Dictionary and Related Matters
Toyin Falola
My dear brother Fakinlede, I must confess that you surprised me a great
deal. I am persuaded that we definitely have some things in common- the
passion with which we desire nothing but the best for the Yoruba nation.
Your response to some of the issues raised in my reaction to some of the
discussions at this rather exciting forum showed that you understood the
point I was making. Quite revealing your response was, and I feel humbled,
first by your “humbility”, and the way and manner you went about it all. I
AM SORRY, for my apparent impatience or, I would not have thought you were
the founder of AYOG, and in particular, my general feeling about your work
and all that, …and for me to have sounded, I guess, rather acerbic. Let me
borrow your ‘babariga’ of humility that I may admit my guilt. I must also
confess that I took you for one of those I had described in my reaction
under reference, for whom I cannot waste my precious respect, no matter
how highly placed they may be. I also want to thank, especially,
Ibukunolu Alao Babajide for understanding my position, and spirit. I also
appreciate the generous spirit of this wonderful colleague for
volunteering to spend his hard earned money to make twenty copies of the
dictionary available to those I might suggest to contribute in any way
they could to assist in improving on the present quality of the work. I
thank Michael Afolayan, Ayo Salami, Tomori, among others, for their
suggestions, advice, directly and indirectly, and of course, for the
‘bashing’ too, the “kindest” coming from Omolara Ogundipe, etc. I hope to
return to her later, using the logic of “the hawk” and some naughty
“chicks.” So let me deal first with the former, and then, the latter.
· I appreciate, and agree with, the idea of maintaining our unity and
oneness as a people. On the suggestion and generous gestures of Dr.
Ibukunolu Babajide to which you agreed, I like to forward the following
names, at the risk of being accused of “name dropping,” sounds like, “gun
running”:
Ayo Bamgbose(Ibadan), Awoyale (Pennsylvania University), Kola Owolabi,
Adedotun Ogundeji (both in Ibadan), Awobuluyi(Adekunle Ajasin University,
Akungba, Ondo State), Lawrence Olufemi Adewole (Ife), Akinbiyi Akinlabi
(Rutgers, N.J), Oyelaran, and Omotayo Olutoye (Akure). I am sure they can
be contacted directly.
· Having settled the list issue, let me salute your courage, and
dedication to the cause of the Yoruba nation. That you spent ten years to
bring the work to its present stage, could not have been anything short of
total commitment. I can imagine the uphill task you set for yourself, and
what you must have gone through the moment you chose to research into the
Yoruba language- trying to learn and understand a completely new and
different discipline from what you hitherto are familiar with. Besides,
you must be a genius, except that you may not admit it, to have spent just
ten years! The probability is that you may not have taken that long, or in
the alternative, it could have taken you a longer time should you have
been originally schooled in linguistics or Yoruba studies. And the fact
that if you had been a linguist or Yoruba scholar, experience would
probably have taught one that Dictionary making is better handled
collaboratively, drawing strength from different experts, in the field,
lexicologists, etc. At its 2004 WALC conference, held at the Conference
Centre of the University of Ibadan, O.M. Ogunkeye had emphasized the
importance of a collaborative efforts if we must have a truly standard
modern Yoruba dictionary in his appraisal paper on ‘A Dictionary of Yoruba
Language”: According to him, his examination of A Dictionary of the Yorùbá
Language revealed that “it is not yet Uhuru”, and that ‘Yoruba language
scholars are yet to produce a dictionary that is modern. Writing and
producing a dictionary is not an easy task, and it is not a one-man affair
either. There is need for collaboration of a team of lexicographers. There
is also need for cooperation between the computer world and the world of
lexicography. Both fields stand to gain. The computer world supplies the
expert technology and the lexicography world supplies the “text”.’
· Another point I like to make is the assumption that the publishers must
have considered the input of their “experts” before investing their money
in such a huge venture. Of course yes, most publishers do, and I do not
doubt your publishers in this regard, particularly going by their
experience, track record and the fact of their specialization in
dictionary publishing. The snag however, is the quality of the advice of
the “experts”, in this case, the Yoruba scholars you or they consulted
with. I want to believe that if any of the names I have suggested above
had been involved by you or your publishers, you probably by now would
have thought differently. The tradition I am familiar with is that, head
or tail, where the focus is on the intellectual input, the author takes
the larger share of the credit, or the blame, in cases of deficiencies,
too, and such errors can be assumed to have been committed on behalf of
the author. “Old fashioned!” somebody out there might scream.
· On whether or not /N/ is a vowel, at the risk of being labeled
“conservative” or “old fashioned”, I advise that we be guided by the
Yoruba current orthography which foregrounds definite principles that
describe the behavioral patterns of the vowels. Now, the question one may
like to ask is, which takes priority, the place of articulation or the
manner of articulation in determining a vowel or a consonant? In the
light of existing literatures, and from all indications, /N/ though can
behave like a vowel because it carries a tone, it is not a vowel. This is
because its articulators can be determined and that is only possible in
the description of a consonant. We talk of voiced and voiceless when
describing a consonant. The articulators in the oral cavity impedes the
pulmonic egressive (airstream). For example, b as in back, place of
articulation =(a bilabial), manner of articulation =(plosive). At the
point of articulation, the articulators are released to allow the force of
air stream. The description of a vowel has completely different criteria,
to the degree that vowels are determined and described in relation to the
location of the tongue- high, mid or low, back or front. They remain
constant, and as “old fashioned” as Demola Dasylva. Therefore, /N/ is not
a vowel.
· Again, I want to thank you for your elaborate explanation on the
behavioral pattern/features of certain vowels as in Alawiye, etc., your
observations are very fundamental, but with all due respect, they are not
new, and the problems have long been tackled some three decades ago.
Before the current usage was adopted, Ayo Bamgbose had suggested Ala.wiye,
i.e., a point to be placed between “Ala”, and “wiye” Similarly, Armstrong
of the then Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, had also
suggested that an apostrophe (’) be put where Bamgbose had recommended a
dot/point. Abraham suggested a (v) tone mark on i in Alaw[i]ye. Several
other suggestions were considered, experimented with, and finally done
with at different conferences. Far reaching deliberations had since led to
a general consensus, the product of which is the way it is written in the
current orthography as in Alawiiye (the ii the low-rising tone (dm). The
current Yoruba orthography is characterized by certain time-tested
principles which, again, are constant. As in the case of Alawiiye where
the ii is tone marked low-rising (dm). This is informed by the simple law
that, when a low tone precedes a high tone, the high tone cannot be a
level tone, rather it becomes a contour low-rising tone. Another example
is that when a mid-tone is preceded by a low tone it becomes a contour
low-mid tone. ‘Orunmila’ can be (dmdd) when one chooses to speak with a
conscious recognition of every tone, otherwise it obeys this simple law.
These principles are verifiable in acoustic phonetics through the aid of
sound spectrograph, mingograph, etc.
