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An optimality analysis of Òwórò Vowel Harmony
(2013) Maduagwu, G. O. & Isaiah, Adebola. A.
Oworo, spoken by some people in the North-West of Lokoja Local Government Area, Kogi State of Nigeria, is one of the Yoruboid languages yet to be systematically and comprehensively phonologically researched. This study examines the vowel harmony of Oworo using the optimality theoretical (OT) framework with a view to establishing the descriptive and explanatory adequacies of OT for Oworo data. The work shows the application of OT to Oworo data giving a new perspective to the phonological process of Oworo vowel harmony. Different from previous generative theories, OT does not derive phonetic representation from underlying representation via a set of rules. Rather, for any particular word, many forms are generated at the outset, and the job of the theory is to select from the many forms only that form that indeed occurs in the language. Using OT, a systematic, comprehensive analysis of Oworo vowel harmony is achieved, thus solving the unresolved problems of earlier theories adequately. This is because linguistic well-formedness is a matter of comparison or competition among candidate output forms. The analysis of vowel harmony presented has shown that constraints are neither imposed on inputs nor on the mapping between inputs and outputs. This study reveals that right-edge harmony can be violated in Oworo vowel harmony system. Harmony targets the rightmost "eligible" anchors and not necessarily the "rightmost" anchor absolutely. The study has been able to establish the descriptive and explanatory adequacies of OT account of vowel harmony for Oworo data, over previous generative theories.
Tone Variation in Ekiti: A Case Study of Opin Variety
(2016) Balogun, Nasrudeen Akanbi
The Syntactic Position of Negative Markers in Idoma and Tiv: A Deviation from Language Universal Validity
(Journal of Universal Language, 2019-03-11) Issa Olarongbe Sanusi & Lydia Damilola Oyewole
Syntacticians and typologists have carried out a cross-linguistic study of the syntactic position of the negative marker with respect to the verb in a given sentence (Greenberg 1966 and Dryer 1988). The objective of this study is to carry out a comparative study of the negative marking strategies in both Idoma and Tiv languages, spoken in Benue State, Nigeria. Given the fact that the two languages belong to the same genetic family (Benue-Congo) and share the same basic word order (subject, S; object, O; verb ,V); the study is intended to find out the extent to which the negative marking strategies in the two languages conform to the assumption under language universals. The assumption is that there is an overall tendency for the negative marker to precede the main verb in SVO languages. That is, a location between the subject and the verb. Since none of the two writers speaks any of the two languages, data were collected through interview method. And the frame technique method was adopted in presenting structured grammatical sentences in English to native speakers of the two languages to translate to both Idoma and Tiv. The Principles and Parameters approach was employed for our analysis in this study. Our findings revealed that what obtains in both Idoma and Tiv negative constructions is contrary to the assumption under language universals. Instead of preceding the main verb, the negative markers occur at the sentence-final position, in each of the two languages. Notwithstanding the deviation from the language universal validity, we have discovered a high degree of similarities in the syntactic behaviour of negative markers in both Idoma and Tiv languages. Keywords: negative marker, syntactic position, language universal, Idoma, Tiv.
An exploration of aspects of spatial metaphors in Standard Yoruba
(University of Ilorin, Nigeria., 2020) OLOSO YESEERA OMONIKE
Without doubt, meaning plays a central role in language use. However, semantic discourse on the place of metaphors generally, and spatial metaphors specifically, is a polarised one. Using native speaker’s intuition and participant observation as data elicitation tools from spatial metaphors in Standard Yorùbá, this study aligns with the position of cognitive semanticists that metaphors are not extraneous elements in language that require special skills to articulate and/or understand. Hence, this study investigates how native Yorùbá speakers use spatial metaphors as a conceptual process in mapping connections across domains and within domains. The paper is therefore, twofold. The first part takes a look at spatial metaphors and how Yorùbá speakers embed in them, cultural conceptualisations about space which facilitates the mapping of highness and lowness onto non-spatial domains. The nature of this embeddedness is such that equally produces the association of positive and negative images to these spaces respectively. The second part which focuses on a few exceptions to the rule, brings to the fore, instances where spatial metaphors in the Yorùbá Language act quite to the contrary of the general rule. Findings from this study show that spatial metaphors in the Yorùbá Language are part of the general cognition of native speakers for which they require no special knowledge for competence and performance.
