Degema language

Spoken in

Niger - Congo

• Atlantic - Congo Volta - Niger Sm- Yeai Edoide languages delta

Deg

The Degema is a edoide language from the Delta area of Nigeria.

It is spoken in two autonomous communities on the island Degema of about 22,000 inhabitants, it was up to the results of the 1991 census (including population figures for the two Degema - speaking communities ).

The two communities in which the Degema is spoken are Usokun - Degema and Degema Town ( Atala ) in Degema Local Government Area of the state of Rivers State of Nigeria. each of these communities speak a variety of Degema, which is understandable with the other. These varieties are named after the names of the communities in which they are spoken: The Usokun - variety spoken in Usokun - Degema and the Atala - variety spoken in Degema Town. These varieties are very similar in their phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic property.

However, no standard variety between the two varieties of Degema has so far developed. However, in recent times appear more literature and scientific publications in the Usokun - variety than in the Atala - variety.

The language is sometimes mistakenly said to be Degema " Atala " or " Udekaama ". Atala is the alternative name for one of the Degema - speaking communities - Degema Town, while Udekaama is the name of a clan, which includes Usokun - Degema and Degema Town. Accordingly, " Kala Degema " used as a misnomer for the Usokun - Degema - variety of Degema.