AWKA JOURNAL OF LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES
The Awka Journal of Linguistics and Languages (AJILL) is an annual peer-reviewed publication of the Department of Linguistics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Dedicated to the advancement of research in linguistics and language studies, AJILL provides a scholarly platform for academics, researchers, and practitioners to share innovative ideas, theoretical insights, and empirical findings across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. The journal welcomes contributions that explore language structure, language use, sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and related interdisciplinary fields.
A Morphological Analysis of Hashtag Neologism on Tiktok and Instagram
This study investigates hashtag neologisms on TikTok and Instagram within the Nigerian social media community. Although there has been extensive research on neologisms and hashtags individually, there is a notable absence of studies specifically addressing “hashtag neologisms”. This research fills the intellectual gap by examining the formation, meaning, and usage of 50 hashtag neologisms collected over three months. Findings reveal two categories: neologisms popularized through hashtags and those potentially originating as hashtags. Various morphological processes were identified, including blending, acronyms,and compounding some of which are characterized by semantic shift. This study contributes to internet linguistics by providing insights into the role of social media in language evolution. It offers a framework for analyzing hashtag neologisms applicable to other contexts and fills the gap in the literature concerning the study of hashtag neologisms on Instagram and TikTok within the Nigerian social media community. The research has implications for showcasing the linguistic creativity of social media users, illustrating how digital platforms facilitate the creation of new words and expressions.
hashtag, neologism, morphological analysis, blending, compounding, semantic shift
Victoria Chinenye Njiofor, Chikelu I. Ezenwafor-Afuecheta & Chibunma Bright-Ajoku
Asymmetrical Reduction in Abureni Address Terms: Politeness, Hierarchy, and Social Ingenuity
This paper examines asymmetrical phonological reduction in Abureni address terms, focusing on clipping and weakening as culturally grounded strategies for indexing hierarchy and respect. The analysis is anchored in Abureni norms of seniority, kinship, and social alignment, in which appropriate forms of address are central to the enactment of personhood and communal order. The findings show that younger speakers systematically employ reduced or softened phonological forms when addressing elders, whereas seniors retain fuller and more phonologically salient forms. This unidirectional pattern encodes deference rather than intimacy, embedding local ideologies of age, authority, and moral standing in everyday interaction. Clipping truncates lexical material, while weakening involves lenition processes shaped by sonority and articulatory ease, producing acoustically gentler forms that are socially ratified as respectful. Data are drawn from naturalistic speech, semi-structured interviews, and kinship-centered exchanges across generations, and are qualitatively analyzed to link morphophonemic processes with pragmatic and sociocultural meanings. Comparative evidence from African languages such as Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Zulu, as well as from other culturally embedded address systems, situates Abureni within wider cross-linguistic tendencies while highlighting the distinctiveness of its asymmetrical reductions. The study demonstrates how Abureni speakers creatively mobilize phonology as a semiotic resource to negotiate hierarchy, respect, and social cohesion, underscoring the importance of culturally specific approaches to address terms.