ATUNGBEYEWO IGBESE IYOPO FAWELI NINU EDE YORUBA ERI LATI INU ORUKO AJEMO IBI ATI ENI
(Ilorin Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Culture, 2021) Ridwan Akinkunmi RABIU
Ise iwadii yii fi oju otun wo iyopo faweli gege bi igbese fonoloji ninu ede Yoruba. Erongba ise iwadii yii ni lati lo eri lati inu awon oruko ajemo ibi ati oruko ajemo eni fi idi ijeyo iyopo faweli pelu ona ti o n gba waye ninu ede Yoruba mule. Ona meji ni a gba sakojo awon eroja amukale fayewo wa: lati inu ise awon onimo isaaju ati igbasile awon wunren oro lati odo awon abena imo wa. Tiori onidaro eyi ti Chomsky ati Halle (1968) ṣe agbateru re. Koko ohun ti a ri fayo ninu ise iwadii yii ni pe iyopo faweli wa gege bi okan lara igbese fonoloji inu ede Yoruba, ti ijeyo resi fi oju hande ninu iseda awon oruko ajemo ibi bi i “Akeetan ati Ogbomoso”. Ijeyo iyopo faweli tun fi oju han ninu iseda awon oruko ajemo eni bi i “Adenuga”, “Awonuga”, “Oyenusi”, Omoruyi abbl. Ni ikadii, a ro awon asewadii ninu imo eda-ede lati tubo tepele mo fifi imo fonoloji ati awon eka imo-eda-ede toku bi i mofoloji, sintaasi, semantiiki abbl. se itupale awon oruko Yoruba nitori opo ohun ti o farasin ninu ede ni iru ise iwadii bee le tu sita.
A SPEECH ACT ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PROVERBS AND THEIR COMMUNICATION VALUES
(UNIOSUN PRESS, 2021) Ridwan Akinkunmi RABIU; Olutope Lawrence ABIOLA
This work is an exposition of Yorùbá proverbs that have historical as well as geographical connection to the city of Ibadan. The thrust of this research is to shed light on how proverbs encapsulate the history, beliefs, norms and value system of a particular group of people. The work is anchored on the Speech Act Theory championed by Austin (1962), and other notable scholars. The model that serves as the foundation for which our analysis was built is the pragmatics model of Lawal (2012). The research methodology involves the use of written texts and conscious oral documentation of the selected Ibadan-related proverbs. Our research findings show that Ìbàdàn-related Yorùbá proverbs give historical, geographical, political, environmental and moral accounts of both the people and the city itself. It was proverb is also used for advertising and promotion of heritage sites and tourist centers of attractions. In conclusion, Ìbàdàn-related Yoruba proverbs highlighted in this work show clearly the belief and value systems .
ATUNGBEYEWO ORO-ASOPO GEGE BI ISORI ORO NINU EDE YORUBA
(YORÙBÁ: Journal of Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria, 2021-06) Ridwan Akinkunmi RABIU
Koko ohun ti a gbeyewo ninu ise iwadii yii ni atungbeyewo awuyewuye ti o n suyo lori oro-asopo gege bi isori oro ninu ede Yoruba. Orisun awuyewuye yii ni aiko enu awon onimo girama ede Yoruba lori iye isori oro to wa ninu ede naa. A se igbelewon ise yii pelu ero awon onimo isaaju lori ipo ti oro-asopo wa ninu ede Yoruba, se isori oro ni tabi ise lasan? Ogbon iwadii ti a lo nii se pelu agbeyewo awon ise awon omoran lori iye isori oro to wa ninu ede Yoruba. Ise iwadii yii fidi re mule pe isori oro ponbele ni oro-asopo ninu ede Yoruba tako ero awon onimo ni i Yusuf (1999), Ajiboye (2011) ati Asekeye (2002, 2012 ati 2016) PE isori ise lasan ni oro-asopo ninu ede Yoruba. Lara awon abuda ti a ri fayo ninu ise iwadii yii ti o gbe ero wa lese pe isori-oro ni oro-asopo ni pe abuda fonoloji re fihan pe ami ohun isale ni o maa n bere gbogbo oro-asopo to wa ninu ede Yoruba. Abuda mofoloji oro-asopo ti o ya a soto si awon isori oro to ku ni pe mofiimu ipile ni gbogbo oro-asopo ti o wa ninu ede Yoruba. Ni ti abala sintaasi, agbedemeji ihun ti a fe sopo yala o je eyo Oro, apola tabi odidi gbolohun ni oro-asopo maa n wa. Ni ikadii, ero wa ni pe ise iwadii yii ti yanju awuyewuye ti o wa lori okan ninu awon isori oro to wa ninu ede Yoruba eyi tii se oro-asopo.
