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Art, Culture & Design
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The Village of Two Tongues: How Men and Women in Ubang, Nigeria Speak Different Languages
In the Nigerian village of Ubang, men and women use different words for the same things due to a unique bilingual tradition rooted in their creation myth. This fascinating and endangered language offers a rare glimpse into how gender and identity can shape speech.
Imagine a place where the word a husband uses for “yam” is completely different from the one his wife uses. This isn't a secret code or a private joke; it's the everyday reality in Ubang, a farming community in Nigeria's Cross River State. Here, men and women speak the same language, but with a fascinating twist: they use separate vocabularies for a significant number of common concepts.
A Language Divided by Gender
The Ubang language is a linguistic anomaly. While grammar and pronunciation are shared, the lexicons diverge based on gender. For example, to say “clothing,” a man would use the word “nki,” while a woman would say “ariga.” A goat is an “ibue” to men but an “obi” to women. This isn't limited to a few words; it covers a wide range of nouns, from yams (“iri” for men, “ketung” for women) to water (“bamu” for men, “amu” for women).
Children grow up learning both versions of the language. However, by about the age of ten, they are expected to exclusively use the vocabulary corresponding to their gender. A boy who continues to use the female words is seen as “immature” or confused. This linguistic division is a fundamental aspect of their cultural identity, reinforcing gender roles from a young age.
The Mythological Origins
The Ubang people explain this unique tradition through their creation story. They believe God created Adam and Eve and, in His wisdom, gave them two distinct sets of words. This divine gift was intended to make the Ubang people unique and special. As community leader Chief Oliver Ibang explained to the BBC:
It's the language of God. God created Adam and Eve and gave them two different languages... He decided to give them two languages so that they will be unique from other people in the world.
This belief elevates the language from a mere communication tool to a sacred inheritance. It's not a system designed to separate or create hierarchy, but rather one that celebrates a divinely ordained duality between the sexes.
A Fading Echo in a Modern World
Despite its cultural significance, the Ubang language is facing the threat of extinction. Like many minority languages, it is not taught in schools, and younger generations are increasingly favoring Nigerian Pidgin or standard English. The pressure to assimilate in a globalized world means that fewer young people are strictly adhering to the dual-gender vocabulary.
Linguists and cultural advocates are concerned that as the older generation passes, this incredible linguistic phenomenon could disappear forever. The loss of the Ubang language would not just be the loss of words, but the erosion of a worldview that so intricately weaves together language, gender, mythology, and identity. It serves as a powerful reminder of the world's immense and fragile linguistic diversity.