The Numeral Systems of Nigerian Languages

Prof Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele

Description

The papers in this collection present the numeral systems of more than twenty Nigerian languages. The papers mainly emanate from a workshop on the numeral systems of Nigerian languages organised by the Linguistic Association of Nigeria during its 23rd Annual Conference which was held at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The workshop arose from awareness created by Dr. Eugene S.L. Chan on the need for Nigerian linguists to document this severely endangered but very important aspect of natural languages. The quantum of mathematical computations - addition, multiplication, subtraction, or a combination of two or all of these - involved in the numeral systems of Nigerian languages is remarkable. The papers reveal that a variety of numeral systems do exist, such as: binary, decimal, incomplete decimal, duodecimal, quinary, quaternary, ternary, mixed, body-part tally systems, and much more. The book is a resource about how different languages manipulate their numeral systems.

Informations

• Publié par: M and J Grand Orbit Communications
• Date de parution: 30 avril 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 3
• EAN13: 9789785421538
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

The Numeral Systems of Nigerian Languages







A Partial List of M & J Grand Orbit Language & Linguistics Texts
1. Four Decades in the Study of Languages & Linguistics in Nigeria: A Festschrift
for Kay Williamson
2. In the Linguistic Paradise: A Festschrift for E.N. Emenanjo
3. Languages & Culture in Nigeria: A Festschrift for Okon Essien
4. Globalization & the Study of Languages in Africa
5. Trends in the Study of Language & Linguistics in Nigeria: A Festschrift for P.A.
Nwachukwu
6. Convergence: English and Nigeria Languages: A Festschrift for Munzali Jibril
7. Language, Literature and Culture in Nigeria: A Festschrift for Ayo Bamgbose
8. Critical Issues in the Study of Linguistics, Languages & Literatures in Nigeria: A
Festschrift for Conrad M.B. Brann
9. Language Policy, Planning & Management in Nigeria: A Festschrift for Ben
Elugbe
10. Language, Literature & Communication in a Dynamic World: A Festschrift for
Chinyere Ohiri-Aniche
11. Language, Literature & Culture in a Multilingual Society: A Festschrift for
Abubakar Rasheed
12. Issues in Contemporary African Linguistics: A Festschrift for Ọladele Awobuluyi
13. Numeral Systems of Nigerian Languages
14. The Syntax of Igbo Causatives: A Minimalist Account
15. The Eleme Phonology
16. Basic Linguistics: For Nigerian Language Teachers
17. English Studies and National Development
18. Language, Literature & Literacy in a Developing Nation
19. Language & Economic Reforms in Nigeria
20. The Syntax & Semantics of Yorùbá Nominal Expressions
21. Functional Categories in Igbo
22. Affixation and Auxiliaries in Igbo








The Numeral Systems
of
Nigerian Languages
















Edited by



Ozo-mekuri Ndimele
&
Eugene S.L. Chan












M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd.
Port Harcourt



LAN Occasional Publications
Landmarks Research Foundation
Box 237 Uniport P.O.
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

e-mail: [e-mail] Mobile Phone: [phone]





Copyright © 2016 M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd




All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, by print, photoprint,
microfilm, or any other means, without written permission from the Copyright owner
except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.




ISBN: 978-978-54127-4-1


Published by



M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd.
Port Harcourt, Nigeria


In Collaboration with


The Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN)