· In a similar development, the issue of
the Yoruba Verb and Yoruba Verbal
Phrase was settled about three or so decades ago. As early as 1971/2, a
group of scholars had often gathered in the Faculty of Arts of the
University of Ibadan, they include, Ayo Banjo, Ayo Bamgbose, Armstrong,
Irele, Odunuga, Kujoore, etc. The purpose of the meetings was,
predictably, to resolve the controversies that the Yoruba verb and verbal
phrase often provoked. The mode of such meetings was by way of seminar
papers presentation, while the problems arising from each paper were
thoroughly debated and finally trashed out. The result of the efforts of
the period was a published volume, “The Yoruba Verbal Phrase” in 1974. I
like to refer you to the full text of O. M. Ogunkeye’s appraisal of “A
Dictionary of the Yoruba Language” particularly on matters relating to
orthography, tone, the Yoruba verb and verbal phrases. It is titled
“Nigerian Languages and the Global Community: An appraisal of ‘A
Dictionary of the Yoruba Language’. Some of the conference papers found
publishable, as well as other contributions with related topicality are
due to be out in January 2007. The book is titled “Globalization and the
Future of African Languages.” I have the special permission of its
editors, Francis Egbokhare and Clement Kolawole to post Ogunkeye’s
pre-publication version of his chapter contribution on its Publishers’
website. Visit: www.ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org for the benefit of
interested members.
Similarly, C.A. Bakare’s chapter contribution in Kola Owolabi (ed)
“Language in Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Ayo Bamgbose”(1995), titled,
“Discrimination and Identification of Yoruba Tones: Perception Experiments
and Acoustic Analysis”. The two works are apposite to the present
discussion. The late Professor Bakare was an Educational Psychologist.
· The point being emphasized here is that such laudable efforts as yours
on dictionary making are highly commendable, and I am saying this with
every sense of responsibility, but they could have been less stressful for
you and the quality much more enhanced; (1) if it had been a collaborative
work with/of some Yoruba language experts. (2) some of the controversies
now arising could have been resolved, settled and, subsequently, avoided
if some of the ideas had been canvassed and demonstrated with relevant
equipment, etc., at relevant conferences of linguists and Yoruba scholars.
You probably will recall that I mentioned one Tunde Adegbola and, in
particular, his effort at presenting and demonstrating his pet ideas at
different fora and relevant conferences around the globe. He too was at
the 2004 WALC conference to deliver one of the lead papers.
Now that we begin to understand each other, and we both agree with Dr
Babajide Ibukunolu’s suggestion, some of the experts I have suggested
above can be contacted directly so that they can commence the process of
assisting with the observable ‘gap’ and forward the same to you, the
outcome of which, hopefully, can be reflected in the subsequent edition(s)
of the very promising dictionary. I am least qualified for the job, and
besides, it is a distraction for me since those I already suggested are
the authorities I know. I will nonetheless let you have my comments, as
brother, friend and colleague. You have initiated something great, a
challenge to all Yoruba scholars. It is only reasonable as others have
suggested to rally round and make the dream greater, and realizable.
Again, pardon my Ekiti-jesa anger.
For Omolara Ogundipe
Now, kindly permit me to attend to some of Omolara Ogundipe’s insinuations
immediately. Her counter-reaction could be summarized as follows:
(i) I was trying to promote a ‘few clique’, and it was my reason for ‘name
dropping’;
(ii) my praise-singing is “self-serving” and the reason for “wrestling for
attention,” (iii) that I should show respect for intellectual and cultural
production…therefore, I should learn to appreciate new trends, new
breakthroughs in Yoruba scholarship
(iv) I was living behind time hence my being aggressive with the terms
that I probably picked in my graduate years, and advised that I discard
them since they are old fashioned
(v) those I described as great minds are members of her Council, that
…etc, etc…
Humf, very loaded. Pity, she got me all wrong. A typical case of
“Gba-ran-mi deleru”?
“An old man who does not want fowls to pursue him around does not tie
maize round his waist.”
I shall encourage myself to respond in the same manner and spirit on this
occasion that seems tome that the word is being celebrated. Let Omolara
Ogundipe be “King” and I'll be “the Palace Fool”, and Osundare to lend me
a spare tongue to ‘tell’ the “Song of the Palace Fool!”:
Except that I know Professor Omolara Ogundipe who finished with a First
Class Honours in the Department of English of Nigeria’s premier university
where I teach, and that I appreciate her contribution to African
literature and women studies, and her present efforts at advancing the
cause of the Yoruba nation, I would have …concluded and, perhaps, lamented
over the havoc America could wreak on some of our otherwise very noble
minds! Or who knows, it could have simply been a factor of old age! But I
think I understand her circumstance. I know how desperate some people are,
trying to keep their jobs in foreign lands, trying to impress their
employers, trying to be relevant each time the ideological tide changes
-all in the spirit of AGIP (Any Government (or Piper’s Patron) in Power).
Such people are present in every economic sector both at home here, and in
Europe and America. Because they had no principle, the question of losing
it does not arise with this category of Africans. Their academic
attainment notwithstanding, they are petty minded hustlers, flinging their
‘age’ around to demand, not command, respect; often grabbing titles and
posts they least merit by virtue of their poor moral record; would want
their names alone sung, and would as much as prostrate for a cow if it
would guarantee them a lump of beef! Today, with the exception of a few
that I still respect, some of those who taught Marxism, etc., to our
classes in the years that Ogundipe was still very much around, who with
passion, had immersed the conscience and consciousness of youthful
Nigerian undergraduates into a world that must hate evil, inequity and
social injustice, have themselves suddenly become agents of evil. It is a
common knowledge here in Nigeria, that one wrote a book celebrating the
worst military dictator that ever ruled Nigeria, one is South Africa
promoting capitalist interest, another is a defender of a Governor we all
know is an ‘Area Boy’, some still hustle around the stinking and corrupt
government, shamelessly begging for, and taking up, jobs. I don’t pity
them, and I have no respect for them either. You have some of such
Nigerians in America too! I think they must also have believed that
maintaining those revolutionary ideals is old fashioned too!
Hunf! Let me leave the “Song of the Palace Fool!” Now, to the main issue
briefly before I finally round off the “Song of the Palace Fool!”:
· I am neither against Mosadomi, etc., nor doubt their scholarship or
leadership capability. I just felt that your appeal for gender
consideration was an unwarranted sentiment at that point. These are
scholars, and they are good, simple. I am not sure that “iro” or “sokoto”
really matter, but quality of intellectual output, a wealth of experience,
very sound morals to the degree that s/he qualifies as a role model at
home and in the society. And finally, the willingness to serve in the
patriotic task that AYOG has set for itself. The essence of leadership is
to my mind, service. And in the present case the leadership I suppose is
intended in AYOG is academic, cultural and moral leadership.
· I am satisfied with Dr. Ibukunolu
Babajide’s reason for “name dropping”.
But beyond that, I wonder which of the names I mentioned would need me, a
fry, to sell him or her? I make bold to say that the immense contribution
to scholarship made these names Ogundipe seemed to quarrel with their
being mentioned. If the highly esteemed Council President would not
recognize them, well I do, and I believe others too, knowing their worth.
My recognition or celebration of these people is my acknowledgment of
their excellence in scholarship and high morals. If that, to Ogundipe, is
self-serving so be it. But let me quickly add that it will amount to sheer
ignorance and self-deceit for anyone aspiring to lead a Yoruba group or
Council to fail to acknowledge this.
“Songs of the Palace Fool!” Conclusion.
