Yoruba language

Yoruba language

      one of a small group of languages that comprise the Yoruboid cluster of the Defoid subbranch of the Benue-Congo branch (Benue-Congo languages) of the Niger-Congo language family. The other Yoruboid languages include Igala and Itsekiri. Yoruba is spoken by more than 20 million people in southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo. It is also used widely as a second language in this area. There are many Yoruba dialects, but the translation of the Bible by a Yoruba speaker, Bishop Samuel Crowther (Crowther, Samuel), in 1884 led to the development of a standard written Yoruba that has been widely adopted across the dialects. There is a substantial body of literature in the Yoruba language, including books, newspapers, and pamphlets. One of the best-known Yoruba writers is Amos Tutuola (Tutuola, Amos), whose work has been translated into many languages. Yoruba is used in radio and television broadcasting and is taught at primary, secondary, and university levels.

John T. Bendor-Samuel
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Yoruba literature — is the spoken and written literature of the Yoruba people, the largest ethno linguistic group in Nigeria, and in Africa. The Yorùbá language is spoken in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, as well as in dispersed Yoruba communities throughout the world.… …   Wikipedia

  • Yoruba — may refer to: * Yoruba people, a West African ethnic group * Yoruba language, the language spoken by the Yoruba people * Yoruba religion, the traditional religion of the Yoruba people * Orisha, a component of the Yoruba religionee also*Ife …   Wikipedia

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  • Yoruba — Yoruban, adj. /yawr euh beuh, yohr /, n., pl. Yorubas, (esp. collectively) Yoruba for 1. 1. a member of a numerous West African coastal people. 2. the language of the Yoruba, a Kwa language. * * * One of Nigeria s three largest ethnic groups,… …   Universalium

  • Yoruba (langue) — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Yoruba. Article connexe : Yorubas. Yoruba yorùbá Parlée au   …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Yoruba Wikipedia — Infobox website name = Yoruba Wikipedia caption = url = http://yo.wikipedia.org/ commercial = No location = Miami, Florida type = Internet encyclopedia project language = Yoruba registration = Optional owner = Wikimedia Foundation author = Yoruba …   Wikipedia

  • Yoruba — [yō′ro͞o bə, yō′ro͞obä΄] n. 1. pl. Yorubas or Yoruba a member of a people of SW Nigeria and neighboring regions 2. the language of this people, a tone language of the Niger Congo subfamily adj. of the Yorubas or their language or culture Yoruban… …   English World dictionary

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