Abureni, address terms, cultural specificity, asymmetrical phonological reduction, hierarchy, phonological weakening
Language Attitudes and Identity Construction among the Urhobo Community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
This study investigates how language attitudes shape identity construction among Urhobo migrants in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, focusing on their interactions with their heritage language (Urhobo), the language of the host community (Ijaw), English and Nigerian Pidgin (Naija). It seeks to document patterns of language use across age groups and to identify the key sociolinguistic factors that influence attitudes, proficiency, and identity negotiation. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach. A total of 350 copies of the questionnaire were administered, out of which 334 were valid and used for analysis. Respondents were sampled from three Local Government Areas of Bayelsa States (Sagbama, Southern Ijaw, and Yenagoa) and grouped into three age groups: teenagers (13-19 years), young adults (20-49 years) and older adults (50 years and above). Qualitative insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews and open-ended responses. The research is guided by the mentalist theory of language attitudes and draws on ethnolinguistic vitality concepts. Across all age groups, respondents predominantly use Urhobo in intra-ethnic interactions, indicating a strong orientation towards ethnolinguistic identity. The Urhobo value their language with corresponding high proficiency rate (71% of teenagers, 79.4% of young adults, and 89.5% of older adults. Use of Ijaw is considerably limited, attributed to complexity in dialectal variation and perceived hostility within the host community. Although respondents express generally positive evaluations of Ijaw, self-reported proficiency remains low. English, on the other hand, is widely valued for its instrumental functions. The study concludes that Urhobo migrants manifests multiple linguistic identities, favouring an ethnic identity represented by Urhobo and a modern identity represented by English. The findings suggest that the Urhobo community should identify more with the Ijaw language and culture to promote integration and diversity. The results of the study have implications for language policy, identity construction, and community development in multilingual settings, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Urhobo migrants, Ijaw,language use, language attitudes, ethnolinguistic identity
Sociopragmatic Functions of Igbo Proverbs used in Select Traditional Marriage Events
This study examines the sociopragmatic functions of Igbo proverbs in traditional wedding ceremonies, focusing on how language is strategically employed to facilitate effective communication and achieve social goals within specific contexts. A documentation of Igbo proverbs exists in the Igbo language, with predicted or assumed contexts in which they are used. Here, real-time use is targeted to do away with assumptions and predictions of context. In attending to this, the study identifies the sociopragmatic functions in the proverbs. Guided by the sociopragmatic principle adopted for this study, the data, which are proverbs extracted from audio recordings using a Zoom digital recorder from traditional wedding events ‘Ịgbankwụ’ from two communities, Enugwu-Ukwu and Nawfia, both in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria, have been analysed. Twelve (12) traditional wedding events (Ịgbankwụ) were recorded. These proverbs are glossed morpheme-by-morpheme, translated literally, and interpreted figuratively to capture their full semantic and pragmatic import. The results show the actual usage of these proverbs and reveal that the interpretation of proverbs depends on cultural context, the speaker’s intention, and shared social norms between the speaker and listener(s). In conclusion, this study highlights that Igbo proverbs express their full meaning through sociopragmatic expression of the constructs, relying on the relationship between language, culture, and context to showcase their function as instruments of cultural expression, social regulation, and knowledge transmission, firmly rooted in communal experience and worldview. To further enhance scholarly understanding of the dynamics of Igbo proverbs, future research should extend its focus to other aspects of traditional Igbo events beyond those captured in this study, for a broader exploration of the functional corpus of real-time proverb usage within diverse cultural contexts
Ịgbankwụ, Igbo proverbs, Proverbs, Sociopragmatic functions, Traditional events
Adaobi Ifeoma Ik-Iloanusi & Davidson U. Mbagwu
Mother-Tongue as Medium of Instruction: Examining Its Influence on Child’s Educational Performance in Kogi-Central, Kogi State, Nigeria
This study builds upon existing research, including Fafunwa’s seminal Ife Mother Tongue education project (1970-1978) and Afiesimama’s (1991) language policy in Nigeria, to reexamine the role of mother tongue instruction in children’s education. Focusing on selected primary schools in Kogi-Central Local Government Area, Kogi State, Nigeria, this research engages teachers and pupils from both private and public institutions to assess the efficacy of mother tongue teaching in achieving functional literacy. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on perceptions and outcomes related to literacy attainment at the primary level. The study found that pupils have a notable acceptance of mother tongue instruction, with minimal regard for it as a language of low esteem. These findings corroborate previous studies, underscoring the importance of mother tongue instruction, emphasising its potential to enhance learning processes and foster functional literacy. The utilisation of indigenous languages is posited as pivotal for optimising educational outcomes in primary classes, aligning instruction with the linguistic environment to bolster educational efficiency.
Mother-Tongue Instruction, Primary Education, Functional Literacy, Language-in-Education Policy
Gesture and Their Grammatical Interpretations: Insights from Some Igbo Poetry Performances
This study examines gestures and their grammatical interpretations. While spoken language has traditionally been prioritized in linguistic analysis, this paper argues that gesture is not merely decorative or emotive. It rather functions as part of a coordinated semiotic system through which meaning is produced, intensified, and interpreted. Using performance recordings, live observation sessions, and multimodal transcription of eight contemporary Igbo poetic performances and drawing on growth point analysis of select Igbo poems, the study shows that gestures can convey different meanings depending on form. Also, gestures help show the size, degree or intensity of meaning. The analyses equally demonstrated that spoken words alone are often not enough to fully express a speaker’s intended meaning. Instead, gestures work alongside speech to provide grammatical information such as pronouns, nouns, adjectives, preposition and tense. Therefore, there is need to treat gesture as part of Igbo grammatical expression, particularly in performance contexts where language, body, and cultural aesthetics interact to produce meaning.
