Learn Igbo from Native Speakers

Learn Igbo Pronunciation

This course is based on the speech of two members of the Ezinehite group of Igbos in Central OWerri Province between the towns of OWerri and Umuahia, Eastern Nigeria. Their speech is representative "Central Igbo".

The essential phonological and grammatical structures of Igbo are presented within a small vocabulary. The omission of many common words is justified on the premise that, once the structure is grasped, vocabulary building can proceed apace. The words presented are however useful, lend themselves to the construction of natural though limited utterances, and exemplify all the phonemes of Igbo in representative environments. There are, if compounds and derivatives are not counted separately, about six hundred vocabulary items.

The course materials consist of four parts:

I. Tone Drills - a set of seventy-five exercises on the recognition of tone distinctions and patterns.

II. Twenty-four units (1-24) containing: a. Dialogues b. Notes c. Drills

III. Six units (25-30) containing: a. Dialogues b. Short Narratives

IV. Vocabulary

The course has been extensively revised and expanded since its experimental use in a twelve-week intensive class. In its present form, it can hardly be assimilated in less than 600 hours of time.