Standard Yoruba morphological patterns as variation markers of the Nigerian Pidgin English
(Yoruba: Journal of Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria. Department of Linguistics and African Languages, University of Ibadan., 2022) OLOSO YESEERA OMONIKE
The Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) is a contact language that has the English Language as its superstrate and Nigerian Languages as its substrates. With the former contributing the bulk of its lexicon, this paper seeks to show the influence that the grammar of Nigerian languages, in this case, the Yorùbá Language, has on the structure of the NPE to the extent that the meaning of Yorùbá words have a greater reflection on the compounding patterns of the NPE than that of the English Language. The grammatical influence of the Yorùbá Language on the NPE equally makes it possible for a morphological pattern such as reduplication that is non-existent in the English Language but which exits in the Yorùbá Language, to feature prominently in the grammar of the NPE. Being a descriptive work, this paper seeks to shed light on the points of convergence between the operations of these morphological patterns in the NPE and the Yorùbá Language and the points of divergence between them and the English Language. The paper concludes that the similarity of grammatical structures of the NPE and the Yorùbá Language contributes to its easy acquisition by Yorùbá people in particular and Nigerians in general, when compared with their acquisition of the English Language.
Standard Yorùbá Morphological Patterns as Variation Markers of the Nigerian Pidgin English
(Yoruba: Journal of the Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria Onibọnoje Press,, 2022) Oloso Yeseera O; Tella Samson Adekunle
The Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) is a contact language that has the English Language as its superstrate and Nigerian Languages as its substrates. With the former contributing the bulk of its lexicon, this paper seeks to show the influence that the grammar of Nigerian languages, in this case, the Yorùbá Language, has on the structure of the NPE to the extent that the meaning of Yorùbá words have a greater reflection on the compounding patterns of the NPE than that of the English Language. The grammatical influence of the Yorùbá Language on the NPE equally makes it possible for a morphological pattern such as reduplication that is non-existent in the English Language but which exits in the Yorùbá Language, to feature prominently in the grammar of the NPE. Being a descriptive work, this paper seeks to shed light on the points of convergence between the operations of these morphological patterns in the NPE and the Yorùbá Language and the points of divergence between them and the English Language. The paper concludes that the similarity of grammatical structures of the NPE and the Yorùbá Language contributes to its easy acquisition by Yorùbá people in particular and Nigerians in general, when compared with their acquisition of the English Language.