The Embodied Symbolism of the Stomach and Bone in Igbo: A Cognitive Linguistic Study
Within the cognitive linguistics framework, the body and its different parts have been variously examined as source domains in metaphorical mappings. Different languages and cultures conceptualize body parts in ways which generally reflect human cognition. This paper investigates the conceptualization of two body parts; afọ ‘stomach’ and ọkpụkpụ ‘bone’ in Igbo culture. In Igbo, the stomach rendered as ‘afọ’ is largely viewed as an animate entity which can undergo bodily experiences for instance, the stomach can be good or bad, dried up or filled up. In addition, the bone rendered as ‘ọkpụkpụ’ is used to conceptualize emotions such as anger, attributes such as naughtiness as in ị buisiọkpụkpụ ‘to be stubborn’. By exploring Igbo stomach and bone expressions sourced from both primary and secondary sources, the study shows that afọ ‘stomach’ and ọkpụkpụ ‘bone’ are conceptualized as the centre of different kinds of emotions and feelings in Igbo. The stomach is also capable of being in various states; good and bad states. Furthermore, in the conceptualization of anger, both afọ ‘stomach’ and ọkpụkpụ ‘bone’ represent different degrees of anger for instance iwetòrò yà afọ ‘anger blowing up the stomach’, iwe iban’ọkpụkpụ ‘anger entering the bone’ and iwe erughin’ọkpụkpụ ‘anger not getting to the bone’ It is also shown that various forms of empathy are captured in the conceptualization of the Igbo stomach ‘af̣ọ’. It can be concluded that these conceptualizations pinpoint an underpinning in the expression of cultural meaning in the language.
Igbo cognitive linguistics embodiment; conceptual metaphor body-part metaphors
The Simple Sentence Structures in Mandarin Chinese and Nigerian Pidgin English: A Comparative Analysis
This study undertakes a comparative analysis of simple sentence structures in Mandarin Chinese (MC) and Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE). Its aim is to analyse the syntactic patterns of simple sentences of both languages by identifying areas of similarities, differences and their implications for users of both languages. Comparative analysis was adopted to describe and examine corpus drawn from grammar texts of both languages as well as through native speaker elicitation. Findings indicate marked structural similarities, most notable a shared Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order and an analytic grammatical nature with minimal inflectional dependencies. These are indicated as robust causes of positive transfer, potentially simplifying the use of both languages. The study also indicates significant syntactic divergences. One of the strongest contrasts is placement of Tense Aspect Markers (TAM): MC uses post-verbal particles le, guo, while NPE utilizes invariant pre-verbal markers don, dey. Negation strategies varied as MC adopts multiple markers based on situation whereas NPE maintains invariant single pre-verbal no and different question formation strategies also contribute to structural contrasts. In conclusion, the differences identified are predicted as difficult areas and possible sources of negative transfer. The research provides practical recommendations for language users, with emphasis on focused interventions in areas of predicted difficulties.
Mandarin Chinese, Nigerian Pidgin English, Simple Sentences, Similarities, Differences
Ebele Nwamaka Anajemba; Maxwell C. Ebenyi
Body Part Metaphor in Igbo: The Case of “The Ear”
This study investigates the metaphorical uses of ‘ntị’ (ear) in the Igbo language. The analysis, guided by Conceptual Metaphor Theory aims at exploring how the ear extends beyond its literal sense to conceptualize knowledge, obedience, secrecy, and social interaction. The data were gotten from "Omenukọ" by Pita Nwanna and Ọba (collections) of Igbo proverbs" by Patrik Ik. Umezi. Findings reveal that ‘ntị’ functions as a cultural and cognitive tool, shapes communication and reflects Igbo worldview. This study underscores the significance of body-part metaphors in meaning construction and enriches scholarship in cognitive and African linguistics.