Let me quickly state here that I was not, and I am not, a Marxist, nor do
I pretend to be- BJ and RS can confirm that in my undergraduate and
graduate years at the University of Ife. I will also add that terms like
“capitalism” or the “capitalist spirit” do not have to emanate from
graduate school knowledge. My non-membership then arose from my suspicion
and belief, and that has been proved right, that any ideology that denies
the existence of the living God and fails to acknowledge His place in the
affairs of humankind is unsuitable for Africans, and it was certain not to
endure. However, in spite of this weakness and the ‘interesting’
activities of a few of those that championed the cause at Ife and other
parts of Nigeria then, the informing principles, and perspective of
Marxism on “capitalism” remain infallible. No doubt, the walls of Berlin
had crumbled, the Marxist’s position particularly on what a capitalist
nation like America is capable of doing is being confirmed on daily basis:
… that Bush of America was simply pursuing a well orchestrated American
“Agenda”, hence he lied on the actual situation in Iraq on whether or not
it possessed weapons of mass destruction, was a typical example. He
succeeded in dragging the world including her own people into an unjust
war! Gobachev probably had the blood of America in his veins, or he
would not have willingly played into the hands of America. The Campaign
for Democracy (CD) and CDhr have championed the cause of the Nigerians
against oppressive governments. Then, a few years back, America dropped a
metaphoric “bomb,” I mean dollars, running into thousands into the coffers
of the Hrts groups, and guess what happened? The leadership went berserk,
the Nigerian devil in them was woken up, rather than face the enemy, the
leaders right now are at one another’s throat, allowing themselves to be
distracted by the enemy, fighting over America’s dollars, the Greek gift!
Today, the two bodies are shadows of their past. That is why the activists
are divided among themselves, and the worst is still to happen to the
citizenry. That sad story is the metaphor of our history today. America
and the rest of the west taught and indirectly sponsored overthrow of
legitimate governments and encouraged installation of their cronies,
taught the politicians how to loot our treasury and keep the money in
their (foreign) banks! Deliberately the west decapitated the vision of
African writers by distracting them with some Awards backed with US$.
Awards that recognize and promote not revolutionary writings cast in the
spirit of Ngugi’s or Armah, or Ousmane Sembene, etc., but anthropological
materials that, predictably, humor the western societies to the detriment
of our self esteem and pride, making some of our otherwise noble minds
believe that to think like Ngugi, or Armah is “old fashioned!” Yet the
problems identified in those great works are still very much with us in
Africa today! Except in few cases, the new writings though might paint a
journalistic picture of the problems, they are bereft of the right
consciousness that is capable of mobilizing the masses to evolve realistic
solution that endures. Unfortunately, the direction of the new African
writings is the promotion of a warped consciousness. The result? Nothing
works right any more. So the west turned round, beckoning to our people to
come over to greener pastures. They even go as far as introducing the
American traveling Visa lottery, etc. Well, many answered the generous
American call. The undiscerning ones are culturally sucked in, leaving
them as empty as spent shells. … those are they whose manner and carriage
have been cleverly sucked-in by the ‘great America’. Those who,
unwittingly though, are in the habit of insulting the ‘poverty’ of
colleagues elsewhere. Those whose long held principles and ideology have
been compromised, rationalized, and worst still, consider such lofty
ideals now as ‘old fashioned’. I mean those who because they are either
spent or are drowning, desperately look for something to cling on to in
search of relevance, and ever ready to lick the boot of their benefactor,
America. The Palace Fool rests his case.
Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
Tunde Adegbola
Dear all,
Just a quick point of correction. Prof. C.A. Bakare who contributed the paper “Discrimination and Identification of Yoruba Tones: Perception Experiments and Acoustic Analysis”, in Kola Owolabi (ed) “Language in Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Ayo Bamgbose”(1995) is an Audiologist and brother to the late Professor of Educational Psychology.
He is still alive and well, doing Audiology in the Arab world.
Tunde
From: Toyin Falola <toyin....@mail.utexas.edu>
Reply-To: yoruba...@googlegroups.com
To: yoruba...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Yoruba Affairs - Dictionary and Related Matters
Date: Sat, 23 Dec 2006 06:09:58 -0600
a.da...@mail.ui.edu.ng
the embarrassment the mix-up must have caused Prof. C.A. Bakare.It is
highly regretted.Prof. Bakare, may you live long and prosper! Ase Edumare.
Ademola Dasylva
>
> Dear all,
> Just a quick point of correction. Prof. C.A. Bakare who contributed
> the paper “Discrimination and Identification of Yoruba Tones: Perception
> Experiments and Acoustic Analysis”, in Kola Owolabi (ed) “Language in
> Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Ayo Bamgbose”(1995) is an Audiologist and
> brother to the late Professor of Educational Psychology. He is
> still alive and well, doing Audiology in the Arab world.
> Tunde
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tunde Adegbola (Ph.D.)
> Executive Director
> African Languages Technology Initiative
>
> (Alt-I ... Inserting African issues into the agenda of the
> knowledge age)
>
>
> www.alt-i.org
>
> President
> Tiwa Systems Ltd.
>
> 11 Oluyole Way, New Bodija Ibadan, Nigeria.
> +234 8034019398
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> From: Toyin Falola <toyin....@mail.utexas.edu>Reply-To:
> yoruba...@googlegroups.comTo: yoruba...@googlegroups.comSubject:
> Yoruba Affairs - Dictionary and Related MattersDate: Sat, 23 Dec 2006
> 06:09:58 -0600>>Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva writes:>>>My
> dear brother Fakinlede, I must confess that you surprised me a
> >great>deal. I am persuaded that we definitely have some things in
> common- >the>passion with which we desire nothing but the best for
> the Yoruba >nation.>Your response to some of the issues raised in
> my reaction to some of >the>discussions at this rather exciting
> forum showed that you understood >the>point I was making. Quite
> revealing your response was, and I feel >humbled,>first by your
> “humbility”, and the way and manner you went about it >all. I>AM
> SORRY, for my apparent impatience or, I would not have thought >you
> were>the founder of AYOG, and in particular, my general feeling about
> >your work>and all that, …and for me to have sounded, I guess,
> rather acerbic. >Let me>borrow your ‘babariga’ of humility that I
> may admit my guilt. I must >also>confess that I took you for one
> of those I had described in my >reaction>under reference, for whom
> I cannot waste my precious respect, no >matter>how highly placed
> they may be. I also want to thank, especially,>Ibukunolu Alao
> Babajide for understanding my position, and spirit. I
> >also>appreciate the generous spirit of this wonderful colleague
> for>volunteering to spend his hard earned money to make twenty copies
> of >the>dictionary available to those I might suggest to
> contribute in any >way>they could to assist in improving on the
> present quality of the >work. I>thank Michael Afolayan, Ayo
> Salami, Tomori, among others, for their>suggestions, advice, directly
> and indirectly, and of course, for the>‘bashing’ too, the “kindest”
> coming from Omolara Ogundipe, etc. I >hope to>return to her later,
> using the logic of “the hawk” and some naughty>“chicks.” So let me
> deal first with the former, and then, the >latter.>>· I
> appreciate, and agree with, the idea of maintaining our unity
> >and>oneness as a people. On the suggestion and generous gestures
> of Dr.>Ibukunolu Babajide to which you agreed, I like to forward the
> >following>names, at the risk of being accused of “name
> dropping,” sounds like, >“gun>running”:>>Ayo
> Bamgbose(Ibadan), Awoyale (Pennsylvania University), Kola
> >Owolabi,>Adedotun Ogundeji (both in Ibadan), Awobuluyi(Adekunle
> Ajasin >University,>Akungba, Ondo State), Lawrence Olufemi Adewole
> (Ife), Akinbiyi >Akinlabi>(Rutgers, N.J), Oyelaran, and Omotayo
> Olutoye (Akure). I am sure >they can>be contacted
> directly.>>· Having settled the list issue, let me salute your
> courage, and>dedication to the cause of the Yoruba nation. That you
> spent ten >years to>bring the work to its present stage, could not
> have been anything >short of>total commitment. I can imagine the
> uphill task you set for >yourself, and>what you must have gone
> through the moment you chose to research >into the>Yoruba
> language- trying to learn and understand a completely new
> and>different discipline from what you hitherto are familiar with.
