Alternate Names: Ibo
Dialects: Afikpo, Aniocha, Bonny-Opobo, Eche, Egbema, Mbaise, Ngwa, Nsa, Nsuka, Oguta, Ohuhu, Oka (Awka), Onitsha, Orlu, Owerri (Isuama), Umuahia, Unwana. 30 dialects vary in inherent intelligibility. The standard literary form developing based on Owerri and Umuahia dialects, omitting the nasality and aspiration found in those dialects.
Status Notes: De facto provincial language in southeastern region.Main LWC of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 18,000,000 (Wiesenfeld 1999).
Language Use: Used for government notices. Used as L2 by Ikwere [ikw], Obolo [ann], Ogbah [ogc].
Language Development: New media. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1906–2006.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Nigeria
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.