Igbo language, ear metaphor, body-part metaphor, conceptual metaphor
Ideological and Cultural Significance of Ọzọ Title Names in Igbo
The Ọzọ title in Igbo society represents a critical institutional framework for encoding ideological and cultural meanings through language. Despite extensive scholarly works on various dimensions of the Ọzọ institution in different Igbo cultural settings, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the ideological and cultural motivations underlying selected Ọzọ titles. Consequently, van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach to Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Farzad Sharifian's Cultural Linguistics framework are deployed in this study to explore the ideological and cultural motivations embedded in Ọzọ titles in Isiagu town, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State. Data comprised twenty-two title names obtained through secondary sources and oral interviews with thirteen Ọzọ title holders and five Igbo speakers from Awka South LGA. The titles were systematically categorised into six ideological frames: wealth and provision, character and integrity, custodianship of tradition, community and strength, bravery and protection, and destiny. Analysis reveals that Ọzọ title names function as cultural schemas that instantiate Igbo ideological beliefs about social achievement, moral responsibility, spiritual authority, and communal obligation. The study demonstrates how language, through the medium of title naming, serves as a vehicle for transmitting and legitimising cultural values while simultaneously constructing and maintaining social hierarchies. Findings underscore the significance of Ọzọ titles as powerful linguistic and sociocultural institutions that preserve Igbo identity and facilitate intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge within a modernising context.
Critical Discourse, Cultural Schemas, Ideological Discourse, Igbo, Ọzọ Titles
Eberechi Chinenye Amadi; Chioma Deborah Sunny-Adikwu
AWKA JOURNAL OF LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES Vol. 17 (2025}
AWKA JOURNAL OF LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES VOL 15 (2023)
Mmebemusoro Ahịrị Okwu Mkpatara n’Ezaa-Igbo
Nchọcha a tụchara ahịrị okwu mkpatara n’olu Ẹzaa-Igbo ịkọwapụta mmebemusoro ha ọ kachasị etu o si metụta mkpụrụ okwu na mgbakwunye niile na-enye ụdị ahịrị okwu a echiche. A chọpụtara na ahịrị okwu mkpatara niile na-enwe nkebi ahịrị okwu abụọ: nkebi ahịrị nnọrọ onwe na nkebi ahịrị ndabe kenkwuwa mkpatara. Ọ na-enwekwa ngwaa mkpatara. Anaghị eji ngwaa enwennara ewube ahịrị okwu mkpatara kama ọ bụ ngwaa mmennara ndị na-aranye, aghọnye, edunye ma ọ bụ amanye mmadụ ime ihe ma site etu ahụ dọtara onwe ya nnara n’ahịrị okwu ka e ji ewube ahịrị okwu mkpatara. Ọ bụ nke a mere ngwaa mkpatara niile n’olu Ẹzaa ji bụrụ ngwaa mmennara. Ahịrị okwu mkpatara na-apụta ihe n’ụdị ahịrị okwu nrụmọrụ na/ma ọ bụ ahịrị okwu mmenannara. Ngwaa mkpatara ndị a na-ahụta n’ahịrị okwu ndị a na-akpa agwa ka ngwaa Ẹzaa-Igbo ndị ọzọ n’ahịrị nrụmọrụ nkwe mana n’ahịrị nrụmọrụ njụ, ngwaa ahụ na-adọtara onwe ya mgbakwunye ngarube njụ ta + isi ngwaa + dụ mana ọ bụrụ ahịrị mmenannara njụ, mgbakwunye ngarube njụ ya na-agbanwe pụta ihe n’ụdị Nganihu +Nganihu njụ +Isi ngwaa + Nsonazụ njụ. Ọ bụrụ na e mee nnara isi ụbụbọ n’ahịrị okwu mkpatara, be (ka) na-ejikọ ya na okwu ndị ọzọ dị na nkebi ahịrị nnọrọ onwe ahụ tupu nkebi ahịrị ndabe ya a na-esochi.