> >Besides,>you must be a genius, except that you may not admit it,
> to have >spent just>ten years! The probability is that you may not
> have taken that long, >or in>the alternative, it could have taken
> you a longer time should you >have>been originally schooled in
> linguistics or Yoruba studies. And the >fact>that if you had been
> a linguist or Yoruba scholar, experience would>probably have taught
> one that Dictionary making is better handled>collaboratively, drawing
> strength from different experts, in the >field,>lexicologists,
> etc. At its 2004 WALC conference, held at the >Conference>Centre
> of the University of Ibadan, O.M. Ogunkeye had emphasized
> the>importance of a collaborative efforts if we must have a truly
> >standard>modern Yoruba dictionary in his appraisal paper on ‘A
> Dictionary of >Yoruba>Language”: According to him, his examination
> of A Dictionary of the >Yorùbá>Language revealed that “it is not
> yet Uhuru”, and that ‘Yoruba >language>scholars are yet to produce
> a dictionary that is modern. Writing and>producing a dictionary is
> not an easy task, and it is not a one-man >affair>either. There is
> need for collaboration of a team of lexicographers. >There>is also
> need for cooperation between the computer world and the >world
> of>lexicography. Both fields stand to gain. The computer world
> supplies >the>expert technology and the lexicography world
> supplies the “text”.’>>· Another point I like to make is the
> assumption that the publishers >must>have considered the input of
> their “experts” before investing their >money>in such a huge
> venture. Of course yes, most publishers do, and I do >not>doubt
> your publishers in this regard, particularly going by
> their>experience, track record and the fact of their specialization
> in>dictionary publishing. The snag however, is the quality of the
> >advice of>the “experts”, in this case, the Yoruba scholars you or
> they >consulted>with. I want to believe that if any of the names I
> have suggested >above>had been involved by you or your publishers,
> you probably by now >would>have thought differently. The tradition
> I am familiar with is that, >head>or tail, where the focus is on
> the intellectual input, the author >takes>the larger share of the
> credit, or the blame, in cases of >deficiencies,>too, and such
> errors can be assumed to have been committed on behalf >of>the
> author. “Old fashioned!” somebody out there might scream.>>· On
> whether or not /N/ is a vowel, at the risk of being
> labeled>“conservative” or “old fashioned”, I advise that we be guided
> by the>Yoruba current orthography which foregrounds definite
> principles >that>describe the behavioral patterns of the vowels.
> Now, the question >one may>like to ask is, which takes priority,
> the place of articulation or >the>manner of articulation in
> determining a vowel or a consonant? In >the>light of existing
> literatures, and from all indications, /N/ though >can>behave like
> a vowel because it carries a tone, it is not a vowel. >This
> is>because its articulators can be determined and that is only
> possible >in>the description of a consonant. We talk of voiced and
> voiceless when>describing a consonant. The articulators in the oral
> cavity impedes >the>pulmonic egressive (airstream). For example, b
> as in back, place of>articulation =(a bilabial), manner of
> articulation =(plosive). At >the>point of articulation, the
> articulators are released to allow the >force of>air stream. The
> description of a vowel has completely different >criteria,>to the
> degree that vowels are determined and described in relation >to
> the>location of the tongue- high, mid or low, back or front. They
> >remain>constant, and as “old fashioned” as Demola Dasylva.
> Therefore, /N/ >is not>a vowel.>>· Again, I want to thank
> you for your elaborate explanation on the>behavioral pattern/features
> of certain vowels as in Alawiye, etc., >your>observations are very
> fundamental, but with all due respect, they >are not>new, and the
> problems have long been tackled some three decades ago.>Before the
> current usage was adopted, Ayo Bamgbose had suggested
> >Ala.wiye,>i.e., a point to be placed between “Ala”, and “wiye”
> Similarly, >Armstrong>of the then Institute of African Studies,
> University of Ibadan, had >also>suggested that an apostrophe (’)
> be put where Bamgbose had >recommended a>dot/point. Abraham
> suggested a (v) tone mark on i in Alaw[i]ye. >Several>other
> suggestions were considered, experimented with, and finally
> >done>with at different conferences. Far reaching deliberations
> had since >led to>a general consensus, the product of which is the
> way it is written >in the>current orthography as in Alawiiye (the
> ii the low-rising tone (dm). >The>current Yoruba orthography is
> characterized by certain time-tested>principles which, again, are
> constant. As in the case of Alawiiye >where>the ii is tone marked
> low-rising (dm). This is informed by the >simple law>that, when a
> low tone precedes a high tone, the high tone cannot be >a>level
> tone, rather it becomes a contour low-rising tone. Another
> >example>is that when a mid-tone is preceded by a low tone it
> becomes a >contour>low-mid tone. ‘Orunmila’ can be (dmdd) when one
> chooses to speak >with a>conscious recognition of every tone,
> otherwise it obeys this simple >law.>These principles are
> verifiable in acoustic phonetics through the >aid of>sound
> spectrograph, mingograph, etc.>>· In a similar development, the
> issue of the Yoruba Verb and Yoruba >Verbal>Phrase was settled
> about three or so decades ago. As early as >1971/2, a>group of
> scholars had often gathered in the Faculty of Arts of the>University
> of Ibadan, they include, Ayo Banjo, Ayo Bamgbose,
> >Armstrong,>Irele, Odunuga, Kujoore, etc. The purpose of the
> meetings was,>predictably, to resolve the controversies that the
> Yoruba verb and >verbal>phrase often provoked. The mode of such
> meetings was by way of >seminar>papers presentation, while the
> problems arising from each paper were>thoroughly debated and finally
> trashed out. The result of the >efforts of>the period was a
> published volume, “The Yoruba Verbal Phrase” in >1974. I>like to
> refer you to the full text of O. M. Ogunkeye’s appraisal of
> >“A>Dictionary of the Yoruba Language” particularly on matters
> relating >to>orthography, tone, the Yoruba verb and verbal
> phrases. It is titled>“Nigerian Languages and the Global Community:
> An appraisal of ‘A>Dictionary of the Yoruba Language’. Some of the
> conference papers >found>publishable, as well as other
> contributions with related topicality >are>due to be out in
> January 2007. The book is titled “Globalization and >the>Future of
> African Languages.” I have the special permission of its>editors,
> Francis Egbokhare and Clement Kolawole to post
> Ogunkeye’s>pre-publication version of his chapter contribution on
> its >Publishers’>website. Visit:
> www.ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org for the benefit >of>interested
> members.>Similarly, C.A. Bakare’s chapter contribution in Kola
> Owolabi (ed)>“Language in Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Ayo
> Bamgbose”(1995), >titled,>“Discrimination and Identification of
> Yoruba Tones: Perception >Experiments>and Acoustic Analysis”. The
> two works are apposite to the present>discussion. The late Professor
> Bakare was an Educational >Psychologist.>>· The point being
> emphasized here is that such laudable efforts as >yours>on
> dictionary making are highly commendable, and I am saying this
> >with>every sense of responsibility, but they could have been less
> >stressful for>you and the quality much more enhanced; (1) if it
> had been a >collaborative>work with/of some Yoruba language
> experts. (2) some of the >controversies>now arising could have
> been resolved, settled and, subsequently, >avoided>if some of the
> ideas had been canvassed and demonstrated with
> >relevant>equipment, etc., at relevant conferences of linguists
> and Yoruba >scholars.>You probably will recall that I mentioned
> one Tunde Adegbola and, in>particular, his effort at presenting and
> demonstrating his pet ideas >at>different fora and relevant
> conferences around the globe. He too was >at>the 2004 WALC
> conference to deliver one of the lead papers.>>Now that we begin
> to understand each other, and we both agree with >Dr>Babajide
> Ibukunolu’s suggestion, some of the experts I have
