# Afenmai language

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Edoid language spoken in Nigeria

"Afenmai" redirects here. For the ethnic group, see [Afemai people](/source/Afemai_people).

Yekhee Afenmai Kukuruku (outdated) Etsakọ Native to Nigeria Region Edo State Ethnicity Afenmai Native speakers 510,000 (2020)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta–Niger yeai Edoid North-Central Yekhee–Ghotuo Yekhee Language codes ISO 639-3 ets Glottolog yekh1238

**Afenmai** (Afemai), **Yekhee**, or **Iyekhe**, is an [Edoid language](/source/Edoid_language) spoken in [Edo State](/source/Edo_State), [Nigeria](/source/Nigeria) by the [Afenmai people](/source/Afenmai_people). Not all speakers recognize the name *Yekhee*; some use the district name *Etsako*.

Previously the name used by British colonial administration was **Kukuruku**, supposedly after a battle cry "ku-ku-ruku",[2] now considered derogatory.[1]

Afenmai is unusual in reportedly having a [voiceless tapped fricative](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_tapped_fricative) as the "tense" equivalent of the "lax" voiced tap /ɾ/ (compare [aɾ̞̊u] 'hat' and [aɾu] 'louse'),[3] though in other descriptions it is described simply as a fricative and analyzed as the "lax" equivalent of the "tense" voiceless stop /t/.[4]

## Phonology

Vowels are /i e ɛ a ɔ o u/. Long vowels and the large number of diphthong in the language are derived from sequences of short vowels, often from the optional elision of /l/.

Afenmai has a complex system of morphotonemic alterations based on two phonemic tones, high and low. At the surface level there are five distinctive tones: high, low, falling, rising and mid. Mid tone is the result of [downstep](/source/Downstep) of a high tone after a low tone. The contour tones (falling and rising) either occur on long vowels or diphthongs, from a sequence of high+low or low+high, or on short vowels produced from the contraction of such a long vowel or diphthong. Rising tones are rather uncommon, as they tend to be replaced by high, low or mid.[4]

Consonant phonemes of the Ekpheli dialect[4] Labial Dental Alveolar Palatal Velar Labiovelar Nasal m, mː n Plosive voiced b d ɡː ɡ͡b, ɡ͡bː voiceless p t(ː) kː k͡p, k͡pː Affricate voiced dz voiceless ts Fricative voiced v(ː) ɣ voiceless f θ s x Approximant ʋ l j w Tap ɾ

The consonants marked as [geminated](/source/Gemination) have been analyzed in various ways, including 'tense' or 'fortis' and paired up with 'lax' or 'lenis' partners, though there is no phonological basis for grouping the supposed 'long' consonants together, or for partnering them with particular 'short' consonants. The clear cases are /k͡pː ɡ͡bː mː/, which are twice as long as /k͡p ɡ͡b m/ but otherwise identical in a spectrogram. /kː ɡː/ are likewise twice as long as /x ɣ/. However, alveolar /t/ is only slightly longer than dental /θ/, and while /v/ is longer than /ʋ/, that's to be expected for a fricative compared to an approximant.[4]

The alveolar consonants have [postalveolar](/source/Postalveolar_consonant) allophones before /i/ plus another vowel, where /i/ would otherwise become [j], as in /siɛsiɛ/ > [ʃɛʃɛ] 'to be small'.[4] In addition, /ts/ optionally becomes [tʃ] before a single /i/, as in /itsi/ 'pig' ([itsi] ~ [itʃi]). The other alveolar consonants do not have this variation, unless the triggering environment is provided within a prosodic word: /odzi/ 'crab' ([odzi] in citation form) > /odzi oɣie/ 'the king's crab' ([odʒoɣje]). The sounds transcribed with ⟨ʃ ʒ ɲ⟩ may actually be closer to [ɕ ʑ nʲ].[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Apart from /p ts dz θ/, these consonants appear in all dialects of Afenmai investigated by Elimelech (1976). /p/ is absent from Uzairue dialect, being replaced by /f/, and is quite rare in most other dialects. /ts dz/ are fricativized to /s z/ in Aviele and South Uneme dialects. /θ/ is retracted to /ɹ̝̊/ in most other dialects, as in [aθu ~ aɹ̝̊u] 'hat'.[4]

