Ìrọ̀ Èdè Pípe – Basic 1 Yoruba Lesson Note (Second Term)

Ìró èdè pípe (pronouncing Yoruba sounds) means saying the vowel and consonant sounds of Yoruba correctly. Yoruba has seven oral vowels (a, e, ẹ, i, o, ọ, u), and every syllable carries one of three tones: high, mid or low. Changing the tone can change the meaning of a word.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• Say what ìró èdè means.
• Name and pronounce the seven oral vowels.
• Name the three tones and their marks.
• List good behaviours (ìwà rere) and show them in role play.
• Read the short story about dogs.

Èdè (Language): what is ìró èdè?

Kí ni ìró èdè? Ìró èdè are the sounds we make when we pronounce letters and words in Yoruba.

The Yoruba vowels

Yoruba has seven oral vowels: a, e, ẹ, i, o, ọ, u. The letters ẹ and ọ have a dot under them. Say each vowel aloud and let the class repeat it.

Examples of words

• ilé (house)
• ọmọ (child)
• ajá (dog)
• oòrùn (sun): the o and the ò are separate syllables, and each has its own tone.

Say each word slowly, one syllable at a time, and let the class repeat it.

Tone marks (àmì ohùn)

Practice words

The same letters can mean different things when the tone changes.

• ọkọ (husband): mid-mid
• ọkọ́ (hoe): mid-high
• ọkọ̀ (vehicle): mid-low

Àṣà (Culture): Ìwà rere (good character, review)

Good behaviours

1. Ìṣòótọ́ (Truthfulness)
2. Ìtẹ́ríba (Respect)
3. Ìgbọ́ràn (Obedience)
4. Pínpín (Sharing)
5. Ìmọ́tótó (Cleanliness)
6. Ìfẹ́ (Love)
7. Sùúrù (Patience)
8. Ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ (Gentleness)

Role play

• Showing respect at home
• Helping in class
• Sharing with friends
• Telling the truth
• Being clean

Lítíréṣọ̀ (Literature): short story about dogs

Ìtàn kúkúrú nípa ajá

The story

Ajá jẹ́ ẹranko ọ̀sìn. Ó jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ ènìyàn. Ajá ń ṣọ́ ilé. Nígbà tí àjèjì bá dé, ajá ń gbó. Ó ń kìlọ̀ fún ẹni tó ni ilé. Ajá fẹ́ràn oúnjẹ. Ó máa ń jẹ ẹran àti ẹ̀kọ. Àwọn ènìyàn fẹ́ràn ajá nítorí pé ó wúlò. Ní ìlú Gẹ̀ẹ́sì, wọ́n fẹ́ràn ajá gan-an. Wọ́n máa ń tọ́jú rẹ̀ dáadáa. Àwa náà gbọ́dọ̀ fẹ́ràn ẹranko.

Translation

A dog is a domestic animal. It is a friend of people. A dog guards the house. When a stranger comes, the dog barks. It warns the owner of the house. A dog loves food. It eats meat and pap. People love dogs because they are useful. In England, they love dogs very much. They care for them well. We too should love animals.

Uses of dogs

• Ṣọ́ ilé (Guard the house)
• Ṣọ́ oko (Guard the farm)
• Ìrànwọ́ ọdẹ (Helping the hunter)
• Ọ̀rẹ́ (Companion)

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer.

1. Ìró èdè túmọ̀ sí _____ (a) Sound (b) Word (c) Letter
2. Ajá jẹ́ ẹranko _____ (a) Ọ̀sìn (b) Igbó (c) Búburú
3. Ìṣòótọ́ jẹ́ ìwà _____ (a) Búburú (b) Rere (c) Àìdára
4. Ajá ń _____ ilé (a) Jẹ (b) Ṣọ́ (c) Mu
5. Àmì ohùn òkè (high tone) ni _____ (a) ´ (b) ` (c) Kò sí àmì (no mark)
6. Ìtẹ́ríba túmọ̀ sí _____ (a) Disrespect (b) Respect (c) Fighting
7. À ń lo ajá fún _____ (a) Jíjẹ nìkan (b) Ìṣọ́ ilé (c) Kò wúlò
8. How many oral vowels does Yoruba have? (a) 5 (b) 7 (c) 18
9. Ìgbọ́ràn jẹ́ _____ (a) Disobedience (b) Obedience (c) Rudeness
10. Nígbà tí àjèjì bá dé, ajá ń _____ (a) gbó (b) kọrin (c) rẹ́rìn-ín

Answer key

1 (a), 2 (a), 3 (b), 4 (b), 5 (a), 6 (b), 7 (b), 8 (b), 9 (b), 10 (a).

Assignment

1. Write the three tones (high, mid, low) and draw the mark for each one.
2. Write the words ọkọ, ọkọ́ and ọkọ̀ and give the tone of each.
3. Write any five of the eight good behaviours from the lesson.
4. Copy the first four sentences of the story about dogs.

Answer key

1. High tone ´, mid tone (no mark), low tone `.
2. ọkọ: mid-mid. ọkọ́: mid-high. ọkọ̀: mid-low.
3. Any five from: Ìṣòótọ́, Ìtẹ́ríba, Ìgbọ́ràn, Pínpín, Ìmọ́tótó, Ìfẹ́, Sùúrù, Ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́.
4. Ajá jẹ́ ẹranko ọ̀sìn. Ó jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ ènìyàn. Ajá ń ṣọ́ ilé. Nígbà tí àjèjì bá dé, ajá ń gbó.