01/04/2024
There is nothing like Anambra dialect, Imo dialect, Ebọnyị dialect, Abịa dialect, Enugwu dialect, Delta dialect, Rivers dialect, etc. None of this exist.
These are newly geopolitical entity that never existed prior to 1967. The genocidal war is the reason for the division.
We have Nnewi dialect of Igbo, Ọnịcha dialect of Igbo, Ọka dialect of Igbo, Owere dialect of Igbo, Mbaise dialect of Igbo, Afikpo dialect of Igbo, Abakaliki dialect of Igbo, Ọkpọsị dialect of Igbo, Nsụka dialect of Igbo, Nkanụ dialect of Igbo, Ngwa dialect of Igbo, Ọhafịa dialect of Igbo, Asaba dialect of Igbo, Ịka dialect of Igbo, Ikwere dialect of Igbo, Echie dialect of Igbo, Enuani dialect, Ukwuani dialect and so on.
Igbo is a nation with different tongues, hence the aphorism: Igbo na-asụ n'olu n'olu, a kwaa ụkwara ọ bụrụ otu.
Despite the variances in tongues, when we speak, we understand ourselves.
No dialect is superior or inferior to one another; for a language is a means of communication. There is no communication without language. Nkụ dị na mba na-eghere mbà nri. For the fact Language serves the purpose, which is serving the users, that's all there is.
English language has diverse dialects such as other languages, but there's a standard English.
You cannot form a standard language by imposing just one dialect on others, but you can do so by combining various dialects together to form a standard language, following the rules of language. Take what generally resonate with all, pick from various places and enrich your language, then follow the indigenous linguistic guidelines of appropriate ways to write those words.
This is why the English language has rules. French has rules. If you fail the rules, you have failed the grammar. You have committed grammatical blunder.
But how about Igbo?
We don't care. We treat it anyhow. We don't even care about the rules. We write it anyhow we want, after all, is it not Igbo?
But should it be so?
Igbo, just like every other languages have grammatical rules. The rules are naturally endowed in the language. When you study the nature of the language, you will understand it.
Take semantics for instance, study of meaning. If you tell a man in the village:
*Nye m nri ka m ṅụọ
Nye m mmiri ka m rie
The old man or woman in the village will look at you as a mad person. Why? You have failed the rules of Igbo grammar. Naturally, the person knows that something is wrong with you,he or she doesn't need to be educated. Remember, syntactically, the statement is correct but semantically, it's flawed.
Do you drink food? Do you eat water?
The only way the Igbo Language will expand without dying is when we take the standard dialect serious, enrich it and stop unnecessary competition and superiority syndrome of whose dialect is better. Do movies in Igbo izugbe, write books in Igbo izugbe, create cartoons in Igbo izugbe, etc.
Language is a system of communiting ideas, emotions from one person to another.
Others will take our language serious, if we take it serious.
By Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro II