Yoruba

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A language of Nigeria

ISO 639-3
yor
Alternate Names
Yariba, Yooba
Population

18,900,000 in Nigeria (Johnstone 1993). Population total all countries: 19,380,800.

Location

Most of Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, and Lagos states; Kogi State, west LGAs; northeast Ondo State, Ào. Also in Benin, Sierra Leone, Togo, United Kingdom, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). De facto provincial language in southwestern region.

Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri
Dialects

Akono, Ào, Awori, Aworo, Bunu (Bini), Egba, Ekiti, Gbedde, Igbonna, Ijebu, Ijesha, Ikale, Ila, Ilaje, Iworro, Jumu, Ondo, Owe, Oyo, Wo, Yagba.

Typology

SVO

Language Use

2,000,000 L2 speakers.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 35%. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Newspapers. New media. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1884–2006.
Writing
Arabic script, no longer in use. Braille script. Latin script, used since 1865, primary usage.
Other Comments

Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

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