugu and Onitsha is different from typical Onitsha/Idemili/Asaba dialect. The currently spoken dialect in Onitsha and Enugu is actually a blend of several dialects but closely resembles that of Anambra dialects not necessarily Onitsha/Idemili. I think you'll observe quite a lot of difference when you read a bible written in Onitsha dialect.

Those spoken central dialects is what you'll hear in Kaduna and Lagos, places I've lived for long periods. I don't know what dialect is spoken in PH.

I think i know a core Onitsha dialect when i hear one. Onitsha people use "Ive" instead of "Ife" or "Ihe" that is used in Igbo izugbe. The difference between most parts of Anambra with onitsha is that they use the letter "V" instead of letter "f" or "h".

afam4eva:
I think i know a core Onitsha dialect when i hear one. Onitsha people use "Ive" instead of "Ife" or "Ihe" that is used in Igbo izugbe. The difference between most parts of Anambra with onitsha is that they use the letter "V" instead of letter "f" or "h".

You will never hear an Onicha man use"Ive"; Isuofia,Ekwuluobia and environs use "Ive". If you hear flavour nabania you will notice he has a accent and will usually use " Ive"for "Ife",thats because he came from tha Orumba area. One word that Onicha,Obosi and Nkpor are known for is " Isa aru"(to take a bath). They use ""Isa" in the place of "Iwu" which is used by some but not all Idenmili towns. Another town that use the letter "V" instead of "F" is Awka! Like I said before there is very little difference between Idenmili and Onicha dialects and it will be impossible for an outsider to point out!

NRI PRIEST:

But who are the "agbenu" ppl? I remember my dadd use to refers to someppl as "ndi agbenu" which make me think it most be a certain group in Anambra or even Enugu bevause my uncle alzo reffered to some Enugu guys as "ndi agbenu"? Just curious tho.

nwa nnaa, agbenu people ar anambra people, enugu and imo call anambra people agbenu while people from onicha axis call the rest of anambra people agbenu, and no enugu lga is referred to as agbenu, all ar wawa people.