Emmanuel Emeka Nwaoke; Ifeoma Priscilla Asuzu & Gloria Chinonye Egesi
A C ommunication A ccommodation A nalysis o f Teacher Student Interaction i n a n E SL Classroom
During interactions in the classroom, most teachers and students make a conscious effort to avoid common mistakes in speaking of English language and therefo re adopt certain strategies to communicate effectively . The study aims to determine the communication strategies teachers and students adopt to adjust their communication during classroom interaction. T he study applies the Communication Accommodation Theory (CAT') to analy se teacher student interactions in an ESL classroom. Data were sampled from 360 recordings of classroom teaching from three English teachers in a Senior High School in the Agona East District in Ghana. It was revealed that strategies such as convergence and divergence were adopted by both teachers and students for a smooth discourse .
The Role of Translation in the Globalized World
Translation is vital in bridging the gap between two different languages, cultures and customs. Whenever two different people meet, the first thing that happens is to speak in a common language that both of them understand. When both of them do not know a language to communicate, translation facilitates an understanding of the meaning of what one wants to say. As an integral part of globalization, translation has been mediating and bridging the distance between people, languages, and cultures of different countries. Globalization has always been an important aspect of translation. The term translation technically connotes the art of recomposing or reproducing a work from the source language (SL) into the target language (TL) without losing its original flavor whereas globalization means transforming things from being local or regional into worldly, international or global. As a result of translation and globalization, people have become more familiar with different linguistic communities and cultures. Translation has been a key factor in the development of world culture and world literature. In fact, in this age of globalization, translation has become a necessity.
A Critical Assessment of Traditional Approaches to the Study Semantics
This paper examines three traditional theories to the study of semantics. They are the referential theory, the image theory and the contextual or operational theory of meaning. The research is carried out to know how meaning is viewed, that is how the meaning of a word is portrayed. Furthermore, this research is done in order to examine and understand the three traditional theories of meaning. This study examines each theory one after the other, stating their proponders, strengths and weaknesses. From the findings in the three theories, the conclusion is that there is no particular theory of meaning that is sufficient to account for meaning. As such, there are limitations in the traditional theories to the study of semantics. In other words, meaning is not just tied to theories; referential, image and contextual. It therefore means that meaning varies, it could be universal, regional, racial, tribal, personal, and religious.
Critical Discourse Analysis of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Speech On 12th June, 2021, Democracy Day
This research work focuses on the use of Critical Discourse Analysis on President Muhammadu Buhari’s speech on 12th June, 2021, Democracy Day. Its primary concern is on the use personal pronouns and illocutionary speech acts. The researcher employed the use of qualitative cum analytical, descriptive and thematic approaches in describing this work. This work derives its data from secondary sources. The aim of this paper is to illustrate how the use of critical discourse analysis unveils and showcases the deeper meanings of Mr. President’s speech beyond its shallow information. Critical discourse analysis is an “eye-opener” to the people in order to have a better enhanced comprehension of what political speeches and texts are all about. The result of this study reveals how political heads, representatives and candidates use language and power to indoctrinate and persuade the people into submitting to their biddings.
Pragmatic Analysis of the Comedy Series ‘The Big Bang Theory’
Pragmatics, a branch of linguistics focusing on meaning in context, serves as the basis for analyzing the dialogues within the comedy series 'The Big Bang Theory.' This investigation aims to ascertain whether the conversations among the characters deviate from the co-operative principle of communication, thus leading to a pragmatic analysis of the series. To achieve this, the study applies Grice's theory of conversational implicature to the gathered data. The results demonstrate that the dialogues transgress three out of the four conversational maxims: quantity, relation, and manner. Notably, Sheldon's deliberate infringement of these maxims serves as a comedic tool, generating humor for the audience. Moreover, the study identifies that some actors' pragmatic shortcomings also contribute to the maxims' breaches. In summary, possessing pragmatic awareness is an essential skill for effective communication in diverse social settings, minimizing ambiguity. Furthermore, discerning humor involves the cognitive capacity to recognize, express, or appreciate amusing or unconventional aspects. This exploration highlights the significant role of pragmatics in both communication and comedic expression, underscoring its relevance in various contexts.
