esoteric definition
type: DatatypeProperty
range: langString
domain: Lexical Sense
comment: The initiated or esoteric meaning of this sense, disclosed only to qualified practitioners. Initiated-only.
minimum access level: access-initiated-only

Graphic-lexical system
type: Concept
definition: A system in which graphic signs function as lexical or semiotic units, functioning analogously to writing. Examples: Nsibidi (Ejagham) as a graphic communication system; Anaforuana signs with lexical referents. Linked to iroko-veve for the graphic dimension.
in scheme: Sacred Language Types

Other
in scheme: Parts of Speech
definition: Part of speech not covered by existing concepts.
type: Concept

community definition
minimum access level: access-community-only
comment: A definition appropriate for community members and practitioners, including cultural context not meant for general publication. Language-tagged.
domain: Lexical Sense
range: langString
type: DatatypeProperty

in language
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted
comment: The sacred language to which this lexical entry belongs. Range: iroko:SacredLanguage.
range: Sacred Language
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Lexical Entry

name convention
range: Concept
type: ObjectProperty
minimum access level: access-community-only
comment: The type of secret name convention this follows. Range: iroko:SecretNameConventionScheme. Community-restricted.
domain: Secret Name

Consecration
type: Concept
definition: Speech that transforms an object, person, or space from secular to sacred status. Among the most restricted speech acts.
in scheme: Speech Act Types

Parts of Speech
has top concept: Interjection / exclamation
has top concept: Adverb
preferred label: Parties du discours @fr
preferred label: Partes de la oración @es
has top concept: Other
has top concept: Verb
preferred label: Partes do discurso @pt
type: ConceptScheme
has top concept: Adjective
has top concept: Fixed formula
preferred label: Àwọn ìpín ọ̀rọ̀ @yo
has top concept: Noun

language type
type: ObjectProperty
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted
domain: Sacred Language
range: Concept
comment: Classification of this sacred language. Range: iroko:SacredLanguageTypeScheme.

Liturgical Phrase
type: Class
subclass of: SacredEntity
comment: A multi-word expression, formula, invocation, or greeting used in Afro-Atlantic sacred contexts. Examples: Yorùbá greeting formulas specific to Orisha (mojuba formulas); Palo Kikongo invocations; Vodou salutation phrases for specific lwa. Phrases are documented with their tradition, ceremony context, and speaker authority requirements. General greetings are community-restricted; ceremonial invocations are initiated-only.

Sacred Speech Act
subclass of: SacredEntity
type: Class
comment: A formally defined speech act type within a tradition's ceremonial protocol: oath-taking, naming, cursing, blessing, consecration, authorization. Distinct from a specific utterance: a SacredSpeechAct is the category (e.g., 'Ifá greeting formula') while a LiturgicalPhrase is a specific instance. The existence of a speech act type is community-restricted; its specific form and context are initiated-only to elder-only.

Ge'ez / Ethiopic script
type: Concept
preferred label: ፊደል (Fidel) @am
in scheme: Script Systems
definition: The Ethiopic abugida used to write Ge'ez, Amharic, Tigrinya, and other Ethiopian and Eritrean languages. The sacred script of Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox liturgy.

Iroko Framework: Qal Module (Sacred Lexicons and Liturgical Language)
created: 2026-02-22
description: Domain module. Vocabulary for documenting sacred lexicons, liturgical languages, and esoteric terminology across Afro-Atlantic and related African sacred traditions. Qal (ቃል) — Ge'ez for 'word.' Covers liturgical Yorùbá (Lucumí), Kikongo (Palo), Haitian Kreyòl sacred register, Fon/Ewe, and Ge'ez. Integrates with the OntoLex-Lemon Ontology for Lexicography for multilingual lexical data. Access control distinguishes public knowledge (language names, general vocabulary) from restricted esoteric terminology and secret names. Use with iroko-epistemic to model secret name and esoteric term disclosure constraints; iroko-narrative for liturgical phrase transmission chains and praise poetry provenance.
version info: 1.3.0
type: Ontology
creator: Iroko Historical Society
license: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/
modified: 2026-02-25
imports: iroko-core
is part of: iroko-framework
version IRI: https://ontology.irokosociety.org/iroko-qal/1.3.0
references: iroko-epistemic
references: iroko-narrative