> >suggested>above can be contacted directly so that they can
> commence the >process of>assisting with the observable ‘gap’ and
> forward the same to you, the>outcome of which, hopefully, can be
> reflected in the subsequent >edition(s)>of the very promising
> dictionary. I am least qualified for the job, >and>besides, it is
> a distraction for me since those I already suggested >are>the
> authorities I know. I will nonetheless let you have my comments,
> >as>brother, friend and colleague. You have initiated something
> great, a>challenge to all Yoruba scholars. It is only reasonable as
> others >have>suggested to rally round and make the dream greater,
> and realizable.>Again, pardon my Ekiti-jesa anger.>>For Omolara
> Ogundipe>Now, kindly permit me to attend to some of Omolara
> Ogundipe’s >insinuations>immediately. Her counter-reaction could
> be summarized as follows:>(i) I was trying to promote a ‘few clique’,
> and it was my reason for >‘name>dropping’;>(ii) my
> praise-singing is “self-serving” and the reason for >“wrestling
> for>attention,” (iii) that I should show respect for intellectual and
> >cultural>production…therefore, I should learn to appreciate new
> trends, new>breakthroughs in Yoruba scholarship>(iv) I was living
> behind time hence my being aggressive with the >terms>that I
> probably picked in my graduate years, and advised that I
> >discard>them since they are old fashioned>(v) those I
> described as great minds are members of her Council, >that>…etc,
> etc…>>Humf, very loaded. Pity, she got me all wrong. A typical
> case of>“Gba-ran-mi deleru”?> “An old man who does not want fowls
> to pursue him around does not >tie>maize round his
> waist.”>>I shall encourage myself to respond in the same manner
> and spirit on >this>occasion that seems tome that the word is
> being celebrated. Let >Omolara>Ogundipe be “King” and I'll be “the
> Palace Fool”, and Osundare to >lend me>a spare tongue to ‘tell’
> the “Song of the Palace Fool!”:>>Except that I know Professor
> Omolara Ogundipe who finished with a >First>Class Honours in the
> Department of English of Nigeria’s premier >university>where I
> teach, and that I appreciate her contribution to African>literature
> and women studies, and her present efforts at advancing >the>cause
> of the Yoruba nation, I would have …concluded and, perhaps,
> >lamented>over the havoc America could wreak on some of our
> otherwise very >noble>minds! Or who knows, it could have simply
> been a factor of old age! >But I>think I understand her
> circumstance. I know how desperate some >people are,>trying to
> keep their jobs in foreign lands, trying to impress their>employers,
> trying to be relevant each time the ideological tide >changes>-all
> in the spirit of AGIP (Any Government (or Piper’s Patron) in
> >Power).>Such people are present in every economic sector both at
> home here, >and in>Europe and America. Because they had no
> principle, the question of >losing>it does not arise with this
> category of Africans. Their academic>attainment notwithstanding, they
> are petty minded hustlers, flinging >their>‘age’ around to
> demand, not command, respect; often grabbing titles >and>posts
> they least merit by virtue of their poor moral record; would
> >want>their names alone sung, and would as much as prostrate for a
> cow if >it>would guarantee them a lump of beef! Today, with the
> exception of a >few>that I still respect, some of those who taught
> Marxism, etc., to our>classes in the years that Ogundipe was still
> very much around, who >with>passion, had immersed the conscience
> and consciousness of youthful>Nigerian undergraduates into a world
> that must hate evil, inequity >and>social injustice, have
> themselves suddenly become agents of evil. It >is a>common
> knowledge here in Nigeria, that one wrote a book celebrating
> >the>worst military dictator that ever ruled Nigeria, one is South
> Africa>promoting capitalist interest, another is a defender of a
> Governor >we all>know is an ‘Area Boy’, some still hustle around
> the stinking and >corrupt>government, shamelessly begging for, and
> taking up, jobs. I don’t >pity>them, and I have no respect for
> them either. You have some of such>Nigerians in America too! I think
> they must also have believed that>maintaining those revolutionary
> ideals is old fashioned too!>Hunf! Let me leave the “Song of the
> Palace Fool!” Now, to the main >issue>briefly before I finally
> round off the “Song of the Palace Fool!”:>>· I am neither against
> Mosadomi, etc., nor doubt their scholarship >or>leadership
> capability. I just felt that your appeal for gender>consideration was
> an unwarranted sentiment at that point. These are>scholars, and they
> are good, simple. I am not sure that “iro” or >“sokoto”>really
> matter, but quality of intellectual output, a wealth of
> >experience,>very sound morals to the degree that s/he qualifies
> as a role model >at>home and in the society. And finally, the
> willingness to serve in >the>patriotic task that AYOG has set for
> itself. The essence of >leadership is>to my mind, service. And in
> the present case the leadership I >suppose is>intended in AYOG is
> academic, cultural and moral leadership.>>· I am satisfied with
> Dr. Ibukunolu Babajide’s reason for “name >dropping”.>But beyond
> that, I wonder which of the names I mentioned would need >me,
> a>fry, to sell him or her? I make bold to say that the immense
> >contribution>to scholarship made these names Ogundipe seemed to
> quarrel with >their>being mentioned. If the highly esteemed
> Council President would not>recognize them, well I do, and I believe
> others too, knowing their >worth.>My recognition or celebration of
> these people is my acknowledgment >of>their excellence in
> scholarship and high morals. If that, to >Ogundipe,
> is>self-serving so be it. But let me quickly add that it will amount
> to >sheer>ignorance and self-deceit for anyone aspiring to lead a
> Yoruba group >or>Council to fail to acknowledge
> this.>>“Songs of the Palace Fool!” Conclusion.>Let me quickly
> state here that I was not, and I am not, a Marxist, >nor do>I
> pretend to be- BJ and RS can confirm that in my undergraduate
> and>graduate years at the University of Ife. I will also add that
> terms >like>“capitalism” or the “capitalist spirit” do not have to
> emanate from>graduate school knowledge. My non-membership then arose
> from my >suspicion>and belief, and that has been proved right,
> that any ideology that >denies>the existence of the living God and
> fails to acknowledge His place >in the>affairs of humankind is
> unsuitable for Africans, and it was certain >not to>endure.
> However, in spite of this weakness and the ‘interesting’>activities
> of a few of those that championed the cause at Ife and
> >other>parts of Nigeria then, the informing principles, and
> perspective of>Marxism on “capitalism” remain infallible. No doubt,
> the walls of >Berlin>had crumbled, the Marxist’s position
> particularly on what a >capitalist>nation like America is capable
> of doing is being confirmed on daily >basis:>>… that Bush of
> America was simply pursuing a well orchestrated
> >American>“Agenda”, hence he lied on the actual situation in Iraq
> on whether >or not>it possessed weapons of mass destruction, was a
> typical example. He>succeeded in dragging the world including her own
> people into an >unjust>war! Gobachev probably had the blood of
> America in his veins, or >he>would not have willingly played into
> the hands of America. The >Campaign>for Democracy (CD) and CDhr
> have championed the cause of the >Nigerians>against oppressive
> governments. Then, a few years back, America >dropped a>metaphoric
> “bomb,” I mean dollars, running into thousands into the
> >coffers>of the Hrts groups, and guess what happened? The
> leadership went >berserk,>the Nigerian devil in them was woken up,
> rather than face the enemy, >the>leaders right now are at one
> another’s throat, allowing themselves >to be>distracted by the
> enemy, fighting over America’s dollars, the Greek >gift!>Today,
> the two bodies are shadows of their past. That is why the
> >activists>are divided among themselves, and the worst is still to
> happen to >the>citizenry. That sad story is the metaphor of our
> history today. >America>and the rest of the west taught and
> indirectly sponsored overthrow >of>legitimate governments and
> encouraged installation of their cronies,>taught the politicians how
> to loot our treasury and keep the money >in>their (foreign) banks!