Nneoma Chinemerem Udeze & Chinenye Viola Udeze
Broadcasting in Nigeria’s Indigenous Languages: A Case Study of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Purity FM, Mgbakwu) and Nigeria Television Authority (NTA, Aba)
This study examines the use of Nigeria’s indigenous languages in broadcast stations. The aim of this research is to present an overview of the place given to the indigenous languages as means of transmission in the broadcast stations. The data employed in this research are gotten from Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (Purity FM, Mgbakwu) and Nigeria Television Authority, Aba. The research applied descriptive qualitative method of analysis. The instruments used for data collection during the investigation include; unstructured recorded oral interview. The major findings of the research showed that the Nigeria’s indigenous languages are not given a befitting place in the broadcast stations and this results from lack of airtime sponsorship and the negative attitudes of media practitioners towards the languages. This study recommends the establishment of an official regulator of all forms of broadcasting. The key responsibility will be to facilitate effective use of broadcasting for indigenous languages development and must ensure that broadcast organizations, broadcast in indigenous languages (including minority languages) for a specified number of hours per week during peak and off-peak hours.
Ihechinyere Ebulu Ndubuisi & Linda Chinelo Nkamigbo
Igbo For Specific Purpose Dictionary: The Need for Further Development
Language for Specific Purpose (LSP) dictionaries are reference works that define a language variety used by experts and professionals in a particular subject field. They are designed for specific purpose, to satisfy the needs of a defined group of users. They enhance language development through terminology development and advancement in Education. This paper is targeted at creating awareness and sensitization on the need for more Igbo LSP dictionaries. It is focused on identifying the features of LSP dictionaries and using the identified features to evaluate eleven (11) print dictionaries of the Igbo language. The theoretical framework adopted for this study is the Substance over Form approach proposed in Nielsen (2011). It focuses on types of data that exist in different sections of a dictionary, and how they support the dictionary function. Data for the study was collected from eleven print dictionaries of the Igbo language. From the analysis of the target users, and the dictionary structures; especially the macrostructure which reveals the order and arrangement of the lemmata; and the microstructure that showcases the definition style adopted at the entries; it could be confirmed that most of the dictionaries have not been developed with a view to serving as LSP dictionaries. The only dictionary among the eleven (11) analyzed in this study that can be described as LSP is ‘ÌgbòÀdi̟’Igbo–English, English-Igbo Dictionary of Linguistic and Literary Terms by Mbah et al. (2013). Having observed the importance of LSP dictionaries for the Igbo language, this paper advocates for the development of more Igbo LSP dictionaries for experts in the various subject fields, as well as for secondary school subjects
Juliana Mgbechikwere Okeke & Chinedu Uchechukwu
AWKA JOURNAL OF LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES VOL 14 (2021)
Fonọlọjị Ọtọsegmentalụ na Ntụcha Ụdaolu n’Olu Ịka: Ụdachi na Ụdaahịrịokwu
Edemede a na-ekwu maka otu e si eji atụtụ ọtọsegmentị atụcha ụdaolu n’olu Ịka. Ọtụtụ mgbe, a naghị aghọtacha ka ụdaolu si arụ ọrụ n’ahịrịokwu; anyị ji edemede a kọwaa nke a. N’ịkọwa maka ụdaolu, ọ dị mkpa ikwu maka ụdachi nakwa ka ụdaolu si agbanwe n’ahịrịokwu. Nchọcha a gbadoro ụkwụ n’olu Ịka. Anyị jiri fonọlọjị ọtọsegmentị wee gosi na mmekọrịta ụdaolu na ibe ya n’ahịrịokwu na-emetụta ụda ndokọelu n’olu Ịka; mkpụrụokwu anyị họtara n’Ịka (ode na-asụ Ịka) ka anyị ji kwara ngwa ọrụ. Edemede a na-egosi na iji atụtụ ọtọsegmentị kọwaa maka ụdaolu na-ekpughe nghọta zoro ezo n’ahịrịokwu. Ihe kpatara nke a bụ maka na ọtọsegmentị na-eme ka ọrụ ụdaolu pụta ìhè. Ntụcha ọtọsegmentị nyeere anyị aka igosi ka ụdaolu si agbanwe nakwa ihe kpatara ha ji efu n’ụfọdụ ahịrịokwu. Edemede a na- egosikwa na ọtọsegmentị na-akọwapụta ihe gbasara ụdaofeke nke ọma. Anyị tụkwara alo na ọ dị mkpa ịchọpụta otu a ga-esi na-eme ka ụdaofeke pụta ìhè ma a na-etinye akaraụdaolu n’edemede Igbo. Nke a bụ iji mee ka onye na-agụ Igbo nwee ike gụọ ya werewere.
