Cameroon

This report describes a sociolinguistic survey conducted among several language varieties in Cross River State, southern Nigeria. These varieties are Durop [krp], Kiong [kkm], and the Ukpet-Ubeteng-Evia (formerly called Ukpet-Ehom) [akd] group. These varieties are spoken in the Akamkpa, Biase, and Odukpani LGAs in Cross River State, Nigeria. There are also some villages in Cameroon where Durop is spoken. The varieties are classified as Niger-Congo, Benue-Congo, Cross River, Upper Cross languages (Blench 2020:112).

This study of Durop, Kiong, and Ukpet-Ubeteng-Evia is part of a larger initiative to provide sociolinguistic information to organizations, development agencies, and local communities working collaboratively to meet the language development needs of the ethnolinguistic groups of Nigeria. The goals of this research included gaining a better understanding of the role of these languages and other languages among these people. With these goals in mind, linguistic and sociolinguistic data were collected through group discussions, individual interviews, observations, and wordlist collection.

Two or three variations of Durop were reported, but we did not find any significant variation. Our data indicate that Durop and Kiong are the same language. While the speakers in Akamkpa LGA called it Durop, those in Odukpani refer to it as Kiong (or Okoyong). However, Kiong is practically dormant in Odukpani LGA as only two or three elderly people are reported to speak the language but lack opportunities to actively use it. The Durop language is in active use by all generations of Korop living in Akamkpa LGA and Cameroon and it will probably remain so for the foreseeable future. Although the people are multilingual in Efik, Ejagham, Nigerian English, and Nigerian Pidgin English, their attitude toward Durop is very positive. The vitality of Durop-Kiong is assessed as EGIDS 6b.

The Ukpet language is spoken by the Akpet people, the Ubeteng language is spoken by the Ebeteng people, and the Evia language is spoken by the Evia people. The three languages are varieties of a single language. The speakers of these varieties unanimously perceive themselves as one people, speaking one language. They use the cover terms Ameo or Ehom for their language and group. However, each group prefers to promote and maintain their distinct ethnic identities: Akpet, Ebeteng, and Evia. The language and its varieties are in active use by all age groups within their communities, and language vitality should remain vigorous in the near future. The people are multilingual in Efik, Nigerian English, and Nigerian Pidgin English, but their attitude toward their heritage varieties is very positive. The vitality of Ukpet-Ubeteng-Evia is assessed as EGIDS 6a.