> Deliberately the west decapitated the vision >of>African writers
> by distracting them with some Awards backed with >US$.>Awards that
> recognize and promote not revolutionary writings cast in
> >the>spirit of Ngugi’s or Armah, or Ousmane Sembene, etc., but
> >anthropological>materials that, predictably, humor the western
> societies to the >detriment>of our self esteem and pride, making
> some of our otherwise noble >minds>believe that to think like
> Ngugi, or Armah is “old fashioned!” Yet >the>problems identified
> in those great works are still very much with us >in>Africa today!
> Except in few cases, the new writings though might >paint
> a>journalistic picture of the problems, they are bereft of the
> right>consciousness that is capable of mobilizing the masses to
> evolve >realistic>solution that endures. Unfortunately, the
> direction of the new >African>writings is the promotion of a
> warped consciousness. The result? >Nothing>works right any more.
> So the west turned round, beckoning to our >people to>come over to
> greener pastures. They even go as far as introducing >the>American
> traveling Visa lottery, etc. Well, many answered the
> >generous>American call. The undiscerning ones are culturally
> sucked in, >leaving>them as empty as spent shells. … those are
> they whose manner and >carriage>have been cleverly sucked-in by
> the ‘great America’. Those who,>unwittingly though, are in the habit
> of insulting the ‘poverty’ of>colleagues elsewhere. Those whose long
> held principles and ideology >have>been compromised, rationalized,
> and worst still, consider such lofty>ideals now as ‘old fashioned’.
> I mean those who because they are >either>spent or are drowning,
> desperately look for something to cling on to >in>search of
> relevance, and ever ready to lick the boot of their
> >benefactor,>America. The Palace Fool rests his
> case.>>Ademola Omobewaji
> Dasylva>-->~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>Toyin
> Falola>Department of History>The University of Texas at
> Austin>1 University Station>Austin, TX 78712-0220>USA>512
> 475 7224>512 475 7222
> (fax)>www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa>>
>
jare Ajayi
First the
executive/steering committee. The names suggested Akinwumi Isola, Baba Adebayo Faleti, Yemi Elebuibon, are alright. I like to add Adeboye Babalola, Babs Fafunwa as well. I do not think that the issue of who should be in the executive council ought take too much of our attention – especially if the motive for and in AYOG is not necessarily to create a fiefdom. Office-holders will come and go while the objective of the
organization remains. I concede that those who head and run an organization at any point in time matter. But since AYOG is to be ran more or less openly – allowing inputs from members and interested members of the public – I believe that the executive can always be assisted not to steer the ship towards the rock. Also, members would be changed from time to time after serving their respective tenures.I share Dasylva’s view that AYOG executive council membership – or any other organization for that matter – should not be constituted on the basis of gender but on merit. We should not encourage tokenism considering the damage inherent in such a notion.On the contentious issue of Yoruba orthography and the dictionary by Dr Akindele. First, I like to remind us that language, like human for which it is a tool, is dynamic. A lot has certainly been done to improve and streamline Yoruba orthography since its debut in the nineteen-century; including the recent efforts of Egbe Akomolede among others. But it is not to say that the door has been completely shut for further amendment/improvement where and when there is a need for it. Only that such an endeavour must be subjected to necessary academic rigour and desirable scholarship.As I said in reference to Konyin Keyboard produced by the duo of Walter Oluwole and Ade Oyegbola, it is important for us to acknowledge what compatriots are doing, encourage them and build on their efforts. This is the only way we can keep advancing as a people. At least we have the Caucasian race to pick ideas from in this respect.Flowing from that, I like to say that Akindele’s dictionary project deserves to be welcomed.Pitfalls there certainly will be for two or three basic reasons. One, no work by a mortal can be perfect. Two, Yoruba is a young in terms of orthography – as such, still susceptible to growth, improvement and modification. Three, given the globalization of knowledge, increasing contacts of culture and rapidly growing science and technology as well as the need to reflect as much of these as possible, there will, at least in the foreseeable future, the tendency for a work to appear incomplete or obsolete almost as soon as it is published.In that wise, let us be more sympathetic with one another. The over-riding objective is to see a great improvement in and growth of our language and culture. The intervention of Prof Wale Tomori in this respect should be regarded as a words of wisdom from an elder.a.da...@mail.ui.edu.ng wrote:
Oh,my God! Thanks for drawing my attention to the error. I am sorry for
the embarrassment the mix-up must have caused Prof. C.A. Bakare.It is
highly regretted.Prof. Bakare, may you live long and prosper! Ase Edumare.
Ademola Dasylva
>
> Dear all,
> Just a quick point of correction. Prof. C.A. Bakare who contributed
> the paper “Discrimination and Identification of Yoruba Tones: Perception
> Experiments and Acoustic Analysis”, in Kola Owolabi (ed) “Language in
> Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Ayo Bamgbose”(1995) is an Audiologist and
> brother to the late Professor of Educational Psychology. He is
> still alive and well, doing Audiology in the Arab world.
> Tunde
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tunde Adegbola (Ph.D.)
> Executive Director
> African Languages Technology Initiative
>
> (Alt-I ... Inserting African issues into the agenda of the
> knowledge age)
>
>
> www.alt-i.org
>
> President
> Tiwa Systems Ltd.
>
> 11 Oluyole Way, New Bodija Ibadan, Nigeria.
