Engenni (''Ẹgẹnẹ'') is an
Edoid language of
Nigeria.
Grammar
Engenni is a fairly
isolating language, having little affixation. There is no
plural form for words. It has
definite articles
An article is any member of a class of dedicated words that are used with noun phrases to mark the identifiability of the referents of the noun phrases. The category of articles constitutes a part of speech.
In English, both "the" and "a(n)" ar ...
, but no
indefinite articles
An article is any member of a class of dedicated words that are used with noun phrases to mark the identifiability of the referents of the noun phrases. The category of articles constitutes a part of speech.
In English language, English, both " ...
. There is a two-contrast with regards to
demonstratives, while pronominal and adnominal demonstratives are identical (as in
English). Verbs are marked for
perfective/
imperfective aspect, but there is no past tense.
Engenni is an
SVO language that uses
prepositions.
Adjectives, demonstratives, and
numerals follow the noun they describe. Yes–no questions are marked with a special
particle, which goes at the end of the question. Negation is indicated by a change in tone.
Writing System
Engenni has been written since the 1930s, initially in leaflets, posters and religious hymns, or a translation of the Bible. It took several decades before non-religious literary works were published in English. In the 1970s, several literacy works were published by Joycelyn Clevenger or Mosaic Urugba with the Rivers Readers Project. A translation of the New Testament, ''Baibulu Eba Fai'' was published in 1977 by World Home Bible League. An alphabet with 9 vowels and 25 consonants is used in epoch.
In 2011, a new alphabet with 10 vowels and 30 consonants was adopted and published.
References
Edoid languages
Indigenous languages of Rivers State
Isolating languages
Subject–verb–object languages
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