## Orthography

Afenmai Alphabet (Alfabẹti Etsakọ)[5][6][7][better source needed] A B C CH D E Ẹ F G GB GH GW I J K KH KP KPH KW L M MH N NW NY O Ọ P R S SH T TH TS U V VH W Y Z

## Phrases

Etsako phrases include:

Etsako English Moo! Well done Abee!/See! Hello (How is it?) O somi/O chi It is good. (Response) Na ẹgbia Good morning Na ẹlẹ (Response) Agbelọ Good morning Agbe (Response) U vhẹẹ ze? Hope you are fine. Eli Yes U lẹ guẹ? Did you sleep well? A kpẹmi We give thanks Moo ota / Oviẹna / Togi Good afternoon Moo ogode / Obugala Good evening O ki akọ / O kila akhuẹ Good night (until tomorrow) O ki la Goodbye O ki idegbe Until later Lẹ khia / Guẹ khia Go well. R'ẹlo ku egbe Take care.

Common Etsako phrases showing dialectical variations between Iyekhe and Agbelo:

English Iyekhe Agbelo I am coming I bade Mi aa balẹ Where are you? Obo u ya? Obo u la? Where are you going to? Obo u ye? Obo u aa ye? What do you want? Eme u kele? Elọ u aa nono? This is my brother Iyọkpa mẹ ki ọna Inyọguo mẹ kh' ọna I am hungry Osami ọ gbe mẹ Okiami o aa gbe mẹ

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-e25_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-e25_1-1) [Yekhee](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/ets) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (25th ed., 2022)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Udo, Reuben K. (1970). [*Geographical Regions of Nigeria*](https://archive.org/details/geographicalregi0000udor). University of California Press. p. [109](https://archive.org/details/geographicalregi0000udor/page/109).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Laver (1994) *Principles of Phonetics*, p. 263.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WPP_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WPP_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-WPP_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-WPP_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-WPP_4-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-WPP_4-5) Elimelech (1976). ["A Tonal Grammar of Etsako"](https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7qd5v492). *UCLA Working Papers in Phonetics* (35).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Improved Afẹmai Orthography (alfabẹti etsakọ)](https://bishweesh.wordpress.com/2018/07/17/improved-afemai-orthography/) (2018, WordPress)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Etsakọ Orthography](https://edoafemai.wordpress.com/2018/12/01/etsako-orthography/) (2018, WordPress)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Adelegan, Zibril (2018), [*A Contrastive Study of Afemai and English Morphological Structures with Learning and Teaching Implications*](https://kubanni.abu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/11772)

## External links

- [Etsako Language Research And Development Centre (ELRDC)](http://etsakolanguage.com/)

v t e Volta–Niger languages Ayere-Ahan Ayere Ahan Gbe Aja Alada Ayizo Ewe Fon Gbesi Gen Gun Tɔli Tofin Pherá Phla Saxwe Igboid Ekpeye Ezaa Igbo Ika Ikwerre Ikwo Izii Mgbo Ogba Yoruboid Ede Igala Itsekiri Yoruba Edoid Delta Degema Engenni Epie North-Central Afenmai Edo Enwan Esan Ghotuo Igwe Ikhin Ikpeshi Ivbiosakon Okpela Ososo Sasaru Uneme Northwestern Akuku Ehueun Iyayu Okpamheri Oloma NW Okpe Uhami Ukue Southwestern Eruwa Isoko SW Okpe Urhobo Uvbie Nupoid Asu Bassa Nge Dibo Ebira Gade Gupa-Abawa Gwari Kakanda Kami Koro Zuba Kupa Nupe Idomoid Agatu Alago Etulo Idoma Igede Yace Akpa Yala Others Akpes Akoko Oko Ukaan

