Source: WikiHow
Around 18 million people living in Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea speak Igbo. There are many dialects of the language, some so distinct that two people speaking different dialects of Igbo wouldn’t be able to understand each other. Igbo tones are very different from those used in English and other European languages. If you want to learn Igbo, start by practicing tones, then learn basic grammar and sentence structure. Once this foundation is in place, you can start expanding your vocabulary with common Igbo words and phrases.[1]
1. Recognize tonal notes in writing. In written Igbo, low tones are sometimes marked with the grave accent (à). High tones are marked with the acute accent (á). While these accent marks are also used in languages such as French and Spanish, they have a different meaning in Igbo.[2]
- In French, for example, an accent mark would indicate that you pronounce the letter differently. In Spanish, an accent mark indicates which syllable has emphasis. However, in Igbo, the tone is separate from the pronunciation of the letter itself.
- Many letters in the Igbo alphabet sound the same in Igbo as they do in English. You can download a free alphabet chart at https://www.omniglot.com/writing/igbo.htm.
2
Identify high and low tones in speech. Pronounce the high tone with your tongue bent towards the roof of your mouth, such as when you say “rule” in English. The low tone is pronounced with your tongue flatter and lower in your mouth, such as the first syllable of “father” in English.[3]
- The tone is high or low relative to the other tones around it. For example, “kedu” is a word that means “what” or “how,” and is also used to say “hello.” Pronounce it keh-duh. For the first syllable, use a high tone with your tongue to the roof of your mouth. The second syllable is a low tone, with your tongue flat. Practice it with the first syllable low and the second high just to see how the vowel sound changes with the different tone.
