Olùkùmi

About

The Olùkùmi Living Dictionary project is led by Nigerian linguist Dr. Bolanle Elizabeth Arokoyo, who holds a PhD in Linguistics, and has been documenting the grammar of Olùkùmi since 2011. Dr. Arokoyo is a Lecturer at the Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. She is a Living Tongues Fellow and coordinates many ongoing documentation projects in Nigeria. Background on this dictionary Dr. Arokoyo collaborated with Dr. Greg Anderson and Dr. K. David Harrison at Living Tongues Institute in 2012 to create the Olùkùmi Talking Dictionary (a previous version of this dictionary that contained about 500 entries). With support from Living Tongues, Dr. Arokoyo then published the first-ever print dictionary for Olùkùmi in 2017 which was printed and distributed in Olùkùmi communities. In 2021, Dr. Arokoyo collaborated with Anna Luisa Daigneault at Living Tongues Institute to organize and import the 1600+ entries of print dictionary into a new Olùkùmi Living Dictionary. This was accomplished with digital assistance from Living Tongues intern Ashlie Devenney, programming by web developer Jacob Bowdoin and supervision by Dr. Gregory D. S. Anderson. Background on the language Olùkùmi is in danger of disappearing in the coming generations if steps are not taken now to preserve and revitalize this language. Olùkùmi is a Yoruboid language spoken in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State Nigeria. It belongs to the Kwa family of the Niger–Congo language family. Ugbodu, Ukwu-Nzu, Ubulubu, Ugboba, Idumogo, Ogodor and Anioma are the seven towns making up the Olùkùmi clan. According to the National Population census of 2006, Olùkùmi has a population of 13,750. They are neighbours to many ethnic groups which are all reflected in their language. They are bounded on the East by Anambra state, South-East by Imo state and River states, in the South by Bayelsa state, in the South-West by Isoko, in the West by Urhobo, North-West by…

Grammar

1. Olùkùmi Alphabets A, B, CH, D, E, Ẹ, F, G, GB, GH, GW, H, I, J, K, KP, KW, L, M, N, O, Ọ, R, S, Ṣ, T, U, W, Y, Z a, b, ch, d, e, ẹ, f, g, gb, gh, gw, h, i, j, k, kp, kw, l, m, n, o, ọ, r, s, ṣ, t, u, w, y, z /a, b, ʧ, d, e, ɛ, f, g, gb, ɣ, gw, h, i, ʤ, k, kp, kw, l, m, n, o, ɔ, r, s, ʃ, t, u, w, j, z/ Table1 Olùkùmi Alphabets a b ch d e ẹ f g gb gh Gw h i j k kp Kw l m n o ọ r s ṣ t u w y z Table 2 Olùkùmi Alphabets 2. Parts of the Body Olùkùmi English ọ́wọ́ hand àtálọ́wó palm of hand ínọ́ belly órí head eyín teeth ara body irun hair inọ́ stomach ùdí buttocks etín ear imọn nose ẹrun mouth ozu eye íghórẹ̀dọ̀ heart ọnyàn breast ọgbòdògbọ̀ thigh ughó vagina ókó penis 3. Eatables Olùkùmi English usu yam obì kola nut ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ wẹ́rẹ́ banana akpaka beans ohun salt ọbẹ soup ùkpọ̀nràn coconut ẹghẹn egg ilá okra ẹ́zá fish 4. Materials Olùkùmi English ugba/ughogho gourd/ vessel òkúta stone orúrú cotton ẹ̀gígán basket udo mortar ulé house ẹ́ní mat aso cloth 5. Family and Relationships Olùkùmi English ẹnẹ person obìnrẹn woman oma child ọma ọkùnrẹn son ọmobìnrẹn daughter ba father yé mother bá bá grandfather yé yé grandmother ọmọma grandchild ọkùnrẹn man olùkù friend aya wife ọkọ husband ọmómànẹ́bámànẹ́ye orphan ọmoghíyà obìnrẹn maidservant akpẹran butcher 6. Places Olùkùmi English ọ́gwódé compound ùgà room ómí river etin ómí river bank ulé house uléwé school ọzà market ulíwin toilet ulimaómànẹ́ye orphanage úlẹ́zọ́ court 7. Liquid Nouns Olùkùmi English ómí water ìtọ̀ urine ẹmọn wine ekpo ọkpẹ oil palm ítọ́ saliva ẹ̀zẹ̀ blood ómí ọnyà breast milk 8. Animals Olùkùmi English àgùtàn sheep orẹfàn cow ázá dog ẹzò snake ùgbẹ́n snail eku rat ẹ́dúwẹ́ fowl oyin bee ologbo cat kpẹ́kpẹ́yẹ duck ẹṣi horse ẹyẹ bird úgún vulture ífẹ́nfẹ́n mosquito erunlé goat 9. Plants Olùkùmi English gbígbẹ̀ to plant urùngbẹ̀ plant ọhàn bíbó orange ijin ọ̀kpẹ̀ palm tree 10. Abstract Nouns Olùkùmi English rínnózú love úbí sin ébí hunger ẹ̀rù fear ọ̀ghọ̀ glory ọ́gbán wisdom ẹ̀kọ̀kọ̀ condition ìtalọfọ̀…