v t e Languages of Nigeria Official languages English National languages Hausa Igbo Yoruba Recognised languages Berom Ebira Edo Efik-Ibibio Fulfulde Gbagyi Idoma Igala Ijaw Isoko Izere Jju Jukun Kanuri Nupe Karai-karai Tiv Tyap Ukwuani Urhobo Indigenous languages Indigenous languages (grouped by Nigerian state) Adamawa Baa Bacama Bali Bata Boga Bura Chamba Leko Daba Daka Dong Fali of Mubi Ga'anda Gaa Gude Gudu Holma Huba Hwana Hya Kamwe Kanakuru Kirya-Konzəl Kofa Koma Kpasam Kugama Kumba Lamang Longuda Margi Margi South Mumuye Ngwaba Nyong Nzanyi Psikyɛ Sukur Taram Teme Tso Vere Waja Wom Yendang Zizilivakan Akwa Ibom Anaang Ekit Ibibio Obolo Oron Bauchi Ɓeele Bole Bure Ciwogai Dass Dazawa Deno Dikaka Dulbu Galambu Gera Geruma Giiwo Guruntum Jalaa Jarawa Jimi Karekare Kariya Kir-Balar Kubi Kushi Kusur–Myet Kutto Kwaami Labir Longuda Mangas Mburku Miya Pa'a Piya Polci Shiki Siri Tso Warji Zangwal Zumbun Bayelsa Izon Epie Urhobo-Isoko Southeast Ijo Benue Eggon Igede Borno Afade Bura Cibak Cineni Dghwede Glavda Gude Guduf-Gava Gvoko Jara Jilbe Kamwe Kanakuru Lamang Maaka Mafa Margi Margi South Nggwahyi Putai Tera Wandala Yedina Cross River Abanyom Efik Mbe Mbembe Delta Urhobo-Isoko Ika Izon Isoko Ukwuani Uhrobo Edo Afenmai Ishan Bini Gombe Awak Bangwinji Bole Dadiya Jara Kamo Ngamo Pero Tangale Tera Tula Waja Jigawa Bade Teshenawa Kaduna Adara Ahwai Anib Atsam Ayu Berom Bu-Ninkada Bina Bishi Cori Doka Dungu Duya Ekhwa Gbagyi-Gbari Gwandara Gyong Hasha Hausa Hyam Ikulu Jju Kaivi Kinuku Koonu Kuzamani Mada Mala Nghan Nikyob-Nindem Ninzo Numana Nungu Nyankpa Ruma Sambe Sha Shamang T'kurmi Timap TiSeni Tivori Toro Tugbiri-Niragu Tumi Tyap (Fantswam, Gworog, Sholyio, Takad, Tyap Mabatado, Tyecharak, Tyuku) Vono Wachi Zhire Kano Ɗuwai Hausa Tikurmi Kebbi Cipu Damakawa Hun-Saare Kogi Basa-Benue Bassa Nge Igala Nupe Oworo Kwara Kakanda Kupa Nupe Nasarawa Ake Alumu Basa-Benue Duhwa Eggon Hasha Jili Toro Niger Asu Bariba Cipu Gbagyi Gwandara Jijili Kakanda Nupe Pongu Ondo Itsekiri Izon Ukaan Plateau Barkul Berom Bogghom Bole Cakfem-Mushere Dass Fyam Fyer Goemai Horom Izere Jorto Koenoem Kofyar Kulere Miship Montol Mundat Mwaghavul Ngas Pe Pyapun Rigwe Ron Sha Sur Tal Tambas Tarok Tyap (Takad) Yankam Yiwom Rivers Abua Baan Biseni Defaka Degema Ekpeye Eleme Engenni Gokana Ijaw Ikwerre Kalabari Khana Kugbo Nkoroo O’chi’chi Obolo Obulom Odual Ogba Ogbogolo Ogbronuagum Ogoni Okodia Oruma Tee Ukwuani-Aboh-Ndoni Taraba Baissa Fali Bete Buru Dadiya Donga Kholok Kpati Laka Lufu Mumuye Nyam Nyingwom Pangseng Rang Tarok Waja Waka Yendang Yoti Yobe Bade Bole Ɗuwai Karekare Ngamo Ngizim Sign languages Nigerian Sign Language Bura Sign Language Hausa Sign Language Scripts Pan-Nigerian alphabet Nigerian braille Medefaidrin

Authority control databases: National Israel

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Afenmai language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afenmai_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afenmai_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.