An Optimality Analysis of Hausa Loanwords in Gwari Language: A Phono-Sociolinguistic Approach
(Department of European Languages, Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi, 2022) Balogun, Nasrudeen Akanbi; Oloso, Yeseera Omonike
Contact between languages often yields a different number of outcomes. The commonest of such outcomes is lexical borrowing - a language-universal phenomenon. This work examines how contact between speakers of the Hausa Language and the Gwari language has resulted into the incorporation of Hausa words into the Gwari lexicon. Gwari, a minority language of Northen Nigeria is a Nupoid language while Hausa is a Chadic language. As borrowing could be bi-directional, this paper seeks to look at borrowing of Hausa loan words into Gwari. The foci of this paper is twofold. One is to examine Hausa loanwords into the Gwari Language while the other is to analyse these borrowing using the framework provided by the Optimality Theory (OT). The aim is to show borrowing as one of the mechanisms that Gwari language
Agbeyewo Akoonu Awon Tiori Fonoloji ni Ede Yoruba
(YORÙBÁ: Journal of Yorùbá Studies Association of Nigeria, 2022-06) RABIU, Ridwan Akinkunmi; BALOGUN, Nasrudeen Akanbi
Iṣe ̣́ ìwádìí yìí ṣe àlàyé le ̣́kùn-ún lórí àkóónú tío ̣́rí fono ̣́lo ̣́jì me ̣́ta ní èdè Yorùbá. Àwọn tío ̣́rì náà ni tío ̣́rì Onídàrọ (Generative Phonology), tío ̣́rì Adápelení (Auto-segmental Phonology) àti tío ̣́rì Olùborí akópa (Optimality theory). Àfojúsùn iṣe ̣́ ìwádìí yìí ni láti ṣàlàyé àwọn tío ̣́rì yií ní èdè Yorùbá, èyí tí yóó túbo ̣̀ je ̣́ kó rọrùn si fún àwọn ake ̣́ko ̣̀o ̣́ èdè Yorùbá tí wọn nílò àwọn tío ̣́rì yìí fún ìtúpale ̣̀, pàápàá jùlọ nínú iṣe ̣́ àkànṣe wọn. Èyí ríbe ̣́e ̣̀ níwo ̣̀n ìgbà tó je ̣́ pé bàtà ò sí òde ò yá ni tío ̣́rì je ̣́ fún iṣe ̣́ ìwádìí ajẹmédè. Iṣe ̣́ ìwádìí yìí gùnlé iṣe ̣́ àwọn onímo ̣̀ ìsáájú bí i Chomsky ati Halle (1968), Goldsmith (1978), Prince àti Smolensky (1991) abbl. Díe ̣̀ lára ohun tí a rí fàyọ nínú iṣe ̣́ ìwádìí yìí ni pé àlàyé lórí àwọn òfin fono ̣́lo ̣́jì tí ó ń ṣiṣe ̣́ afárá láàárín ìhun ìpìle ̣̀ àti ìhun òkè afo ̣̀ ni tío ̣́rì onídàrọ fúnka mọ. Bákan náà àlàyé lórí òmìnira àmì ohùn ge ̣́ge ̣́ bí ègé tí ó lè dádúró láì fi ti ègé ìró ṣe ni kókó ohun tí tío ̣́rì adápelení fúnka mo ̣́. Àlàyé wa lórí tío ̣́rì olúborí akópa fìdí re ̣̀ múle ̣̀ pé agbára òté (constraint) àti òǹfà ìsopo ̣̀ (Evaluator) lórí síṣe ̣̀dá afo ̣̀ aṣeégbà ni kókó èrò tío ̣́rì adápelení. Ní ìkádìí, a rọ àwọn onímo ̣̀ èdè láti tubo ̣̀ tẹpẹlẹ mo ̣́ títú àwọn tío ̣́rì ajẹmédè palẹ̣̀ sí èdè Yorùbá láti mú kí kíko ̣́ èdè Yorùbá pe ̣̀lú ìtúpale ̣̀ àwọn èròjà àmúkale ̣̀ fáye ̣̀wò pe ̣̀lú àwọn tío ̣́rì fonolo ̣́jì yìí rọrùn fún àwọn olùko ̣́ àti ake ̣́ko ̣̀o ̣́ èdè Yorùbá.
