Yoruba
Yoruba is one of 99 world languages in the LEXOS registry, belonging to the Niger-Congo language family. Every word or phrase can be analysed across 6 linguistic levels: phonetics → phonology → morphology → syntax → semantics → pragmatics.
Volta-Niger branch of Niger-Congo; tonal, Latin script with diacritics. Major presence across the Atlantic diaspora through Yoruba-derived religious and cultural traditions such as Santeria and Candomble.
6 Levels of Analysis for Yoruba
Other Niger-Congo languages
Frequently asked about Yoruba
What language family does Yoruba belong to?
Niger-Congo.
At which levels can I analyse Yoruba?
Six levels: Phonetics (speech sounds, IPA), Phonology (phonemes and sound patterns), Morphology (word structure), Syntax (phrases and sentence structure), Semantics (literal meaning), Pragmatics (meaning in context).
Is Yoruba one of the most spoken world languages?
Yes — LEXOS catalogues the 99 most-spoken / most-commercially-relevant world languages, covering every major language family and every continent.