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n.
n.
pr.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
dog
body
we
a wasteful person
dream
riddle
hut
style
strength
chair
Tone practice:
p
ap
p
n.
n.
n.
a wasteful person
arm
scar
Tongue twisters:
jl j jku Jd.
jl ate Jds leftovers.
Ad j jaa Jay
Ad ate Jays fish.
/e/
ew
we
er
er
ed
d
p
pl
gl
t
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
leaf
youth
play, game
python
shrimp
language
curse
a type of facial mark
headwear(female)
lip
Page 301
Tone practice:
ed
d
n.
n.
shrimp
language
er
er
r
n.
n.
play, game
python
benefit / gain
n.
n.
dust
a type of meal made with black eyed peas
eruku
kuru
n.
Tongue twisters:
Ww l w k l jre y. (Proverb)
Taking birth prevents ones body from feeling cold.
Dl d ad ba.
Dl wore the kings crown.
//
d
kk
rk
y
y
jj
g
s
p
n
kn
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
human being
bicycle
cheek
bird
honor
gently
cassava
leg
peanut
mat
leopard
Tone practice:
i
n.
n.
work
poverty
j
j
n.
n.
blood
pledge, oath
Page 302
Tongue twisters:
d j j lri kk.
The hunter ate fish on the bike.
Plpl ld dgb. (Proverb)
A hunter hunts carefully.
/i/
igi
r
b
Bs
d
d
iy
id
dl
dw
tree, stick
dew
birth
name of a person
bundle
butt, the reason why
honor
brass
family, household
obstacle
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Tone practice:
ife
f
n.
n.
cup
whistle
d
d
n.
n.
bundle
butt, the reason why
Tongue twisters:
rri Rs n rnjo r yani lnu.
Rss experience on her trip surprised everyone.
d igi ni Jd w.
Jd is by the tree.
Bs dr n d igi gga.
Bs stands by the tall tree.
Page 303
/o/
ow
w
op
p
kta
j
ojo
j
olw
rr
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
money
trade
widow
pillar
stone
name of a male person
coward
rain
rich person
ground nut oil, peanut oil
Tone practice:
j
j
n.
n.
op
p
n.
n.
widow
pillar, post
ow
w
n.
n.
money
trade
Tongue twisters:
j gbow lw olw lwd.
j got the money from the wealthy person in Owd town.
Ol drr sn odo Mma Tol.
Ol poured the peanut oil into Tols mothers mortar.
//
w
w
w
w
k
k
k
k
pl
pl
klkl
kkr
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
hand
broom
respect
name of a Yorb town
hoe
spear
vehicle
husband
toad
brain
fox
key
Page 304
Tone practice:
k
k
n.
n.
spear
hoe
pl
pl
n.
n.
brain
frog
Tongue twisters:
pl d n i bi pl klkl
The brain of the young person works like the brain of a fox. (S/he is canny like a fox.)
l jk sk ga r.
l threw a spear at the vehicle of his boss.
/u/
kkr
burk
dd
k
l
tut
l
t
f
l
adj. short
adj. bad
adj. black/dark
v.
to die
v.
beat
v./adj. to be cold
v.
to mingle
v.
untie
v.
to wash
n.
drum
Tone practice:
l
l
lu
t
t
tu
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
to mingle
to beat
to make a hole(under)
untie
to ease, to soothe
to uproot
Tongue twisters:
Mo lu lu dndn nlu Lol.
I beat the dndn drum in Lols town.
Ooru brk m Ol n ru.
Ol was very hot in the middle of the night.
COERLL - Yorb Ymi
Page 305
r
bdn
y
oj
igi
ed
m
ow
d
k
d
aj
w
k
j
w
k
od
w
od
do
[a]
[e]
[]
Page 306
[i]
[o]
[]
[u]
r
bdn
y
y
If
f
d
ed
er
re
p
ap
s
r
ara
r
ja
er
pr
br
apr
aff
ad
gd
br
[]
[]
[a]
[]
Page 307
[]
[e]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[i]
[]
[]
[o]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[]
[u]
[]
j
oj
j
ab
d
j
b
j
o
iu
et
b
op
p
w
ir
igi
w
ka
r
r
k
k
b
kta
Page 308
Nasal Vowels
Standard Yorb language has five nasal vowels: -an; -n; -in; -n; -un
/an/
iyn
ran
itan
tn
sn
bdn
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pounded yam
generation
thigh
story
afternoon
name of a Yorb city
Tone practice:
itan
tn
n.
n.
thigh
story
sn
sn
n.
n.
orange
afternoon
/n/
bn
pn
pn
ahn
gbn
gbn
gbn
agbn
gbn
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
gun
wooden bowl
a bachelor
tongue
wisdom
thirty
coconut
basket
chin
Tone practice:
gbn
gbn
n.
n.
wisdom
thirty
gbn
agbn
gbn
n.
n.
n.
coconut
basket
chin
/n/
yn
adj.
that one
Page 309
nn
n-n-n!
yn
adv.
adv.
pr.
yes
really? Is that so?
that
It is important to note that not very many words end in /n/ in Yorb.
