چکیده (انگلیسی):

Àbèsàbèsì is the name of the language known in literature as Akpes. The language is spoken in nine
communities. The communities are: Ìbaràm(ù), Ìyànì, Èkiròmì (Ìkáràm(ù), Àsẹ, Àkpès, Gèdègédé,
Èṣùkù, Dája, Ìlúdọtun. Àbèsàbèsì linguistic communities are bilingual. Agoyi 2008 says Àbèsàbèsì has
four dialects: Èkiròmì (spoken in Ìkáràmù and Àsẹ), Akpes (spoken in Àkùnù and Ìlúdọtun in Àjọwá),
Ìluẹnì (spoken in Ìbaràm(ù), Ìyànì, Gèdègédé) and Èṣùkù spoken in Èṣùkù, Dája). Akpes is classified as
a separate branch of the Niger-Congo family. Agoyi (1998, 2001) argues that Akpes (Ekiromi) be
reclassified as Edoid. The reasons for her proposal are based on the inflection for number, as well as
Lexico-statistics of word lists of about 66 basic items. Agoyi (2008) shows that Akpes and Èkiròmì, two
Àbèsàbèsì languages, attest {ATR+ROUND] harmony which is not a common linguistic feature in
Africa; nonetheless, there is a striking similarity in the [ATR] and [LOW] vowel harmony that Ilueni
one of the Abesabèsi language lects, attests with the [ATR], [LOW] harmony found in Okpe
(Pulleyblank (1986)). It is argued that [ATR+ROUND] drives [LOW] vowel Harmony in Ọṣùgù,
another Abèsàbèsì lect. The phenomenon can be traced to the [LOW] vowel feature inherent in the proto
Language. Gerunds in all Àbèsàbèsì lects manifests down step which is similar to Degema tone system
(Elugbe 2011:11),
The lects also attests the loss of lexical tone on the verbs. Elugbe 2011:12 refers to such phenomenon as
an Edoid innovation