Izon language
| Izon | |
|---|---|
| Ịzọn | |
| Native to | Nigeria |
| Region | Rivers State, Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo and Edo States |
| Ethnicity | Ijaw |
Native speakers | 5 million (2024) |
| Latin | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | ijc |
| Glottolog | izon1238 |
| ELP | Izon |
Izon (Ịzọn), also known as Central Izon language, Ijaw, Izon and Uzo, is the dominant Ijaw language, spoken by a majority of the Ijaw people of Nigeria.
There are about thirty dialects, all mutually intelligible, of which there are Gbanran, Ekpetiama and Kolokuma etc. Kolokuma is the language of education.
In June 2013, the Izon Fie instructional book and audio CDs were launched at a ceremony attended by officials of the government of Bayelsa State. The government of Bayelsa State official employed 30 teachers to teach the Central Izon language in primary schools in the state in order to save the language from extinction.