Uncensored Language of Social Media News, Videos and Pictures as a Source of Insecurity in Nigeria: The Anambra State Example
Uncensored language of the social media is a serious threat to the security and wellbeing of Nigeria and Anambra State in particular. Censorship is the art of editing and controlling the language that maybe used in the publication of any material (oral or written) for human consumption. This study investigates the dangerous effects lack of censoring the language of the social media thrusts on the security of Nigeria and Anambra State in particular, from the perspective of J. L. Austin’s 1962 Speech Acts theory. The theory sees language as an activity in the context of Performative Acts which when applied can trigger a lot of either negative or positive social action. A lot of ills have taken place and several unhealthy groups have been formed due to uncontrolled use of language in Nigeria social media space. Prior to the existence of digital appliances as the mobile phones and use of social media; anger, hate, aggression, banditry, religious bigotry, agitations and violence were comparatively low. The prevalent insecurity is caused by the untamed use of misguided, raw and unedited language and digital manipulations to trigger violence in the society. The unguarded language of uncensored information has created various restive and aggressive groups such as IPOB, Fulani Herdsmen, Militants, UnKnown Gun Men (UGM), Kidnappers, Yahoo boys, Ritualists e.t.c. that were never in existence but now unleashing mayhem and death in the society. Social media videos, pictures and news reportage can be censored through creating awareness, integrating the use of social media in the curriculum for our youths, government promulgation of rules to litigate offenders, redirecting our youths and empowering them financially among others. It is the belief of the researcher that if that had been done, the debacle at the inauguration of the Anambra State governor, H.E Prof. Chukwuma. C. Soludo could have been averted from the public domain.
This paper examined Emai's pluralization strategies. In addition to highlighting some of the features and differences that define the Emai plural system, it investigated the language's mechanisms for marking plurality on lexical items at the word level. Data for this study came from a number of sources, including five competent native speakers (three men and two women) who were recorded using a sound recorder, as well as published and unpublished resources on pluralization in other languages. This study is purely descriptive. The basic linguistic theory is used in the data analysis. The research found, among other things, that pluralization in Emai requires multiple strategies. The study revealed that Emai pluralizes nouns by using numerals; quantifiers like és, which mean "some," are also employed in this manner. Although the substitution varies, a noun's plural form is created by substituting its initial vowel in the singular form. Zero plural is also seen, when a word's singular form is preserved in the plural form, as well as reduplication, where a noun is duplicated in the plural form. Other procedures, including subtraction (reduction), in which a term or noun is diminished, are also used. It was also noted that pronouns in the language were pluralized through the process of suppletion, vowel substitution, and addition.
Sonia Izeghohi, Ahanmisi & Edosa James, Edionhon
There is a widespread distribution of nominal plurality in the world’s languages. However, languages differ in their formal encoding of nominal plurality. Adopting a descriptive approach, this study investigates nominal plurality in Alago, an endangered Idomoid language spoken in Nasarawa state, Nigeria. It identifies and describes the plural formation strategies attested in Alago. It also discusses the morpho-phonological operations characterizing the identified strategies. Using a structured questionnaire, primary language data are elicited from three native speakers of Alago. In addition, secondary language data on Alago are drawn from Adagye & Abdullahi’s 2011 dictionary of Alago. Findings from the analysis of data show that Alago adopts four strategies in the formation of plural nouns. These strategies include: vowel alternation for mostly human nouns/kinship terms, the plural morpheme awo for inanimate and animate nouns (animal nouns), zero marking for mostly non count nouns and post nominal quantifiers such as lewa and nwashika.