Agbeyewo Akoonu Awon Tiori Fonoloji ni Ede Yoruba
(2022-06) Rabiu, Ridwan Akinkunmi; Balogun, Nasrudeen Akanbi
Aspects of Linguistic and Nonlinguistic Acculturation Patterns among the Nupe People of Jebba, Kwara State
(Department of Linguistics and African Languages, Federal University, Lokoja, Lokoja, Nigeria, 2022-09) Balogun, Nasrudeen Akanbi; Oloso, Yeseera Omonike
Assessment Of Indigenous Radio Broadcasters' Translation Strategies And Words Usage: A Study Of Sobi 101.9 Fm Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
(TASAMBO JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE, LITERATURE, AND CULTURE, 2022-12-31) Ridwan Akinkunmi RABIU; Ibrahim Bamidele Onaopepo; AKANJI, A. Daud; ABIOLA, Olutope Lawrence
This paper discusses the translation style and methods adopted by Sobi FM 101.9 Ilorin broadcasters to find equivalent versions for some selected English lexis and structure, translated into the Yoruba language. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the relevance of translation and trace the etymological foundation of the lexis and structure which compel radio broadcasters to use self-lexical coinage and neology. The work was carried out within the purview of Newmark levels of translation (level of naturalness, Referential, cohesive level) to trace the content and function of the lexis and structure. The theory adopted for this work is the knowledge gap theory; the main thrust of this theory is to bridge the language gap that exists in media through the use of the native language. Data for this research were gathered through the elicitation of a recorded news item from Sobi 101.9 FM Ilorin. Our research findings show that most translations from the source language (English) to the target language (Yorùbá) by broadcasters are self- invented, which could either suit the original version in the target language or not. It was observed that radio broadcasters adopt suitable translation methods to retain the content of messages broadcast in a bilingual program. We conclude our work by saying categorically that broad knowledge of the source language helps the productivity of a translator to transmit the message to the audience in the language without any vacuum or gap, and that radio broadcasters adopt any translation method in as much as the audience comprehension of the intended messages are the same with the target language.
Sonorant acquisition in Yorùbá child phonology
(2023) Adebola A. Isaiah
This study examines the acquisition of oral consonantal sonorants by Yorùbá children. Extant studies on phonological acquisition have concentrated on stages of attainment, with little attention paid to the corresponding patterns between child articulation and the target language. This study analyzed sonorant simplification patterns during Yorùbá acquisition. One child was purposively selected for longitudinal assessment (from their age 1 to age 4), while 50 children, ages 2 to 5, were stratified random sampled for cross-sectional assessment at various locations familiar to the participants. All children participants were ages 1 to 5 and lived in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. Using the classic assumptions of phonemes and Optimality theory (OT), data were subjected to a phonological analysis. Findings showed that there is the emergence of segmental markedness constraints as well as an interface between phonetics and phonology in the outcome of a child’s sound inventory at each developmental stage. We argued that developmental patterns have stage-based variations. It was found that substitution of consonantal sonorants is done with another consonantal sonorants but not obstruents and in some instances, sonorant deletion occurs.
Vocabulary development and biliteracy in Yorùbá and English among young bilinguals
(2023) Adebola A. Isaiah
n Nigeria and other countries in West Africa, English, French, and Portuguese languages are acquired or learned and used alongside the indigenous languages for various communication purposes as applicable. Previous studies have noted that Yorùbá language does not have an equal usage as being critical for bilingual mastery attainment as the English language. This study examines literacy development patterns among typically developing Yorùbá-English bilingual children to further our understanding of oral and literacy proficiency. Based on qualitative methods, cross-sectional data were obtained. Oral and literacy data were acquired by interview, specialized wordlist, written texts, and pictorial objects. Children were purposively selected for a stratified assessment as representative of their literacy levels (3 aged 2-3, 4 aged 4-6, and 5 aged 7- 10). All participants were ages 2 to 10 years and lived in Ilorin metropolis. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis. Based on experiments, for instance, if the stimulus are words, the results showed that the word frequencies in the two languages do not enjoy the same value outcome, English >> Yorùbá. Significant outcomes showed that literacy in English language is on the positive end of the spectrum while literacy in Yorùbá language is on the opposite end. Most of the children paid more attention to English tasks, hence performed above average. Using the different age groups and educational levels as a continuum, it was generally observed that literacy depends largely on a child’s cognitive alertness. The study concludes by linking the obvious gap in the initial observation to foundation lapses.