> +234 8034019398
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> From: Toyin Falola <toyin....@mail.utexas.edu>Reply-To:
> yoruba...@googlegroups.comTo: yoruba...@googlegroups.comSubject:
> Yoruba Affairs - Dictionary and Related MattersDate: Sat, 23 Dec 2006
> 06:09:58 -0600>>Ademola Omobewaji Dasylva writes:>>>My
> dear brother Fakinlede, I must confess that you surprised me a
> >great>deal. I am persuaded that we definitely have some things in
> common- >the>passion with which we desire nothing but the best for
> the Yoruba >nation.>Your response to some of the issues raised in
> my reaction to some of >the>discussions at this rather exciting
> forum showed that you understood >the>point I was making. Quite
> revealing your response was, and I feel >humbled,>first by your
> “humbility”, and the way and manner you went about it >all. I>AM
> SORRY, for my apparent impatience or, I would not have thought >you
> were>the founder of AYOG, and in particular, my general feeling about
> >your work>and all that, …and for me to have sounded, I guess,
> rather acerbic. >Let me>borrow your ‘babariga’ of humility that I
> may admit my guilt. I must >also>confess that I took you for one
> of those I had described in my >reaction>under reference, for whom
> I cannot waste my precious respect, no >matter>how highly placed
> they may be. I also want to thank, especially,>Ibukunolu Alao
> Babajide for understanding my position, and spirit. I
> >also>appreciate the generous spirit of this wonderful colleague
> for>volunteering to spend his hard earned money to make twenty copies
> of >the>dictionary available to those I might suggest to
> contribute in any >way>they could to assist in improving on the
> present quality of the >work. I>thank Michael Afolayan, Ayo
> Salami, Tomori, among others, for their>suggestions, advice, directly
> and indirectly, and of course, for the>‘bashing’ too, the “kindest”
> coming from Omolara Ogundipe, etc. I >hope to>return to her later,
> using the logic of “the hawk” and some naughty>“chicks.” So let me
> deal first with the former, and then, the >latter.>>· I
> appreciate, and agree with, the idea of maintaining our unity
> >and>oneness as a people. On the suggestion and generous gestures
> of Dr.>Ibukunolu Babajide to which you agreed, I like to forward the
> >following>names, at the risk of being accused of “name
> dropping,” sounds like, >“gun>running”:>>Ayo
> Bamgbose(Ibadan), Awoyale (Pennsylvania University), Kola
> >Owolabi,>Adedotun Ogundeji (both in Ibadan), Awobuluyi(Adekunle
> Ajasin >University,>Akungba, Ondo State), Lawrence Olufemi Adewole
> (Ife), Akinbiyi >Akinlabi>(Rutgers, N.J), Oyelaran, and Omotayo
> Olutoye (Akure). I am sure >they can>be contacted
> directly.>>· Having settled the list issue, let me salute your
> courage, and>dedication to the cause of the Yoruba nation. That you
> spent ten >years to>bring the work to its present stage, could not
> have been anything >short of>total commitment. I can imagine the
> uphill task you set for >yourself, and>what you must have gone
> through the moment you chose to research >into the>Yoruba
> language- trying to learn and understand a completely new
> and>different discipline from what you hitherto are familiar with.
> >Besides,>you must be a genius, except that you may not admit it,
> to have >spent just>ten years! The probability is that you may not
> have taken that long, >or in>the alternative, it could have taken
> you a longer time should you >have>been originally schooled in
> linguistics or Yoruba studies. And the >fact>that if you had been
> a linguist or Yoruba scholar, experience would>probably have taught
> one that Dictionary making is better handled>collaboratively, drawing
> strength from different experts, in the >field,>lexicologists,
> etc. At its 2004 WALC conference, held at the >Conference>Centre
> of the University of Ibadan, O.M. Ogunkeye had emphasized
> the>importance of a collaborative efforts if we must have a truly
> >standard>modern Yoruba dictionary in his appraisal paper on ‘A
> Dictionary of >Yoruba>Language”: According to him, his examination
> of A Dictionary of the >Yorùbá>Language revealed that “it is not
> yet Uhuru”, and that ‘Yoruba >language>scholars are yet to produce
> a dictionary that is modern. Writing and>producing a dictionary is
> not an easy task, and it is not a one-man >affair>either. There is
> need for collaboration of a team of lexicographers. >There>is also
> need for cooperation between the computer world and the >world
> of>lexicography. Both fields stand to gain. The computer world
> supplies >the>expert technology and the lexicography world
> supplies the “text”.’>>· Another point I like to make is the
> assumption that the publishers >must>have considered the input of
> their “experts” before investing their >money>in such a huge
> venture. Of course yes, most publishers do, and I do >not>doubt
> your publishers in this regard, particularly going by
> their>experience, track record and the fact of their specialization
> in>dictionary publishing. The snag however, is the quality of the
> >advice of>the “experts”, in this case, the Yoruba scholars you or
> they >consulted>with. I want to believe that if any of the names I
> have suggested >above>had been involved by you or your publishers,
> you probably by now >would>have thought differently. The tradition
> I am familiar with is that, >head>or tail, where the focus is on
> the intellectual input, the author >takes>the larger share of the
> credit, or the blame, in cases of >deficiencies,>too, and such
> errors can be assumed to have been committed on behalf >of>the
> author. “Old fashioned!” somebody out there might scream.>>· On
> whether or not /N/ is a vowel, at the risk of being
> labeled>“conservative” or “old fashioned”, I advise that we be guided
> by the>Yoruba current orthography which foregrounds definite
> principles >that>describe the behavioral patterns of the vowels.
> Now, the question >one may>like to ask is, which takes priority,
> the place of articulation or >the>manner of articulation in
> determining a vowel or a consonant? In >the>light of existing
> literatures, and from all indications, /N/ though >can>behave like
> a vowel because it carries a tone, it is not a vowel. >This
> is>because its articulators can be determined and that is only
> possible >in>the description of a consonant. We talk of voiced and
> voiceless when>describing a consonant. The articulators in the oral
> cavity impedes >the>pulmonic egressive (airstream). For example, b
> as in back, place of>articulation =(a bilabial), manner of
> articulation =(plosive). At >the>point of articulation, the
> articulators are released to allow the >force of>air stream. The
> description of a vowel has completely different >criteria,>to the
> degree that vowels are determined and described in relation >to
> the>location of the tongue- high, mid or low, back or front. They
> >remain>constant, and as “old fashioned” as Demola Dasylva.
> Therefore, /N/ >is not>a vowel.>>· Again, I want to thank
> you for your elaborate explanation on the>behavioral pattern/features
> of certain vowels as in Alawiye, etc., >your>observations are very
> fundamental, but with all due respect, they >are not>new, and the
> problems have long been tackled some three decades ago.>Before the
> current usage was adopted, Ayo Bamgbose had suggested
> >Ala.wiye,>i.e., a point to be placed between “Ala”, and “wiye”
> Similarly, >Armstrong>of the then Institute of African Studies,
> University of Ibadan, had >also>suggested that an apostrophe (’)
> be put where Bamgbose had >recommended a>dot/point. Abraham
> suggested a (v) tone mark on i in Alaw[i]ye. >Several>other
> suggestions were considered, experimented with, and finally
> >done>with at different conferences. Far reaching deliberations
> had since >led to>a general consensus, the product of which is the
> way it is written >in the>current orthography as in Alawiiye (the
> ii the low-rising tone (dm). >The>current Yoruba orthography is
> characterized by certain time-tested>principles which, again, are
> constant. As in the case of Alawiiye >where>the ii is tone marked
> low-rising (dm). This is informed by the >simple law>that, when a
> low tone precedes a high tone, the high tone cannot be >a>level
> tone, rather it becomes a contour low-rising tone. Another
> >example>is that when a mid-tone is preceded by a low tone it
> becomes a >contour>low-mid tone. ‘Orunmila’ can be (dmdd) when one
> chooses to speak >with a>conscious recognition of every tone,
> otherwise it obeys this simple >law.>These principles are
> verifiable in acoustic phonetics through the >aid of>sound
> spectrograph, mingograph, etc.>>· In a similar development, the
> issue of the Yoruba Verb and Yoruba >Verbal>Phrase was settled
