Nigeria: Difference, if it exists, between the Yoruba language spoken in the city of Lagos and a "traditional" form of Yoruba; degree to which the difference is of importance; whether it can cause misunderstanding (2004)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 29 November 2004 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | NGA43147.E |
| Reference | 1 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Nigeria: Difference, if it exists, between the Yoruba language spoken in the city of Lagos and a "traditional" form of Yoruba; degree to which the difference is of importance; whether it can cause misunderstanding (2004), 29 November 2004, NGA43147.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/42df61492.html [accessed 3 November 2019] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Numerous sources stated that the Yoruba language spoken in Lagos and other forms of Yoruba can be understood or not depending on the dialect of the person speaking the Yoruba and the person listening (Assistant professor 23 Nov. 2004; Professor of African languages 22 Nov. 2004; Professor of art history 22 Nov. 2004).
According to numerous sources, there are between 20 and 26 dialects of the Yoruba language (Ethnologue May 2004; Professor of African languages 22 Nov. 2004; Assistant professor 23 Nov. 2004).
The following information was provided in a 22 November 2004 telephone interview with a professor of African languages and linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who is also the executive director of the National Council of Organizations of Less Commonly Taught Languages. The professor stated that some of the dialects like the Oyo, Ijebu, Ekiti, Egba, and Ilaje are very close, and may be understood by someone who speaks the Lagos dialect, while other dialects may be difficult to understand to a speaker of the Lagos dialect. In addition, close geography does not necessarily mean that the dialects will be understood.
According to information received during a 23 November 2004 telephone interview with an assistant professor at the University of Georgia who is also a Yoruba language instructor, the Lagos dialect is spoken by "educated" people. According to the assistant professor, it is more of a standard dialect, which should be understood by people who speak rural dialects. However, those who speak rural dialects may not be understood by Lagos speakers of Yoruba.
The following information was given during a telephone interview on 22 November 2004 with a professor of art history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who specializes in Yoruba art. This professor stated that the Lagos Yoruba language has been influenced by many languages, including English. He corroborated the information provided previously when he stated that the Lagos Yoruba may or may not be understood by someone from outside Lagos. This professor also corroborated the information provided by the assistant professor when he stated that geography can play a role in determining whether the Yoruba dialect can be understood or not. Those dialects which are geographically closer to Lagos like the Ijebu and Awori, which are spoken in places to the north of Lagos should be understood by a person from Lagos.
On the African Studies Institute of the University of Georgia Website, information was found on the five regional groupings of the dialects: "North-West Yorùbá (NWY); North Eastern Yorùbá (NEY); Central Yorùbá (CY); South-West Yorùbá (SWY); South East Yorùbá (SEY)" (n.d.).
Additional information on the dialects was found, including the following:
Phonological, lexical and grammatical variations are the hallmarks of these groupings since there are variant degrees of mutual intelligibility among the 'geographic' dialects found in each group. A consensus standard form has however evolved and is recognized as the form for writing and teaching the language. This form, relatively close to the SWY, is understood by speakers of all the different dialects and it continues to serve the communicative purpose of all speakers (ibid. n.d.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
African Studies Institute, University of Georgia. n.d. "Yorùbá Language."
Assistant professor and Yoruba instructor, University of Georgia. 23 November 2004. Telephone interview.
Ethnologue. May 2004. "Yoruba: a Language of Nigeria."
Professor of African languages and linguistics, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 22 November 2004. Telephone interview.
Professor of art history, University of Wisconsin-Madison. 22 November 2004. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Ethno-Net, The Rosetta Project, University of Georgia.
