Linguistic analysis of the structure of Yoruba numerals

Abstract

This paper adopts a descriptive approach in analyzing the counting system of the Yoruba language. It explains the technicalities of its arithmetical involvements which appear to have been contributing to the difficulty often encountered in its learning. The study relies on three major sources in gathering data for the descriptive analysis, namely, compilation of relevant list of Yoruba numerals, the researcher's intuitive knowledge of the language coupled with his training as a linguist, and a search of the relevant literature. The work throws more light on the crucial roles of some affixes in realizing some odd numbers, multiples of twenty, centenary, bicentenary etc in their order of increase. The paper goes much further to examine the linguistic structure of numerals in a bid to bring to light some salient linguistic features that are of significant interest to the teaching of the grammar of the language. Here, we discover that Yoruba numerals derive more of its formation from different aspects of the language structure like sound level (phonology), form/structure level (morphology and syntax), and meaning level (semantics) as evidenced in instances like deletion, assimilation, coalescence, tonal changes, ambiguity, affixation, linguistic typology to mention a few. We also discover that unlike in English, the direction of counting in Yoruba is done from right-to-left. Not only this, it adopts base five, decimal (base ten) and vigesimal systems of counting. This is because the language employs a numeral structure where counting is done mostly in multiples of ogún (twenty). We therefore hope that the detail analysis given in this work will not only fill a gap in the study of the Yoruba language in particular but will also lead to the expansion of Yoruba linguistic database in general. We admit the views of the scholars that linguistic documentation such as this is necessary not only for the study of the language but for the record-keeping of its norm and values which are fast giving way for the impact of technology and domineering influence of the world languages.

Towards Yoruba-Speaking Google Maps Navigation

“…While the word meter has been substituted as mita in the translation instead of ibuso, it is still acceptable under the premise of lexical borrowing [53], [54]. However, the that occurs in the translation of Yoruba numbers such as three hundred to odotarun meta instead of orundin nirinho completely contravenes either of the Yoruba numerals formation -the cardinal (asoye or onkaye) or the ordinal (asopo or onkapo) system [55], [56]. We argue that the word odotarun does not exist in the Yoruba language.…”

Web-Based Yorùbá Numeral Translation System

“…The study by [16], shows that Yorùbá numeral maintains a VCV (disyllabic) open syllabic structure while English numeral has a monosyllabic closed syllabic structure CVC for numeral 1, 5, 9 and 10, CVCC for 6, and VC for 8. The study also agreed with [14] and [12] that, numerals 200, 300 and 400 are basic in Yorùbá numeral system while numerals 500, 700 and 900 are derived through a combination of subtraction and multiplication whereas 600, 800 and 1000 are derived by multiplying 200 by 3, 4, and 5 respectively.…”

A Hindu-Arabic to Hausa Number Transcription System

“…The invention of a numeration system is regarded as one of the great accomplishments of man, and the Hindu-Arabic, simply Arabic (0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) is one of the most widely used numerals (Hess, 1970). Numeral system greatly assists man in expressing his communication needs (Agbeyangi et al, 2016;Babarinde, 2013), and also serve as an important tool in language pedagogy, historical linguistics, comparative study of African languages and computational linguistics (Babarinde, 2013). However, according to Babarinde (2013), numeral system is an endangered area being identified in language use and study.…”

“…Numeral system greatly assists man in expressing his communication needs (Agbeyangi et al, 2016;Babarinde, 2013), and also serve as an important tool in language pedagogy, historical linguistics, comparative study of African languages and computational linguistics (Babarinde, 2013). However, according to Babarinde (2013), numeral system is an endangered area being identified in language use and study. Affirming Babarinde (2013) statement, Mbah et al (2014) reported that in no distant time, the traditional number system of the African indigenous counting system might lose its contact with the new generation, due to the fast influence of the western decimal numeral system.…”

“…However, according to Babarinde (2013), numeral system is an endangered area being identified in language use and study. Affirming Babarinde (2013) statement, Mbah et al (2014) reported that in no distant time, the traditional number system of the African indigenous counting system might lose its contact with the new generation, due to the fast influence of the western decimal numeral system. It is now common that many Africans cannot count from 1to 100 (not even incorrectly, let alone thousands or millions) in their native languages, which is very unfortunate and disgraceful.…”