Handshake Across the Niger: A Study of Linguistics Outcome in Yoruba-Hausa Contact
(ZIJOH, 2023-06-10) Ridwan Akinkunmi Rabiu
This paper examined the relationship between the Yoruba people of South-western Nigeria and the Hausa people of Northern Nigeria within the scope of linguistics. The objective of this paper is to analyze the relationship that exists between these two tribes using linguistic evidence which include analysis of Yoruba borrowed words from Hausa language and Hausa related Yoruba proverbs and proverbial expressions. This work is descriptive in nature and data were gathered from existing literature and from ideal native speakers of Yoruba language with the aid of selected Hausa language helpers. The research findings revealed that Yoruba borrowed words from Hausa language can be classifiedinto two classes which are Alternative borrowing and Nonalternative borrowing. It also discovered that Hausa related Yoruba proverbs and proverbial expressions can be classified to Derogatory Hausa related proverbs which show some form of hate speech and Non- derogatory Hausa related Yoruba proverbs.
Media Framing and Stylo-Rhetorical Analysis of Selected BBC Yoruba English Premier League Related News Headline
(BIRCU, 2023-12-07) Ridwan Akinkunmi Rabiu; I.B. ONAOPEPO; H.O. OLAWUYI; OJETOLA AFOLABI
This study conducts a content-based analysis of selected BBC Yoruba English Premier League news headlines on Meta (formerly Facebook) social media platform page. The main thrust of this research is to examine the importance of how (language use) to what (information) in new media communication. Data for this research work were gathered from BBC Yoruba News through their Meta (Facebook) page. Twenty news items were identified for analysis from the data gathered between the period of August 2022 to January 2023 of the 2022/2023 football season of the English premier league through a method of simple random sampling and were analyse within the scope of the communicative model of stylistics theory championed by Lawal (2012) and Goffmann (1974) framing media theory. The study found out that BBC Yorùbá news platform through their news headlines on English Premier League Football Clubs can be classify as a satirist who employed the use of Yorùbá language to inform, educate, entertain and banter Yorùbá English premier league football lovers. The study also revealed that out of all the verbal arts which include Slang, Adapted oral literature, Allusion, HyperbolicPersonification, Word play and Simile adopted by BBC Yoruba, the usage of Slang is the most prominent from the list of data presented for our analysis. It was also discovered that BBC Yoruba idea of using Yorùbá language to relay English Premier Leaguefootball related news is an answer to the clarion call by Yorùbá language researchers that a native approach should be adopted by all and sundry for the dissemination of information since according to Lawal (2015, p. 2) who asserts that that 80 percent of Yoruba speakers who do not speak English carry on the business of life and living on their farms and in the markets in their mother-tongue.”
Code-switching as a strategy of invasive language use on Instagram
(2024) Adebola A. Isaiah
Code-switching, (and code-mixing or any form of juxtaposing), a phenomenon characteristic of bilingual speech, has become more notable in writing with the advent of social media. This study investigates the use of words and expressions considered unacceptable by the Community Guidelines of social media applications by focusing on the evasive use of indigenous Nigerian languages on Instagram, a social media platform. Expressions that are considered ‘undesirable’ come up more consistently in indigenous languages when compared to their English equivalents. Thus, there is more code-switching/mixing on the platform than traditionally assumed. Extant studies on code-switching have addressed the phenomenon from the learning, interactional and expressive perspectives, but the discussion on its evasive use on social media platforms has not been equally addressed. Such studies mainly focused on the positive functions of CS. This study employs a corpus method of data collection to gather texts from purposively selected accounts and uses the discourse analysis framework to identify the strategies that foster evasive language use. The findings identify the negative function of CS and writing in an indigenous language as evasive strategies employed by Nigerian Instagram users in their social media posts.
A case for Yorùbá study abroad in multilingual and multicultural context
(2024) Sanuth, K. K., Olawuyi, H. O. & Isaiah, Adebola. A.
This paper examines the potential of Ilorin, located in the North Central of Nigeria as a site for Yoruba language study abroad programs. While Yoruba cities like Ibadan and Ife are typically favored for Yoruba learning programs, the paper argues that Ilorin's unique linguistic landscape and multicultural environment present similar immersive language learning opportunities to cities in South-West Nigeria. Applying the conceptual insight of Linguistic Landscape (Landry & Bourhis, 1997), the paper contends that Ilorin's multilingual environment, featuring Yoruba alongside English, Arabic, and other Nigerian languages, can provide students with a nuanced understanding of Yoruba language and culture within a broader Nigerian context.

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