Other
in scheme: Sacred Language Types
definition: Sacred language type not covered by existing concepts.
type: Concept

Farewell / closing
in scheme: Speech Act Types
definition: Formal speech acts that close a ceremony or take leave of a spiritual entity.
type: Concept

Salutation / greeting
type: Concept
definition: Formal greetings addressed to an entity, elder, or ceremonial space. Examples: Orisha salutation formulas (Mojuba); Vodou bonjou to specific lwa.
in scheme: Speech Act Types

Adverb
type: Concept
in scheme: Parts of Speech
definition: An adverbial modifier.

written form
range: langString
comment: The conventional written form of this term in the liturgical language. Language-tagged. Community-restricted.
domain: Lexical Entry
type: DatatypeProperty
minimum access level: access-community-only

has sense
sub property of: sense
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Lexical Entry
range: Lexical Sense
minimum access level: access-community-only
comment: Links a LexicalEntry to one of its LexicalSenses. A single entry may carry multiple senses at different access levels — a public sense (general meaning), a community sense (practitioner usage), and an esoteric sense (initiated meaning). Each sense is a separate LexicalSense instance governed by its own access level. Declared as rdfs:subPropertyOf ontolex:sense to maintain OntoLex-Lemon alignment. Access: community-only at minimum; individual senses carry their own access governance.

has secret name
inverse of: name holder
minimum access level: access-initiated-only
type: ObjectProperty
range: Secret Name
comment: Links a SacredEntity to a SecretName it holds. Inverse of iroko:secretNameHolder. Scoped to SacredEntity rather than SpiritualEntity alone because initiated practitioners also hold secret names (oruko awo and analogous esoteric designations). The existence of a secret name relationship is itself restricted; the name text is governed at no-access on iroko:secretNameText and is never exported to RDF — it is stored internally only. Access: initiated-only.
domain: SacredEntity

Oath / juramento
definition: A sworn commitment made in the presence of spiritual witnesses, binding on the speaker. Examples: Abakuá juramento; Palo Monte pact formulas. Initiated-only.
in scheme: Speech Act Types
type: Concept

ISO 639 code
type: DatatypeProperty
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted
domain: Sacred Language
comment: The ISO 639-3 code for the base language, where applicable (e.g., 'yor' for Yorùbá, 'kng' for Kikongo, 'hat' for Haitian Kreyòl, 'gez' for Ge'ez).
range: language

has entry
minimum access level: access-community-only
domain: Sacred Language
inverse of: in language
comment: Links a SacredLanguage to a LexicalEntry in that language. Inverse of iroko:inLanguage. Enables a researcher to start from a language and traverse its full lexical inventory. A SacredLanguage may have many entries; each entry belongs to exactly one SacredLanguage via inLanguage. Access: community-only — the lexical inventory of a sacred language is appropriate for practitioners and scholars with community standing.
range: Lexical Entry
type: ObjectProperty

Arabic script (Ajami)
definition: Arabic script used to write African languages in religious contexts, particularly in Ajami traditions (Fulfulde, Hausa, Wolof in Arabic script). Relevant in West African Islamic contexts that intersect with Afro-Atlantic traditions.
type: Concept
in scheme: Script Systems

Noun
definition: A noun or noun phrase (entity names, place names, object names).
type: Concept
in scheme: Parts of Speech

Initiate name (from itá)
in scheme: Secret Name Conventions
preferred label: Nombre de itá @es
type: Concept
definition: A name or identifier given to an initiate in their itá (life reading). Typically held as private to the initiate and their elders.

Lexical Entry
subclass of: SacredEntity
subclass of: LexicalEntry
type: Class
comment: A word, term, or morpheme in a sacred language with its liturgical or ritual meaning documented. Subclass of ontolex:LexicalEntry for integration with multilingual lexicographic infrastructure. A single lexical entry may have multiple senses (iroko:LexicalSense), including restricted senses whose esoteric meaning is not disclosed publicly. The existence of a term is community-restricted; its esoteric sense is initiated-only.

