Thread by @ogbonnaya_mark

Chidimma or Chidinma: Which One is Spelt Correctly and Why?

Over the years, grammatical anomalies have been committed regarding ways to write some Igbo names or words. On social media, series of "nma" and "mma challenge have taken place.

Many people opined that their dialects pronounce "nma", others said no, it is "mma". Some said "mma" means mother while "nma" means beauty. They are phonologically unexposed to know the importance of tone tone marking in Igbo heteronyms. Others say "mma" is knife, "nma"—beauty

Let me first initiate the idea that "nma" is an anglicised form of mma which does not follow the phonothactic rules of the Igbo Language.

In Igbo Language, "M" and "N" are consonants. But unique in a way. They are syllabic nasals (Myiriụdaume). In Igbo phonothatic rule, there is no consonant cluster. That is why Nsukka, Onitsha, Owerri are wrongly spelt. The correct spellings are Nsụka, Ọnịcha and Owere.

But "M" and "N"can come together to form a meaningful word. This time, the repeated "M" or "N" is no longer a consonant cluster but as one stands for syllabic nasal (Myiriụdaume) the other stands for consonant (mgbochiume). The first takes tone mark unlike the second one, eg:

Mma
Mmanụ
Mmadụ
Mmemme
Mmọnwụ
Mmịmị
Mmiri
Mmegbu
Mmebi
Mmakọ
Mmekọrịta
Mmekọahụ

The first "M" stands for syllabic nasal. It takes tone mark. But the following "m" stands for consonant, it does not take tone mark.

Coming to "N", the same rule goes. Eg:

Nne
Nnenne
Nnenna
Nneka
Nnadi
Nnamdị
Nnọọ
Nna

The first "n" is not functioning as a consonant but syllabic nasal. It takes tone mark, while the following "n" is a consonant. It does not take tone mark.

THE GRAMMATICAL RULES OF IGBO
The Igbo phonothatic rule states that:

1. "M" cannot meet with "N" to form a word. Like "Mna", "Mnadụ", "Mnegbu".

2. "N" cannot meet with "M" to form a word. Like
Nma
Nmadụ
Nmenme
Mmegbu
Nmanya, etc

What We have are these:
* "M" goes with "m", eg:
Ḿmá= beauty
Ḿmà= knife
Mmanya= wine
Mmanụ= Oil
Chịdịmma

* "N" goes with "N", eg:
Nneka (not Nmeka)
Nnanna
Nnadi
Nnọrọ

Another point that disproves "Nma" is that the place of articulation of "M" and "N" is not the same.

While "M" is a bilabial speech sound (the upper and lower lips emerge to pronounce it) then "N" is produced when the tongue rise up to he hard palate and clench with the upper teeth. Though both are nasalized voice sounds, that is why they are called syllabic nasals as shown.

What we are discussing here is Igbo izugbe and the rules of writing Igbo. Those of you claiming that Chidịmma is Chidịnma, you are failing the grammatical rules of Igbo formation. Those of you writing mmegbu as nmegbu, you are failing the rules of Igbo grammar.

The aforementioned points are the reasons why "Nma" is wrong. It does not go at all. Some people say: "that is what we have been pronouncing since". They will even argue that "n" comes first before "m". Ihe ọjọọ gbaa afọ ọ bụrụ omenala.

That you have been writing "Nma" for years does not make it right. And some people asked: "who made the rules? Are they not Igbo like me? How can you teach me how to write my language?"

The same people are hypocritically hunting for new English grammar books to write perfectly.

They never questioned those who made the English grammatical rules they obey. Igbo should be written anyhow but English should be handled carefully.

The truth is, no one made any linguistic rule. Grammatical rules can be proven. From a nature of language, the rules are seen naturally before they are being studied. That is to say that grammatical rules are formed following the nature of the language.
© Maazi Ogbonnaya