Dedication



This book is dedicated to

\ WHUDF F\DQG/L HUD XP $OO/RYHUVRI1


Preface

ost of the papers in this collection were read at the workshop on the numeral
systems of Nigerian languages organised by the Linguistic Association of M
Nigeria during its 23rd Annual Conference which was held at the University
of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The interest to organise the workshop was borne out of the
awareness created by Dr. Eugene S.L. Chan on the need for Nigerian linguists to
document this severely endangered but very important aspect of our indigenous
languages. Incidentally, the workshop was anchored by Dr. Chan himself. He led the
discussion on the numeral systems of Nigerian languages and drew the attention of
participants at the workshop to the good work he and his colleagues are doing in
terms documenting and archiving the numeral systems of world languages.
Prior to the workshop on the numeral systems of Nigerian languages, Dr.
Eugene S.L. Chan, working in collaboration with Professor Bernard Comrie and a
couple of other colleagues, had begun documenting and archiving the traditional
counting systems of many Nigerian languages. Day after day, those of us on his
mailing list receive requests from Dr. Chan inviting Nigerian linguists to participate
actively in their survey project on the numeral systems of Nigerian languages. To
make the exercise worthwhile, he created a website which is specifically devoted for
archiving numeral systems with the name of the contributors and institutional
affiliations clearly indicated. You can become part of this life-long opportunity to
participate in the survey and to have your contribution published online. Those
interested to be part of the numeracy project and who have data to upload online
should feel free to visit the following website on the numeral systems of world
languages: http://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/numeral/.
A visit to the website will leave you with no choice but to ensure that the
language you speak or the one you are working on as a linguist is part of this global
concern. Please visit the website and see what gaps that exist and where you can
contribute to the enrichment of the survey. It is obvious that Nigerian languages are
the least represented in the survey. Of over 450 indigenous languages spoken in
Nigeria, less than 100 have their numerals published in the famous website. It is a
huge challenge for us linguists and speakers of these languages which are not yet
reported. If you are willing to participate and to see your constructions published
online, please send a mail to Dr. Eugene S.L. Chan at the following e-mail address:
[e-mail].
It is amazing to observe the quantum of mathematical computations (e.g.
addition, multiplication, subtraction, or a combination of two or all of these) involved
in the numeral systems of world languages. In the survey conducted by Eugene S.L.
Chan and his associates, a variety of numerals systems do exist, such as: binary,
decimal, incomplete decimal, duodecimal, quinary, quaternary, ternary, mixed,
body-part tally systems, etc. Perhaps, we have not yet seen it all. More data from a
variety of world languages, including Nigerian languages, may present more
fascinating systems not yet reported anywhere in the world.
This collection is the first in the series of what we hope will be a continuous
exercise until we analyse and document as many numeral systems of our indigenous

vii

Nigerian languages as our resources can carry us. It is a fact that the numeral system
is the most endangered aspect of any language. That is the numeral system of a
language may disappear and be replaced by that of another language even when the
affected language is still active in other areas. In Nigeria, for instance, most young
people can no longer count in their native languages even when they speak their
languages fluently. The preference is the English counting system or the counting
system a larger dominant Nigerian language which they also speak. The consequence
of all this is that the numeral systems of some smaller languages are rapidly
disappearing; hence, aggressive documentation of this aspect of our local languages
is more compelling now than ever.
We are indeed grateful to the Executive Council of the Linguistic Association
of Nigeria led by Professor Ahmed Amfani for granting us the permission to hold the
workshop during the 23rd Annual Conference of the association that produced most
of the papers in this volume. The role of the Department of Linguistics and
Communications Studies, under the headship of Dr. (Mrs.) Christie U. Omego as at
the time the conference was held, is also appreciated.


Ozo-mekuri Ndimele, PhD
Professor of Comparative Grammar
[e-mail]






̀
̣
̀



Table of Contents


Dedication v
Preface i

1. The Yorùbá Numeral System 1
Oladiipo Ajiboye

2. The Numeral System of Nkoroo 27
Ebitare F. Obikudo

3. Òkọ Numerals and their Derivation 41
Joseph D. Atóyèbí

4. The Fulfulde Numeral System 51
Abubakar Muhammad & Abubakar Alkali

5. Elements in Traditional and Modern Numerals of Nsukka Igbo 63
Evelyn Mbah & Benita Uzoigwe

6. The Miship Traditional Numeral System 81
Mohammed Aminu Muazu & Katwal Pemark Isah

7. The Numeral Systems of Nkpor and Gboko: A Comparative Analysis 91
Chukwuma O. Okeke

8. The System of Numeration in Ẹdo 109
Esohe Mercy Omoregbe

9. The Bura Nu