Àtúnyẹ̀wò – Basic 6 Yoruba Lesson Note (Third Term)

Àtúnyẹ̀wò (revision) is a review of the main points taught in Yoruba in the third term: language (Èdè), culture (Àṣà) and literature (Lítírésò).

Behavioural objectives

1. Count and do simple number work in Yoruba, for example 50, 100 and 200.
2. Identify verbs, nouns, pronouns and persons (ẹyàn ọ̀rọ̀) in Yoruba sentences.
3. Divide Yoruba words into syllables and mark the three tones correctly.
4. Name the Yoruba vowels, consonants, kinds of names and the main kings.
5. Explain the cultural values and oral literature taught this term.

What does the third-term Yoruba course cover?

The third-term course has three strands: Èdè (language), Àṣà (culture) and Lítírésò (literature).

What should I revise in Èdè (language)?

Èdè revision covers nine topics: numbers, verbs, syllables, parts of speech, sounds, tones, persons, qualifiers and letter writing.

Onkà Yorùbá (counting and number work)

• Ogún: twenty (20).
• Àádọ́ta: fifty (50).
• Ọgọ́rùn-ún: one hundred (100). So 50 + 50 = ọgọ́rùn-ún.
• Igba: two hundred (200).

Ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe (the verb in a sentence)

A verb (ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe) is a word that shows an action or doing.

• Example: in “Adé lọ sí ilé”, the verb is lọ (go).
• Other verbs: jẹ (eat), wá (come).

Sílébù pínpín (dividing words into syllables)

A syllable (sílébù) is a unit of sound in a word, and every Yoruba syllable carries a tone.

• Vowel alone (V): a single vowel, as in Ì in Ì-yá.
• Consonant plus vowel (CV): as in yá in Ì-yá.
• Syllabic nasal (N): m or n standing alone, as in ń in Ó-ń-lọ (three syllables).
• Counting: “Ìyá” has two syllables (Ì-yá). “Ilé” also has two (I-lé).

Ìṣorí gírámà (parts of speech)

• Ọ̀rọ̀-orúkọ (noun): names a person, place or thing, as in ilé (house).
• Ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe (verb): shows an action, as in jẹ (eat).
• Ọ̀rọ̀-arọ́pò (pronoun): stands in place of a noun, as in èmi (I).

Ìrò èdè (speech sounds)

Yoruba has 25 letters: 7 vowels (fáwẹ̀lì) and 18 consonants (kọ́ńsónántì).

• Oral vowels (7): a, e, ẹ, i, o, ọ, u.
• Nasal vowels (5): an, ẹn, in, ọn, un.
• Consonants (18): b, d, f, g, gb, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, ṣ, t, w, y.

Ìrò ohùn (tones)

Yoruba has three tones: high (oké), low (ìsàlẹ̀) and mid (àláàárín).

Ọ̀rọ̀-ẹyàn (persons)

Ọ̀rọ̀-ẹyàn shows who is speaking, who is spoken to and who is spoken about.

Ọ̀rọ̀ apọ́nlé àti atọ́kùn (qualifiers)

• Ọ̀rọ̀ apọ́nlé: describes a noun, as in “Ilé tóbi” (the house is big), where tóbi describes ilé.
• Ọ̀rọ̀ atọ́kùn: gives more detail about how an action is done.

Lẹ́tà kíkọ (letter writing)

A letter to a friend is an informal letter, and a letter to an official or a company is a formal letter.

1. Write your address at the top right.
2. Write the date.
3. Write the greeting.
4. Write the body of the letter in short paragraphs.
5. Write the closing and your name.

What should I revise in Àṣà (culture)?

Àṣà revision covers eight topics on Yoruba customs, history, leaders, names and character.

• Eré ìdárayá: recreation and sports, such as ayò (board game) and gídígbò (wrestling).
• Ìṣẹ̀dá àti ìtànkálẹ̀ Yorùbá: origin and spread of the Yoruba. Oòduà is the ancestor, and Ile-Ifẹ̀ is the cradle of the people.
• Ọba aládé: crowned kings, such as Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́, Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀ and Alákétu of Kétu.
• Àṣà ìránra-ẹni-lọ́wọ́: the culture of helping one another, such as aáró (group farm work) and ẹ̀ṣùsú (contribution savings).
• Ìwà ọmọlúàbí: good character, such as ọ̀wọ̀ (respect) and òtítọ́ (honesty). Ọ̀lẹ (laziness) and ìjà (fighting) are bad habits.
• Revise from your class textbook: Ọgẹ ṣíṣe láyé àtijọ́ and Ìdána nílé Yorùbá.

Orúkọ Yorùbá (kinds of names)

Yoruba names are grouped by how and why they are given.

