Understanding the Ifa Origin of Yoruba Language
IfaYor aims to advance the understanding of the Ifa origin of Yoruba and human languages, eradicate loan words in Yoruba language and find a suitable replacement for them in or derived from Odu Ifa, develop the Oduduwa-Aebajiogbe, the Yoruba native writing system, for STEM fields, and document the Ifa origin of Yoruba history, proverbs, idioms, and wise sayings.
IfaYor is a living library and a key aspect of CENProject’s Origin of Language (OoL) Project.
Explore the Origins of Yoruba Language
Delve into resources dedicated to uncovering the Ifa roots of Yoruba, fostering linguistic clarity and cultural preservation.
The Ifa Origin of Yoruba Language
Understand Odu Ifa (Èdè Ọ̀pẹ̀) as the origin of Yoruba and human languages and the ancestral connections shaping modern languages.
Language Reconstruction
Discover methods for replacing loan words with terms originating or derived from Odu Ifa and native systems.
Cultural Preservation
Understand cultural computing using Ifa and its importance in unravelling insights on preserving Yoruba proverbs, idioms, and historical knowledge through Ifa.
A Table of Popular Loan Words and Their Replacements from Odù Ifá
| Concept | Meaning | Ọ̀rọ̀ àyálò(loan word)/Etymology (Ìpínlẹ̀ Ọ̀rọ̀) | Ojúlówó ìtumọ̀ (real Yorùbá meaning) | IfaBasis: Source in Odù Ifá |
| Phoneme | Sound unit | Fóníìmù (Greek/Latin origin) | Hóró-ohùn (hóróhùn) | Ọ̀sá Ògúndá (Ọ̀ságúnlèjá); Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì |
| Morpheme | Meaning unit | Mọ́fìímù (Greek/Latin origin) | Hóró-ìtumọ̀ (hórótumọ̀) | Ọ̀sá Ògúndá (Ọ̀ságúnlèjá); Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì |
| Character | Written unit | Hóró-íkọ (hórókọ) | Ọ̀sá Ògúndá (Ọ̀ságúnlèjá); Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì | |
| Syllable | Pronunciation unit | Sílébù (Greek/Latin origin) | Hóró-òǹpè (hóróǹpè) | Ọ̀sá Ògúndá (Ọ̀ságúnlèjá); Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì |
| Vowel | A speech sound made without blocking airflow. | Fáwẹ́ẹ̀lì (Greek/Latin origin) | Ohùn-ìṣíẹnupè | Ọ̀sá Ògúndá (Ọ̀ságúnlèjá); Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì |
| Consonant | A speech sound made with some obstruction of airflow. | Kọ́nsònáàtì (Greek/Latin origin) | Ohùn-ìdiẹnupè | Ọ̀sá Ògúndá (Ọ̀ságúnlèjá); Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì |
| Letter | A written symbol in an alphabet representing a sound | Lẹ́tà (Greek/Latin origin) | Àmì-ohùn | Ìrosùn Méjì; Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì |
| Alphabet | A kind of writing system (alpha-beta). | Álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì (Greek) | Ìrosùn Méjì; Ìrẹtẹ̀ Méjì | |
| Table | A flat surface, often supported by four legs. | Tábìlì (Greek/Latin origin) | Àtẹga (àtẹ tó ga) | Ìrẹtẹ̀ (Àtẹ) Méjì |
| Hour | A unit of time containing 60 minutes (ọgọ́ta ìṣẹ́jú). | Wákàtí (Arabic origin) | Ọgọ́jú (ọgọ́ta ìṣẹ́jú) | Ìká Méjì; Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì; Ọ̀wọ́nrín Méjì; Ọ̀wọ́nrín Ìká (Ọ̀wọ́nrín Ọjọ́sẹ̀) |
| Doctor | A person who treats people who are ill or injured. | Dókítà (Latin origin) | Oníwòsàn (medical doctor); Ìmọ̀ Ìjìnlẹ̀ Ìwòsàn (Medicine); Oníṣègùn; Alágbo; (pharmacist); Ìmọ̀ Ìjìnlẹ̀ Ìṣègùn; Ìmọ̀ Ìjìnlẹ̀ Àgbo (Pharmacy) | Ògún Méjì |
| Ball | A round/roundish body or mass used for sports. | Bọ́ọ́lù (Proto-Germanic, Latin/Greek origin) | Ayíbírí aláwọ (ball); Ayíbírí-aláwọ-àfẹ́sẹ̀gbá (football) | Ọ̀sá Méjì; Ọ̀sẹ́ Méjì |
| Planet | A large body that revolves around the sun or a star. | Ancient Greek planētēs (“wanderer”) | Òbìrí; Àgò; Ilé; Òbìrí-Ilé(Òbìrílé); Òbìrí-Àgò (Òbìrágò); Ayé (World) | Ọ̀yẹ̀kú-Ogbè; Èjìogbè |
The Aebajiogbe STEM Framework
The Aebajiogbe-Oduduwa is an ancient writing system discovered by Oloye Tolúlàṣẹ Ògúntósìn in 2016.
The Oduduwa script is taught to students in Ifẹ (Nigeria), Porto-Novo, Benin, Ifacodemy, among others.
Aebajiogbe STEM develops this great discovery made by Oloye Oguntosin further for application in modern STEM fields and subjects.
It is a key initiative of the IfaYor System, which adapts the ancient Aebajiogbe writing system into a formal framework for teaching and representing modern science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
In-Depth Analysis of Linguistic Origins
Explore critical data illuminating the eradication of loan words, development of native scripts, and preservation of Yoruba linguistic heritage.
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Loan Word Reduction
Highlighting the progress in replacing foreign loan words with authentic Yoruba terms derived from Odu Ifa.
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Writing System Development
Showcasing advancements in creating a native Yoruba script tailored for STEM applications and modern communication.
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Cultural Preservation
Emphasizing efforts to document Yoruba proverbs, idioms, and historic knowledge as part of cultural heritage.
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Language Origin Impact
Detailing the project’s role within the broader Origin of Language (OoL) initiative and its significance.
Uncover the Richness of Ifa Yoruba
This section presents a carefully selected array of visuals capturing the depth and heritage of the Ifa Yoruba language and culture.
Begin Your Journey into Ifa Yoruba Insights
IfaYor is a language science, language technology, and language art.
Discover how Ifa Yoruba origins enrich language understanding and join us in preserving this invaluable heritage. Engage with our resources to deepen your knowledge and participate in language innovation.