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	ÀKÔTÖ ÈDÈ YORÙBÁ ORTHOGRAPHY
	ÀKÔTÖ ÈDÈ YORÙBÁ ORTHOGRAPHY

		The Yoruba language was first reduced to writing in
		the early decades of the 19th. century. Bishop
		Samuel Ajayi Crowther played a prominent role in this
		exercise. He collaborated with other Christian
		missionaries to lay the foundation of the orthography.

		The standard orthography has undergone several revisions
		since and continues to evolve. This is understandable and
		to be expected since language is dynamic. In order to
		understand and appreciate the current state Yoruba
		Orthography, it is instructive to have a basic knowledge of
		how it has evolved.





Yoruba School



L M N O Ô P R S ß T U W Y



			We are indeed very lucky as Yorubas that we stand on the shoulder of giants as we continue to participate in ways and means to move our language and culture forward. The amount of work that has been done on the orthography since the Yoruba language was first reduced to writing is astounding. Perhaps it will be helpful for us all to get a copy of the publication
			Káàárõ....oòjíire - A Report on Yoruba Orthography
			to facilitate this exercise.

			The Yoruba Orthography Committee was set up in January 1966 by the Ministry of Education, Western Nigeria and held its inaugural meeting on 7th. February, 1966. The members of the committee were: Archdeacon S.A. Banjo, St Peter's Vicarage, Aremo, Ibadan (Chairman) Mrs C.O. Adeniyi, c/oAbeokuta Grammar School Mr J.O. Ajibola, Grade 'A' Customary Court, Oyo Rev. E. A. Atilade, 6 Asabi Street, Musin Dr Adeboye Babalola, University of Lagos, Lagos Dr Ayo Bamgbose, University of Ibadan, Ibadan Chief I.O. Delano, University of Ife, Ibadan Branch, Ibadan Bishop S.I. Kale, Bishop's Court, Marina, Lagos Mr P.O. Ogunbowale, University of Lagos, Lagos Mrs A.F. Ojo, Goverment College, Ibadan Chief J.F. Odunjo, P.O. Box 1297, Ibadan Mr J.A. Olayomi, Education Department, Lagos City Council, Lagos Mrs F.A. Thompson, Examinations Section, Ministry of Education, Ibadan Mr D.A. Kalejaiye, General Publication Section, Ministry of Education, Ibadan (Secretary to the Committee) (I have listed the names as published in the report. May the souls of those on the list who have departed rest in peace.) The Report was prepared for publication by Prof. Ayo Bamgbose and first published in 1969. An enlarged Committee then did some further work (re-affirming all but one of the recommendations of the earlier group) and published its report as "Report of the Enlarged Committee on Yoruba Orthography." Prof. Bamgbose went on to edit the manual
			Orthographies of Nigerian Languages: Manual 1
			in which he wrote the section on Yoruba Orthography. It will be indeed most valuable to find out if these publications are in the public domain and can be made available online.





			Let us begin with the ALPHABET

			The Yoruba Alphabet has Latin Characters just like the English language. There are 25 letters in the Alphabet.

			The letters ç , ô , ÿ and gb ( g & b combined) occur in Yoruba but are not present in English. Yoruba does not have the letters c, q, v, x , z as in English.

Lower Case

a	b	d	e	ç
f	g	gb	h	i
j	k	l	n	m
o	ô	p	r	s
ÿ	t	u	w	y

Upper Case

A	B	D	E	Ç
F	G	GB	H	I
J	K	L	N	M
O	Ô	P	R	S
ß	T	U	W	Y


			Yoruba is a TONAL LANGUAGE

			Three basic tones ( high, mid and low) occur in the Yoruba language and are indicated in its orthography. The high is marked with an 'acute' accent, the low with a 'grave' accent, and the mid tone left unmarked. These marks are usually placed on the vowels. (In some circumstances the mid tone is indicated with a 'macron', - more about this later)




			The letters ç , ô , ÿ and gb ( g & b combined) occur in Yoruba but are not present in English. Yoruba does not have the letters c, q, v, x , z as in English.

			It therefore means that Yoruba will have an EXTENDED CHARACTER ALPHABET thus:

	More on Yoruba Orthography

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