Iyive language

Iyive, also referred to as Uive, Yiive, Ndir, Asumbos, is a severely endangered Bantoid language spoken in Nigeria and Cameroon.[4] The ethnic group defined by use of this language is the Ndir.[5][6][7]

Iyive
Uive
Native to	Cameroon, Nigeria
Region	South West(s) within the above country(s)
Ethnicity	Ndir defined by the language
Native speakers	(2,000 cited 1996)[1]
Language family	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue-Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Tivoid Central Tivoid A Tiv-Evand Tiv-Iyive-Otanga Iyive
Official status
Official language in	Cameroon, Nigeria
Regulated by	Language Academy
Language codes
ISO 639-3	uiv Iyive
Glottolog	iyiv1238  Iyive
Guthrie code	Zone A[2]
ELP	Iyive[3]

General information

Iyive is an indigenous Tivoid language of the Cameroons close to Tiv proper.[8][9] It is spoken in the Southwest Region in the Manyu division, northeast of Akwaya town on the Nigeria border, Yive village.[10] Although they live in Cameroon, the majority of Iyive’s linguistic population has been forced to relocate to Nigeria due to conflict.[11]

Official status

Iyive is severely endangered and has been classified as moribund as the language is only spoken by the older generation of Ndir and not passed down to younger generations.[12][13] Iyive is not supported by any government bodies or institutions.[14]

Writing system

Iyive is written using Latin script.[15]

See also

• Endangered language
• Tivoid languages
• Cameroons
• Language death
• Nigeria

References

1. Iyive at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
3. Endangered Languages Project data for Iyive.
4. ‘’The Endangered Language Project’’
5. [Alan S. & Regnier, C. (2008). Tivoid Survey. Cameroon: SIL]
6. [Brenzinger, M. (Eds.). (2007). Language Diversity Endangered. New York, NY: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co]
7. ‘’Iyive’’, ‘’Ethnologue Languages of the World’’
8. [Otheguy, O.G.(2008). Minority language use in Cameroon and educated indigenes' attitude to their languages. International Journal of the Sociology of Language. Volume 2008, Issue 189]
9. [William, F. R. (2003). Tivoid Languages. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press]
10. ‘’Iyive’’, ‘’Ethnologue Languages of the World’’
11. Foster, S. E. (2012). ‘’ A Phonology Sketch of the Iyive Language’’ Cameroon: SIL
12. [Malcolm, G. (1967). The Classification of the Bantu Languages. London: Dawsons of Pall Mall]
13. ‘’The Endangered Language Project’’
14. [Huge, V. J. & Hardinge, O. (1967). Language, Schools, and Government in Cameroon. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.]
15. ‘’Iyive’’, ‘’Ethnologue Languages of the World’’

External links

Blench, R. M. ‘’Language: Iyive’’, ‘’Glottolog’’, 2010

‘’Iyive’’, The Endangered language Project’’