> about three or so decades ago. As early as >1971/2, a>group of
> scholars had often gathered in the Faculty of Arts of the>University
> of Ibadan, they include, Ayo Banjo, Ayo Bamgbose,
> >Armstrong,>Irele, Odunuga, Kujoore, etc. The purpose of the
> meetings was,>predictably, to resolve the controversies that the
> Yoruba verb and >verbal>phrase often provoked. The mode of such
> meetings was by way of >seminar>papers presentation, while the
> problems arising from each paper were>thoroughly debated and finally
> trashed out. The result of the >efforts of>the period was a
> published volume, “The Yoruba Verbal Phrase” in >1974. I>like to
> refer you to the full text of O. M. Ogunkeye’s appraisal of
> >“A>Dictionary of the Yoruba Language” particularly on matters
> relating >to>orthography, tone, the Yoruba verb and verbal
> phrases. It is titled>“Nigerian Languages and the Global Community:
> An appraisal of ‘A>Dictionary of the Yoruba Language’. Some of the
> conference papers >found>publishable, as well as other
> contributions with related topicality >are>due to be out in
> January 2007. The book is titled “Globalization and >the>Future of
> African Languages.” I have the special permission of its>editors,
> Francis Egbokhare and Clement Kolawole to post
> Ogunkeye’s>pre-publication version of his chapter contribution on
> its >Publishers’>website. Visit:
> www.ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org for the benefit >of>interested
> members.>Similarly, C.A. Bakare’s chapter contribution in Kola
> Owolabi (ed)>“Language in Nigeria: Essays in Honor of Ayo
> Bamgbose”(1995), >titled,>“Discrimination and Identification of
> Yoruba Tones: Perception >Experiments>and Acoustic Analysis”. The
> two works are apposite to the present>discussion. The late Professor
> Bakare was an Educational >Psychologist.>>· The point being
> emphasized here is that such laudable efforts as >yours>on
> dictionary making are highly commendable, and I am saying this
> >with>every sense of responsibility, but they could have been less
> >stressful for>you and the quality much more enhanced; (1) if it
> had been a >collaborative>work with/of some Yoruba language
> experts. (2) some of the >controversies>now arising could have
> been resolved, settled and, subsequently, >avoided>if some of the
> ideas had been canvassed and demonstrated with
> >relevant>equipment, etc., at relevant conferences of linguists
> and Yoruba >scholars.>You probably will recall that I mentioned
> one Tunde Adegbola and, in>particular, his effort at presenting and
> demonstrating his pet ideas >at>different fora and relevant
> conferences around the globe. He too was >at>the 2004 WALC
> conference to deliver one of the lead papers.>>Now that we begin
> to understand each other, and we both agree with >Dr>Babajide
> Ibukunolu’s suggestion, some of the experts I have
> >suggested>above can be contacted directly so that they can
> commence the >process of>assisting with the observable ‘gap’ and
> forward the same to you, the>outcome of which, hopefully, can be
> reflected in the subsequent >edition(s)>of the very promising
> dictionary. I am least qualified for the job, >and>besides, it is
> a distraction for me since those I already suggested >are>the
> authorities I know. I will nonetheless let you have my comments,
> >as>brother, friend and colleague. You have initiated something
> great, a>challenge to all Yoruba scholars. It is only reasonable as
> others >have>suggested to rally round and make the dream greater,
> and realizable.>Again, pardon my Ekiti-jesa anger.>>For Omolara
> Ogundipe>Now, kindly permit me to attend to some of Omolara
> Ogundipe’s >insinuations>immediately. Her counter-reaction could
> be summarized as follows:>(i) I was trying to promote a ‘few clique’,
> and it was my reason for >‘name>dropping’;>(ii) my
> praise-singing is “self-serving” and the reason for >“wrestling
> for>attention,” (iii) that I should show respect for intellectual and
> >cultural>production…therefore, I should learn to appreciate new
> trends, new>breakthroughs in Yoruba scholarship>(iv) I was living
> behind time hence my being aggressive with the >terms>that I
> probably picked in my graduate years, and advised that I
> >discard>them since they are old fashioned>(v) those I
> described as great minds are members of her Council, >that>…etc,
> etc…>>Humf, very loaded. Pity, she got me all wrong. A typical
> case of>“Gba-ran-mi deleru”?> “An old man who does not want fowls
> to pursue him around does not >tie>maize round his
> waist.”>>I shall encourage myself to respond in the same manner
> and spirit on >this>occasion that seems tome that the word is
> being celebrated. Let >Omolara>Ogundipe be “King” and I'll be “the
> Palace Fool”, and Osundare to >lend me>a spare tongue to ‘tell’
> the “Song of the Palace Fool!”:>>Except that I know Professor
> Omolara Ogundipe who finished with a >First>Class Honours in the
> Department of English of Nigeria’s premier >university>where I
> teach, and that I appreciate her contribution to African>literature
> and women studies, and her present efforts at advancing >the>cause
> of the Yoruba nation, I would have …concluded and, perhaps,
> >lamented>over the havoc America could wreak on some of our
> otherwise very >noble>minds! Or who knows, it could have simply
> been a factor of old age! >But I>think I understand her
> circumstance. I know how desperate some >people are,>trying to
> keep their jobs in foreign lands, trying to impress their>employers,
> trying to be relevant each time the ideological tide >changes>-all
> in the spirit of AGIP (Any Government (or Piper’s Patron) in
> >Power).>Such people are present in every economic sector both at
> home here, >and in>Europe and America. Because they had no
> principle, the question of >losing>it does not arise with this
> category of Africans. Their academic>attainment notwithstanding, they
> are petty minded hustlers, flinging >their>‘age’ around to
> demand, not command, respect; often grabbing titles >and>posts
> they least merit by virtue of their poor moral record; would
> >want>their names alone sung, and would as much as prostrate for a
> cow if >it>would guarantee them a lump of beef! Today, with the
> exception of a >few>that I still respect, some of those who taught
> Marxism, etc., to our>classes in the years that Ogundipe was still
> very much around, who >with>passion, had immersed the conscience
> and consciousness of youthful>Nigerian undergraduates into a world
> that must hate evil, inequity >and>social injustice, have
> themselves suddenly become agents of evil. It >is a>common
> knowledge here in Nigeria, that one wrote a book celebrating
> >the>worst military dictator that ever ruled Nigeria, one is South
> Africa>promoting capitalist interest, another is a defender of a
> Governor >we all>know is an ‘Area Boy’, some still hustle around
> the stinking and >corrupt>government, shamelessly begging for, and
> taking up, jobs. I don’t >pity>them, and I have no respect for
> them either. You have some of such>Nigerians in America too! I think
> they must also have believed that>maintaining those revolutionary
> ideals is old fashioned too!>Hunf! Let me leave the “Song of the
> Palace Fool!” Now, to the main >issue>briefly before I finally
> round off the “Song of the Palace Fool!”:>>· I am neither against
> Mosadomi, etc., nor doubt their scholarship >or>leadership
> capability. I just felt that your appeal for gender>consideration was
> an unwarranted sentiment at that point. These are>scholars, and they
> are good, simple. I am not sure that “iro” or >“sokoto”>really
> matter, but quality of intellectual output, a wealth of
> >experience,>very sound morals to the degree that s/he qualifies
> as a role model >at>home and in the society. And finally, the
> willingness to serve in >the>patriotic task that AYOG has set for
> itself. The essence of >leadership is>to my mind, service. And in
> the present case the leadership I >suppose is>intended in AYOG is
> academic, cultural and moral leadership.>>· I am satisfied with
> Dr. Ibukunolu Babajide’s reason for “name >dropping”.>But beyond
> that, I wonder which of the names I mentioned would need >me,
> a>fry, to sell him or her? I make bold to say that the immense
> >contribution>to scholarship made these names Ogundipe seemed to
> quarrel with >their>being mentioned. If the highly esteemed
> Council President would not>recognize them, well I do, and I believe
> others too, knowing their >worth.>My recognition or celebration of
> these people is my acknowledgment >of>their excellence in
> scholarship and high morals. If that, to >Ogundipe,
> is>self-serving so be it. But let me quickly add that it will amount
> to >sheer>ignorance and self-deceit for anyone aspiring to lead a
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