orthographic variants
range: langString
type: DatatypeProperty
comment: Alternative spellings in use across lineages or transcription traditions. Language-tagged.
domain: Lexical Entry
minimum access level: access-community-only

language name
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted
comment: The name of the sacred language or register. Language-tagged.
domain: Sacred Language
range: langString
type: DatatypeProperty

has phrase
type: ObjectProperty
minimum access level: access-community-only
domain: Sacred Language
comment: Links a SacredLanguage to a LiturgicalPhrase expressed in that language. Inverse of iroko:phraseLanguage. Enables a researcher to start from a language and traverse its attested liturgical formulas, invocations, greetings, and oaths. Access: community-only — attested liturgical phrases are appropriate for practitioners and qualified scholars; phrase translations and full texts are governed at initiated level on the LiturgicalPhrase instances themselves.
inverse of: phrase language
range: Liturgical Phrase

secret name
minimum access level: access-no-access
comment: The secret name itself. No-access: never exported to RDF, stored internally for provenance only.
domain: Secret Name
range: langString
type: DatatypeProperty

Lwa secret name (Vodou)
type: Concept
in scheme: Secret Name Conventions
definition: A restricted name of a specific lwa, known only to initiates at a specific grade.
preferred label: Nom secret du lwa @fr

Script Systems
preferred label: Àwọn ètò ìkọ̀wé mímọ́ @yo
preferred label: Sistemas de escritura sagrada @es
has top concept: Other
has top concept: Anaforuana (Abakuá)
has top concept: Ge'ez / Ethiopic script
has top concept: Arabic script (Ajami)
type: ConceptScheme
has top concept: Oral tradition (no script)
has top concept: Latin script
has top concept: Adinkra symbols (Akan)
preferred label: Systèmes d'écriture sacrée @fr
has top concept: Nsibidi (Ejagham)
preferred label: Sistemas de escrita sagrada @pt

Speech Act Types
has top concept: Salutation / greeting
preferred label: Àwọn ìrú ọ̀rọ̀ mímọ́ @yo
has top concept: Consecration
preferred label: Tipos de ato de fala sagrado @pt
has top concept: Farewell / closing
has top concept: Oath / juramento
type: ConceptScheme
preferred label: Types d'acte de parole sacré @fr
has top concept: Praise / oriki
has top concept: Invocation
has top concept: Blessing
has top concept: Prohibition / taboo declaration
has top concept: Other
preferred label: Tipos de acto de habla sagrado @es
has top concept: Naming

Orisha camino (path name)
definition: The secret name of a specific camino (path) of an Orisha, revealed in divination. Community-restricted in general; the specific name is initiated-elder only.
preferred label: Nombre del camino del Orisha @es
type: Concept
in scheme: Secret Name Conventions

name holder
range: SacredEntity
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Secret Name
minimum access level: access-no-access
comment: The entity (spiritual or human) who holds this secret name. Range: iroko:SpiritualEntity or foaf:Person. No-access.

cognate terms
type: ObjectProperty
range: Lexical Entry
minimum access level: access-community-only
comment: Terms in related languages that are etymologically cognate or semantically parallel. Used to document cross-tradition vocabulary relationships (e.g., Yorùbá 'Egúngún' → Lucumí 'Eggun'; Fon 'Legba' → Haitian 'Legba').
domain: Lexical Entry

entity reference
range: SpiritualEntity
type: ObjectProperty
minimum access level: access-community-only
comment: The spiritual entity denoted by this sense, where applicable. Range: iroko:SpiritualEntity.
domain: Lexical Sense

Oral tradition (no script)
definition: Language transmitted exclusively orally without a writing system. The majority of Afro-Atlantic liturgical languages fall here historically; Latin transcription is secondary.
in scheme: Script Systems
type: Concept

Lexical Sense
subclass of: LexicalSense
comment: A specific meaning of a lexical entry, which may carry different access levels than the entry itself. An Orisha's name (entry) may be public, while a path-specific epithet (restricted sense) is community-restricted, and a secret name (esoteric sense) is no-access. Multiple senses of the same term are documented as separate LexicalSense instances with appropriate access levels.
type: Class
subclass of: SacredEntity

geographic base
range: langString
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted
domain: Sacred Language
comment: The geographic region(s) where this language is primarily used. Free-text.
type: DatatypeProperty

Nkisi name (Palo)
in scheme: Secret Name Conventions
preferred label: Nombre del nkisi @es
definition: The secret name of a specific Nganga/nkisi in Palo Monte, given at preparation. Known to the Tata and their lineage.
type: Concept

phrase text
range: langString
domain: Liturgical Phrase
type: DatatypeProperty
minimum access level: access-initiated-only
comment: The text of the liturgical phrase in its original language. Language-tagged. Initiated-only.