/in/
eyn
yn
yin
gbn
pn
irin
rn
rn
in
sn
sn
n.
n.
pr.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tooth
back
you (plural)
snail
portion
iron, metal
walk
laughter
horse
worship
shame
Tone practice:
yn
yin
n.
pr.
back
you (plural)
irin
rn
n.
n.
iron, metal
walk
/un/
irun
dun
fun
bn
okn
kun
run
rn
dn
adn
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
hair
bed bug
chalk
a dirty person
rope
ocean
heaven
neck
year
sweetness, flavor
Tone practice:
okn
n.
rope
Page 310
kun
run
rn
n.
n.
n.
ocean
heaven
neck
r
bdn
rn
un
gbn
ikn
gbn
gbn
irin
ikn
ynb
rn
gn
iyn
ahn
erin
ikn
jgbn
iyn
gbn
eyn
obnrin
ibsn
orn
dnkn
itan
orin
ktn
igun
yn
ikun
[an]
[n]
Page 311
[in]
[n]
[un]
r
bdn
rn
un
gbn
ikn
gbn
gbn
irin
ayn
ynb
rn
gn
iyn
ahn
erin
ikn
jgbn
iyn
gbn
eyn
obnrin
ibsn
orn
dnkn
itan
orin
ktn
igun
yn
ikun
[n]
[n]
[an]
[n]
[n]
[n]
[n]
[n]
[in]
[n]
[n]
[n]
[n]
[n]
[un]
a/d//re/l
d//d
b/n/k
gba/n/gba
k//k
gb//gb
D//d
B/l//l
a/l//gb
name of a person
fried yam
a girls name
open arena
toad
very big
name of a male person
name of a person
lizard
Page 312
kr
fn
//k/r
//f//n
a type of fabric
benefit
B/m/b/l
B/m/p
name of a person
name of a boy or girl
Page 313
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
adj.
v.
father
to peel
to start; to squat
name of a male or female Yorb person
shoe
to cover
to jump; to puncture
to fear
wicked
anger
Tone practice:
b
b
bi
v.
v.
v.
to deliver a baby
to throw up
to ask
b
b
b
v.
v.
v.
to be free
to boil/parboil
to worship
Tongue twisters:
Bs b bb b bt.
Bs helped father take off his shoe(s).
Drum song
B a b lni
B a b bni
wn l bni t m
Translation:
If we pursue people in order to wickedly hurt them and we fail to get a hold on them, we should stop
pursuing them. It is not good to be an eternal enemy to people.
COERLL - Yorb Ymi
Page 314
/d/
d
dm
dl
d/dd
drj
dw
dw
dnilj
d
d
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
adv.
n.
n.
human being
worry
a foreign country, city, town, village
backyard
to forgive
money contribution
to contribute money
to be sure of, to be certain
a stupid person
a hunter
Tone practice:
d
d
v.
v.
d
d
v.
v.
to soften
to trap
ed
d
n.
n.
shrimp
language
d
d
n.
n.
a stupid person
a hunter
Tongue Twisters:
Ad d ad ba n Ayd.
Ad (name of a person) wore the crown of the king in the city of Ayd.
Dda tut b y db.
Dda (name of a boy) is gentle like a dove.
/f/
If
f
aff
funfun
fk
frn
fun
fn
fl
Fmi
n.
n.
n.
adj.
n.
v.
n.
v.
n.
n.
Tone practice:
f
f
v.
v.
to blow
to widen
f
f
v.
v.
to wash
to break
Tongue Twisters:
Fmi frnan fl funfun.
Fmi likes white hats.
Aff f y funfun n l.
The breeze blew away the white feather.
Fl f funfun fn Fmi.
Fl washed the white clothe for Fmi.
/g/
g
n.
go
n.
ogn
n.
ogun
n.
gn
n.
gd
n.
agogo (aago) n.
igi
n.
ga
n.
g
v.
boss
glory
twenty; inheritance
war
god of iron
plantain
clock, wristwatch, time
tree
chair
to cut
Tone practice:
gn
v.
to climb
gn
adj. to be lengthy, tall
gn
v.
to pound, to mash
Tongue twisters:
Gbnga g igi gga.
Gbnga cut a tall tree.
Proverb:
Igi gogoro m gn-n mi lj, kr la ti w .
Be mindful of impending troubles.