Emmanuel Chukwunonso Ikeomu & Chikelu I. Ezenwafor-Afuecheta
This research investigates noun derivation in Izere, a central Plateau language of the Benue-Congo language family with the aid of morpho-lexical rules as proposed by Lieber (1980), which relates derived word forms within a lexical category to their base forms with the aid of word formation rules. It descriptively accounts for the morphological derivation of nouns from adjectives, adverbs, verbs and other nouns in the Izere language. The research attempts to fill the conceptual gap that exists in the study of the derivational nominal morphology of the language. Data for the research was collected in Fobur, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, using selected nouns from the Ibadan wordlist of 400 basic items and an adapted list of nouns specifically designed for the research. The selected nouns were collected electronically and then transcribed in such a way that they identified derived noun forms from other word classes. The data was then analyzed descriptively. Morpho-lexical rules were also generated to account for the morphological changes in these nouns from their base forms. The findings of the research indicate that prefixation is the dominant morphological process that accounts for noun derivation in Izere as the prefixes ku-/ri-, i-/a-, ki-/ka- and a-fu- are used in nominalization. When these noun class markers are prefixed to a verb, adjective or adverb, it changes them into nouns. In essence, all derived Izere nouns need to be class marked via prefixation to function as nouns in the language.
Causative Constructions in Kùcé: A Minimalist Perspective
This study is a descriptive as well as theoretical study of causative constructions in Kùcé. As reported in other languages, causative construction plays a significant role in the syntax and semantics of Kùcé. However, the study of causative constructions in the language is grossly under-reported in the literature. This paper therefore investigates causative constructions in relation to their meanings and structures in the grammar of Kùcé by providing a descriptive as well as theoretical analysis of their syntax. Data for the study were sourced from native speakers of Kùcé with the use of researcher-designed wordlist and unstructured oral interview. The study recognizes tī ‘cause/make’ as the causative verb in Kùcé which c-selects AgrP as complement. It argues that causativization in Kùcé is syntactic as it only makes use of the causative verb, a distinct syntactic unit, which derives complex sentences from basic sentences without the morphological process of incorporation. The derivation is bi-clausal regardless of the different categories of elements in the construction. The Minimalist Program employed in this study provides a theoretical account for the causative verb and its complement via a series of merger operations.
The Efik language has grammatical tense, inarguably. In most literature on Efik (and Ibibio, a sister language) however, a tripartite or multifarious division is always proffered (cf. Ward 1933; Jeffreys 1935; Essien 1983, 1990, 1991, 1999; Cook 1985; Udosen 2004; Okon 2006; Offiong & Mensah 2003; Mensah 2008). Our argument in this paper is in direct contrariety with these earlier postulations. Data for this work were elicited from native speakers (using instruments like structured sentences, essays) and the library. Our analysis, using a simple descriptive approach, fleshes out a compelling argument for a binary tense division, past and future. Part of our hypotheses is that me, the so-called present tense marker, is a completive aspectual morpheme. And, if, when, me tends to encode a temporal function, it is usually the recent past. A more detailed analysis of the Efik tense corpus is recommended, however, to engender more profitable insights to a definitive tense categorization.
Towards a Phonetic-Based Alphabet for Nigerian Pidgin
This paper makes a case for a phonetics-based spelling system for Nigerian Pidgin. It examines data from Warri, Delta State, Nigeria to demonstrate the phonetic basis for orthography development in relation to the principles of good orthographies of Williamson, (1984). The primary data are extracts from the speeches of sixty pidgin speakers, cutting across different age and social groups. The extracted items were transcribed in line with IPA recommended symbols and analyzed along-side the already transcribed secondary data that were sourced from published works in Nigerian Pidgin. The findings show that a spelling system (and orthography, in general) will not reflect actual use of language, and will not be user-friendly unless it is based on the phonetic reality of the actual use of the language for which it is intended. This paper concludes that thirty-seven letters are relevant to achieving this feat in Nigerian Pidgin.
Evbuomwan, Obed Osaigbovo & Omozuwa, Edosa Victor
AWKA JOURNAL OF LINGUISTICS AND LANGUAGES VOL 13 (2020)