Ubang language
| Ubang | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Nigeria |
| Region | Cross River State |
Native speakers | 11,000 (2013)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | uba |
| Glottolog | uban1243 |
Ubang is a Bendi language of Nigeria. It is notable for having male and female word forms.[2][3] Differences in vocabulary are considered far greater than British and American English, for instance, since many words have neither similar sounds nor orthography; men and women are able to understand each other, however, since children speak the female language until approximately ten years of age.[3]
It is not clear exactly what proportion of words are different in the two speech forms; there is no pattern, such as whether the words are commonly used, related or linked to traditional roles for men or women. Anthropologist Chi Chi Undie, who has studied the community, commented: "It's almost like two different lexicons... There are a lot of words that men and women share in common, then there are others which are totally different depending on your sex. They don't sound alike, they don't have the same letters, they are completely different words."[3]
Examples of words in male and female Ubang
| English | Male Ubang | Female Ubang |
|---|---|---|
| dog | abu | akwakwe |
| tree | kitchi | okweng |
| water | bamuie | amu |
| cup | nko | ogbala |
| clothing | nki | ariga |
| bush | bibiang | déyirè |
| goat | ibue | obi |
References
- ^ Ubang at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
- ^ "Bendi languages". www.rogerblench.info. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
- ^ a b c Yemisi, Adegoke (23 August 2018). "Ubang: The Nigerian village where men and women speak different languages". BBC. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
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