Page 316
The [kp] and [gb] are referred to as plosive consonants. They have double places of
articulation(labial and velum).. Hence they are labio-velar consonants. Their manner of articulation
is plosive. Hence, they are both labiovelar plosives. Their difference is in voicing. The sounds
indicate double articulation. The letter /p/ is represented as [kp] in Yorb pronunciation. The /k/
and the /p/ in the [kp], and the /g/ and the /b/ in [gb] are not separate but pronounced together.
/gb/
gbogbo
gbgb
gb
gb
gb
agbd
gbdo
algb
agbrn
gbgb
adj.
n.
n.
n.
prep.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
all
root
the elderly
group, people, association, organization
beside, side
Yorb mens flowing garment
corn
lizard
umbrella
faith, belief
Tone practice:
agbn
gbn
agbn
n.
n.
n.
basket
coconut
wasp
gbr
agbra
n.
n.
flood
power
Tongue Twisters:
Gbogbo gbgb l s ja Gbgi.
All the elderly people went to Gbagi market.
Gbogbo algb s lgblgb nn gbl.
All the lizards are running around in the compound.
/h/
ih
whl
Wl
h
h
h
ahn
lh
h
h
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
adj.
n.
n.
v.
n.
pit, hole
trouble
name of a male person
to peel
to distribute
tight; narrow
tongue
a veiled woman
to scratch; to run away
side; region
Page 317
Tone practice:
han
hn
hn
v.
v.
v.
to scream
to appear
to grasp (something)
h
ha
v.
v.
to be tight; to distribute
to scratch
Tongue Twisters:
Hhanrun t bba Dl hanrun j whl.
The snoring of Dls father is a problem.
/j/
[d]
j
j
j
j
j
j
j
onj
ij
j
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
to dance
trip, travel
market
storm
to fight
day
rain
food
jungle
fight
Tone practice:
j
j
n.
n.
blood
oath
Tongue Twisters:
j j n j j n jeje.
There was a storm on market day seven days ago.
Jmk jd n aj ij.
Jmk shook her butt at the dance association.
/k/
k (ml) n.
k
n.
ork
n.
COERLL - Yorb Ymi
kk
eku
kk
knrin
rk
k
kn
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
quickly
rat
bicycle
man, male
cheek
gossip
leopard
Tone practice:
k
k
k
k
n.
n.
n.
n.
vehicle
husband
hoe
spear
Tongue twisters:
Kmi k Kk kr.
Kmi (a name of a female person) greeted Kk (a name of a female person) good morning.
Kk k Kmi kr
Kk (a name of a female person) greeted Kmi(a name of a female person) good morning.
Proverb:
Kkr ni abr kr, k e mm fn ad
Though the needle is small, it cannot be swallowed by a hen.
/l/
l
l
l
l
l
Lkan
labalb
lb
l
lti
v.
v.
adj.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
prep.
to chase
can, to be able to
to be lazy
to beat
honor; wealth
name of a male person
butterfly
name given to the second child born after twins
dream
in order to; from
Tone practice:
l
l
v.
v.
go, went
to blend
l
l
v.
v.
to cut; to be free
to lick
Page 319
Tongue twister:
Ll l l lb lb.
Ll dreamed in lbs hut.
/m/
mj
m
mw
m
am
mbnrin
mknrin
mm
omi
mlml
adj.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
two
knowledge
a PhD degree holder
child
clay
a young female person
a young male person
mother
water
builder
Tone practice:
m
m
adj.
v.
to be clean
to know
Tongue twisters:
Mo mu omi n ile mm Myw.
I drank water at Myws mothers house.
Mm mi mu omi mi.
My mom drank my water.
/n/
n
nb
nbo
npn
nwj
nsny
nbyn
nkan
n
nr
v.
adv.
interro.
adj.
adv.
adv.
prep.
adj.
v.
n.
to have
here
where?
thick
in front of, ahead
now
over there
only, alone
to clean
nr (Nigerian currency)
Page 320
Tone practice:
n
ni
v.
v.
to have
to be
n
n
v.
v.
to haggle or bargain
to beat (someone)
Tongue Twisters:
Ny n nr nl naa r.
Ny spent nr at the in-laws house.
Nran nw nnkn.
Nran spent money extravagantly.
/p/ = [kp]
p
p
epo
p
ptpt
ptpt
pn
pt
pl
ptk
n.
n
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
adj.
scar
peanut
cooking oil, gas for vehicle
bag
puddle
completely
divide
underwear
cardboard, cardboard box
important, crucial
Tone practice:
ap
p
n.
n.
arm
a wasteful person
pn
pn
adj.
v.
to be ripe
to carry on the back (e.g. a baby)
Tongue Twisters:
Pkte Pj pa y par.
Pjs trap killed the partridge.
Parl pn p n.
Parl (name of a male person) divided the peanuts.
Pd (name of a male person) pej n ppa bl pp .
Pd killed a snake on pp soccer field.
COERLL - Yorb Ymi
Page 321
/r/
ara
r
r
rere
rrnn
rr
ron
roj
ryn
rnt
n.
v.
v.
adj.
v.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
v.
body
to see
to buy
nice, good
to laugh
not at all
to think
to complain
to report
to remember
Tone practice:
r
r
v.
v.
to think, to stir
to tie as in wrapper/cloth
er
r
n.
n.
game, play
profit
er
re
n.
n.
boa constrictor
statue
Tongue Twisters:
Rr t Rm r r mi Rnt m inu Rm dn.
Rm became happy on seeing my good friend Rnt.
Rm ra rs n Rm.
Rm bought rice in Rm.
/s/
rs
ws
sr
s
sn
sr
Simill
sinmi
sn
s
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
rice
insult
patience
leg
worship
to speak
name of a female person
to rest
sickness
a party, a get-together
Page 322
Tone practice:
sn
sn
sin
v.
v.
v.
to worship
to sneeze
to bury
sn
sn
sn
n.
n.
n.
worship
shame, reproach
religion
Tongue Twisters:
Simill sinmi lj sinmi.
Simill rested on Sunday.
Sanm (name of a male person) bin s Snn.
Sanm was mad at Snn.
//
// is pronounced as sh as in shy.
kt
in
iu
a
al
ad
l
ro
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adj.
n.
n.
n.
a pair of pants
horse
yam
cloth, fabric
the seller/owner of fabric/cloth
name of a female person
name of a person
to be difficult
custom, tradition
hawk
command
Tone practice:
v.
v.
to break
to sin, to commit a crime
n.
n.
custom, tradition
hawk
Tongue Twisters:
ad ub nwju l.
ad fell in front of l.
COERLL - Yorb Ymi
Page 323
l i n sb y?
Does l work in ys shop?
/t/
atgn
tlw
ti
ata
t
t
gbkt
tltl
tt
bt
n.
n.
conj.
n.
n.
n.
v.
adv.
n.
n.
air
palm of the hand
and
pepper
conspiracy
alcoholic beverage
to summersault
originally, before
truth
shoe
Tone practice:
[Sgo] t n.
t
n.
t
t
to urinate
to raise, e.g. a child
v.
v.
Tongue Twister:
Tt ta at n tt.
Tt sold peppers on the street.
Proverb:
Att sn ltt j.
Early to bed, early to rise.
/w/
w
w
wrwr
wr
whl
w
w
w
w
Wl
n.
n.
adv.
adj.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
book
behavior
quickly
small, little
trouble
to be crooked
to like
to exist
to come
name of a male person
Page 324
Tone practice:
w
iwe
n.
n.
book
gizzard
wl
Wmm
v.
adj.
to enter
name of a person
Tongue Twisters:
Wl wle Wmm.
Wl entered Wmms house.
Wl wle Wl.
Wl entered Wls house.
Wl wale mi.
Wl came to my house.
/y/
iyanrn
n.
yt
adj.
ynyn
n.
ynmynm n.
yj
v.
yn
v.
Ynk
n.
Ym
n.
yynyyn n.
yn
n.
sand
different
ice
mosquito
to appear
to praise
name of a person
name of a person
a dentist
back
Tone practice:
y
y
v.
adj.
to rejoice, to slip
to be slimy
yr
yar
n.
n.
room
to refuse
Tongue Twisters:
yy ya Ymi my y .
Ymis moms enthusiasm is rewarding.
Ay y Yl n l y.
Life is pleasant with Yl in y town.
COERLL - Yorb Ymi
Page 325
Consonants
Listen to your teacher for the pronunciation of the words in the left column. There is a consonant
underlined in the word. Check the appropriate box where the underlined consonant belongs.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
r
ad
labalb
igi
a
as
bt
fl
g
ab
ahn
b
gbl
adj
hanrun
jk
omi
ap
kt
yr
d
oko
apr
yw
ow
sr
agbgb
w
nw
plp
[b]
[d]
[f]
[g]
[gb]
[h]
Page 326
[j]
[k]
[l]
[m]
[n]
[p]
[r]
[s]
[]
[t]
[w]
[y]
SYLLABIC NASALS
Examples of the syllabic /n/ can be found in the following:
Adrel
dd
Bnk
gbangba
kk
gbgb
Dd
Bll
algb
kr
fn
a/d//re/l
d//d
b/n/k
gba/n/gba
k//k
gb//gb
D//d
B/l//l
a/l//gb
//k/r
//f/n
name of a person
fried yam
a girls name
open arena
toad
very big
name of a male person
name of a person
lizard
a type of fabric
benefit
B/m/b/l
B/m/p
name of a person
name of a boy or girl
Proverb
Pounded yam is food,
k is medicine.
Solid pap is a last resort,
Popcorn is a snack.
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