Naming
type: Concept
definition: The formal conferral of a sacred or initiatory name on a person, object, or entity.
in scheme: Speech Act Types

Fixed formula
in scheme: Parts of Speech
definition: A multi-word fixed expression that functions as a unit in ceremonial contexts.
type: Concept

speech act type
type: ObjectProperty
range: Sacred Speech Act
comment: Links a LiturgicalPhrase to the SacredSpeechAct type it instantiates — oath, invocation, greeting, prohibition, praise, or similar. SacredSpeechAct is a classification of the ceremonial function a phrase performs within ritual protocol; this property tags the phrase with that type. A phrase may instantiate more than one speech act type. Access: community-only.
minimum access level: access-community-only
domain: Liturgical Phrase

Sacred Language Types
type: ConceptScheme
has top concept: Graphic-lexical system
has top concept: African Christian liturgical language
preferred label: Tipos de lengua sagrada @es
has top concept: Sacred register of a vernacular
has top concept: Full liturgical language
preferred label: Types de langue sacrée @fr
preferred label: Tipos de língua sagrada @pt
has top concept: Other
has top concept: Afro-Atlantic liturgical language
preferred label: Àwọn ìrú èdè mímọ́ @yo

Full liturgical language
definition: A language used in its complete grammatical form as the primary medium of sacred communication. Examples: Yorùbá in continental Yorùbá religion; Fon in Beninese Vodun; Ge'ez in Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy.
type: Concept
in scheme: Sacred Language Types

Other
definition: Secret name convention not covered by existing concepts.
type: Concept
in scheme: Secret Name Conventions

script system
type: ObjectProperty
range: Concept
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted
domain: Sacred Language
comment: The writing system used for this language, where applicable. Range: iroko:ScriptSystemScheme.

Invocation
definition: Speech that calls or invites a spiritual entity. Typically more restricted than salutation in terms of who may perform it.
in scheme: Speech Act Types
type: Concept

Verb
definition: A verb or verb phrase (ceremonial actions, states).
type: Concept
in scheme: Parts of Speech

Sacred register of a vernacular
in scheme: Sacred Language Types
type: Concept
definition: A specialized ceremonial register of a vernacular language, with vocabulary and formulas specific to sacred contexts. Examples: the Vodou ceremonial register of Haitian Kreyòl; the ceremonial Jamaican Patois of Kumina.

Adjective
definition: A modifier (epithets, descriptive terms for entities).
type: Concept
in scheme: Parts of Speech

Latin script
type: Concept
in scheme: Script Systems
definition: Latin alphabet as used to transcribe liturgical Yorùbá, Lucumí, Kikongo, Haitian Kreyòl, and most documented Afro-Atlantic liturgical languages.

part of speech
comment: Grammatical category of this term. Range: iroko:PartOfSpeechScheme.
range: Concept
type: ObjectProperty
domain: Lexical Entry
minimum access level: access-community-only

African Christian liturgical language
in scheme: Sacred Language Types
type: Concept
definition: Languages of African origin used in pre-colonial or early-colonial African Christian traditions. Ge'ez (Ethiopian Orthodox, Eritrean Orthodox), Coptic (Egyptian Coptic Church). Included here because of their continuity with African sacred language traditions and their presence in Afro-Atlantic communities.

