Niger–Congo language of Nigeria
Uvwiẹ or Ẹphrọn (Effurun) is a Niger Delta language spoken by the Uvwie people of southern Nigeria. It is classified alongside Urhobo, Okpe, Isoko and Eruwa as co-ordinate members of South-western Edoid branch of Proto Edoid language[2] spoken by the Uvwie people of southern Nigeria.
Phonology
The phonemic inventory of Uvwie, amongst other things, consists of seven vowels.[3] Although earlier studies identified nine vowels in two harmonic sets, /i e a o u/ and /ɪ ɛ a ɔ ʊ/.[4][5]
The consonant system is somewhat conservative, and nearly the same as that of Urhobo. The only significant differences are the loss of ɸ, ɣ, and of the distinction between l and n: these alternate, depending on whether the following vowel is oral or nasal. /ɾ, ʋ, j, w/ also have nasal allophones before nasal vowels.
References
- ^ Uvwie at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ Elugbe, B. O. 1989. A comparative Edoid: Phonology and lexicon. Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.Pp 26
- ^ Ekiugbo, P. O. 2016. The sound system of Uvwie. M. A. Thesis, University of Benin
- ^ Omamor, A. P. 1973.
- ^ Archangeli & Pulleyblank, 1994. Grounded phonology, p 181ff