• Àmútọ̀runwá: names linked to the circumstances of birth, such as Táíwò and Kẹ́hìndé (twins) and Dàda.
• Àbísọ: names given at home from family events, such as Babátúndé and Yétúndé.
• Ìnagijẹ: nicknames.

What should I revise in Lítírésò (literature)?

Lítírésò revision covers nine topics on stories, proverbs, riddles, poems, songs and food.

• Ọ̀rọ̀ tuntun àti ìtumọ̀: new words from your reading texts and their meanings.
• Ìtàn sísọ àti òwe: storytelling and proverbs. Òwe lẹ́ṣin ọ̀rọ̀ means the proverb is the horse of speech.
• Òwe onítàn: a proverb explained with a short story.
• Oúnjẹ abìnibí: indigenous foods, such as ìṣù (yam), àmàlà and ẹ̀fọ́ (vegetables). Rice is not an indigenous Yoruba food.
• Àlò àpamọ́: riddles, where one person asks and another answers.
• Ewì alohùn: oral poetry that is chanted, such as ìjálá (hunters’ chant) and oríkì (praise names).
• Orin ayẹyẹ: songs for ceremonies such as weddings, naming ceremonies and funerals.
• Revise from your class textbook: Ìtàn wúrú and Ẹdá ìtàn.

Revision exercise: Àtúnyẹ̀wò gbogbogbò

1. 50 + 50 ní èdè Yorùbá jẹ́:
   A) Ogún B) Ọgọ́rùn-ún C) Àádọ́ta D) Igba
2. Ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe wà nínú gbolóhùn yìí: “Adé lọ sí ilé”
   A) Adé B) Lọ C) Sí D) Ilé
3. Sílébù mélòó ni “Ìyá”?
   A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
4. Ọ̀rọ̀-orúkọ ni:
   A) Jẹ B) Dára C) Ilé D) Yára
5. Fáwẹ̀lì Yorùbá jẹ́:
   A) 5 B) 6 C) 7 D) 8
6. Àmì ohùn ìsàlẹ̀ ni:
   A) (´) B) (`) C) (¯) D) (.)
7. “Èmi” jẹ́ ẹyàn ọ̀rọ̀:
   A) Kìínní B) Kejì C) Kẹta D) Kọ́
8. Ọgẹ ṣíṣe túmọ̀ sí:
   A) Ìṣẹ́ àgbẹ̀ B) Eré C) Oúnjẹ D) Ilé
9. Ọba ilú Ọ̀yọ́ ni:
   A) Ọọ̀ni B) Aláàfin C) Olú D) Alákétu
10. Ohun-èlò ìdána ni:
    A) Bọ́ọ̀lù B) Obì C) Ìwé D) Ọ̀pá
11. Ta ni baba Yorùbá?
    A) Ṣàngó B) Oòduà C) Ògún D) Ọbàtálá
12. Àṣà ìránra-ẹni-lọ́wọ́ ni:
    A) Ààrò B) Ìjà C) Ìkórìíra D) Ọ̀tẹ̀
13. “Ilé tóbi”: “tóbi” jẹ́:
    A) Ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe B) Apọ́nlé C) Orúkọ D) Atọ́kùn
14. Táíwò jẹ́ orúkọ:
    A) Àbísọ B) Àmútọ̀runwá C) Ìnagijẹ D) Kọ́
15. Lẹ́tà tí a kọ sí ọ̀rẹ́ ni:
    A) Lẹ́tà ọ̀rẹ́ B) Lẹ́tà ìṣòwò C) Lẹ́tà àwùjọ D) B àti C
16. Àlò àpamọ́ túmọ̀ sí:
    A) Story B) Riddles C) Song D) Dance
17. Oúnjẹ abìnibí kìí ṣe:
    A) Ìṣù B) Àmàlà C) Rice D) Ẹ̀fọ́
18. Ewì alohùn ni:
    A) Ìjálá B) Ìtàn C) Àròkọ D) Lẹ́tà
19. “Ìwọ” jẹ́ ẹyàn ọ̀rọ̀:
    A) Kìínní B) Kejì C) Kẹta D) Mẹ́rin
20. Ìwà ọmọlúàbí ni:
    A) Ìwà burúkú B) Ọ̀wọ̀ C) Ọ̀lẹ D) Ìjà

Evaluation

1. Write the three Yoruba tones and the mark for each.
2. Divide “Ìyá” and “Ilé” into syllables.
3. Write the six Yoruba pronouns for the three persons, singular and plural.
4. Name three kinds of Yoruba names and give one example of each.

Assignment

Write a short revision note on this term’s work under three headings: Èdè, Àṣà and Lítírésò, with three points under each. Also read your Yoruba readers and prepare for the third-term examination.