Interjection / exclamation
in scheme: Parts of Speech
definition: A standalone ceremonial exclamation or ritual call-and-response marker.
type: Concept

Secret Name Conventions
preferred label: Convenções de nomes secretos @pt
preferred label: Conventions des noms secrets @fr
has top concept: Orisha camino (path name)
has top concept: Lwa secret name (Vodou)
has top concept: Nkisi name (Palo)
type: ConceptScheme
has top concept: Initiate name (from itá)
preferred label: Àwọn ìlànà orúkọ àṣírí @yo
has top concept: Ecobio name (Abakuá)
has top concept: Other
preferred label: Convenciones de nombres secretos @es

phrase function
minimum access level: access-community-only
domain: Liturgical Phrase
comment: The ceremonial function of this phrase. Range: iroko:SpeechActTypeScheme.
type: ObjectProperty
range: Concept

Anaforuana (Abakuá)
definition: The Abakuá graphic script with lexical and communicative functions. Cross-listed with iroko-veve; included here for documentation of the semiotic/communicative dimension.
type: Concept
in scheme: Script Systems

phrase language
range: Sacred Language
type: ObjectProperty
comment: The sacred language in which this phrase is spoken. Range: iroko:SacredLanguage.
minimum access level: access-community-only
domain: Liturgical Phrase

Ecobio name (Abakuá)
type: Concept
in scheme: Secret Name Conventions
preferred label: Nombre de ecobio @es
definition: The initiatory name given to an Abakuá member at their juramento. No-access.

phrase translation
domain: Liturgical Phrase
range: langString
minimum access level: access-initiated-only
type: DatatypeProperty
comment: Translation of the phrase into a non-liturgical language. Initiated-only.

Sacred Language
type: Class
subclass of: SacredEntity
comment: A language, language register, or language variety used as a liturgical or ritual medium in Afro-Atlantic or related African sacred practice. Includes fully distinct languages (Yorùbá in Lucumí/Candomblé; Kikongo in Palo Monte; Fon in Haitian Vodou), sacred registers of creole languages (Haitian Kreyòl ceremonial register), specialized vocabularies (Lucumí as Afro-Atlantic-adapted liturgical Yorùbá), and graphic-lexical systems (Nsibidi as both script and vocabulary system). Also includes African Christian liturgical languages: Ge'ez (Ethiopian/Eritrean Orthodox), Coptic (Egyptian Coptic Church).

Other
definition: Script system not covered by existing concepts.
type: Concept
in scheme: Script Systems

Nsibidi (Ejagham)
definition: The Ejagham ideographic writing system, functioning as both script and graphic sign system. Cross-listed with iroko-veve for its graphic dimension; listed here for its lexical and communicative dimension.
type: Concept
in scheme: Script Systems

Praise / oriki
in scheme: Speech Act Types
definition: Formal praise speech honoring an entity, ancestor, or lineage. Oriki in Yorùbá-derived traditions; analogous forms in other traditions.
type: Concept

Other
definition: Speech act type not covered by existing concepts.
in scheme: Speech Act Types
type: Concept

Adinkra symbols (Akan)
type: Concept
definition: Akan visual symbols functioning as a lexical and semiotic system. Cross-listed with iroko-veve; included here for semantic documentation of individual symbol meanings.
in scheme: Script Systems

authority required
type: ObjectProperty
range: Concept
comment: The initiation level or title required to speak this phrase in ceremony. Range: iroko:AccessLevelScheme concept.
minimum access level: access-community-only
domain: Liturgical Phrase

public definition
range: langString
domain: Lexical Sense
type: DatatypeProperty
comment: A general, publicly accessible definition of this sense: what a general reader can know. Language-tagged.
minimum access level: access-public-unrestricted

Blessing
in scheme: Speech Act Types
type: Concept
definition: A formally authorized speech act conferring spiritual benefit, protection, or grace. Requires recognized authority to perform.

Afro-Atlantic liturgical language
type: Concept
in scheme: Sacred Language Types
definition: A source language preserved in Afro-Atlantic in a fossilized or adapted form, used for liturgical purposes but no longer a community vernacular. Examples: Lucumí (Afro-Atlantic Yorùbá in Cuba); Kikongo as used in Cuban Palo Monte; liturgical Fon in Haitian Vodou.

Prohibition / taboo declaration
definition: Speech acts that declare or reinforce a taboo, restriction, or prohibition.
in scheme: Speech Act Types
type: Concept

Secret Name
subclass of: SacredEntity
type: Class
comment: An esoteric or restricted name for a spiritual entity, practitioner, or sacred object known only to initiated members at a specific grade or above. Examples: the secret name of an Orisha camino revealed in itá; a Palo Tata's nkisi name; an Abakuá ecobio name. The existence of secret name conventions within a tradition is public; the names themselves are no-access.