University of Nigeria, Nigeria
2021年第9卷第1期（总第14期）
113-125
2021-06-30
This paper seeks to examine headedness in affixation processes in Urhobo using a feature percolation approach. Affixation is a rich source of word formation process in the Urhobo language. The specific objectives are to identify affixation processes in Urhobo, investigate how they are used to derive words and determine headedness in the Urhobo language using a feature percolation theory as a framework. This paper reveals three affixation processes in Urhobo, which are prefixes, circumfixes and suffixes. Affixation is a derivational aspect of morphology and it brings about change in the grammatical class of the word or rather, provides additional semantic information to a word. The paper discovers that new words are derived in the language by attaching an affix either at the beginning (prefix), or to the end (suffix) of a word. This process is very productive in the language. The paper reveals that the head of a word using prefix is left-right branching while for suffixes, it is right-left branching. The prefix and suffix attached to a root to form the circumfix project to be the head of a word. The study observes circumfixes to have two heads. Feature percolation theory is also used to determine the head of a word in Urhobo. The paper concludes by recommending further researches on the use of theories especially morphological theories in analysing morphological processes in Urhobo.
affixation, Urhobo, head, percolation, morphology, syntax
doi: 10.26478/ja2021.9.14.6
Abonyi, D. O., G. I. Nwaozuzu & C. U. Agbedo. 2013. A Comparative Study of the Morphology of the Igbo and Igala Languages [A]. Nsukka Working Papers in Languages and Linguistics and Literature [C], 1:84-96.
Agbedo, C. U. 2000. General Linguistics: An introductory reader [M]. Nsukka: Ace Resources Konzult.
Agbedo, C. U. 2015. General Linguistics: Historical and contemporary perspectives [M]. Nsukka: KUMCEE- Ntaeshe Press Inc.
Amajoyi, G. N. 2017. Feature Percolation Theory [A]. In B. M. Mbah (ed.) Theories of Contextual Linguistics, Articles in Honour of Professor Gabriella Ihuaruugo Nwaozuzu [C]. Nigeria: Amaka Dreams Ltd, 25-40.
Aziza, R. 2011. Urhobo Morphology [A]. In O. Yusuf (ed.). Basic Linguistics for Nigerian Languages [C]. Ijebu-Ode: Shebiotimo Publications, 295-308.
Babarinde, S. O. 2009. Morphology: Its basics and application [M]. Nsukka: Paschal Communications.
Crystal, D. 1985. A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics [M]. New York: Basil Blackwell.
Di Sciullo, A. M. & E. Williams. 1987. On the Definition of Word [M]. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Ejele, P. E. 2005. Wordformation Processes in Esan [A]. In O. Ndimele (Ed.) Globalisation and the Study of Languages in African [C]. Port Harcourt: Grand Orbit Communications Ltd, 35-66.
Elugbe, B.O. 1989. Comparative Edoid: Phonology and lexicon [M]. Port Harcourt: University of Port Harcourt Press.
Haris, Z. S. 1951. Methods in Structural Linguistics [M]. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Ibeneme, J. C. 2021. Affixation in the Ibibio Language: A construction morphological analysis [D]. MA Thesis. Nsukka: University of Nigeria.
Kamai, R. 2012. Corpus-based Description on Morphological Processes in the Jukunkona Language of Nigeria [J]. Nsukka Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, 7(2):27-35.
Lieber, R. 1980. On the Organisation of the Lexicon [D]. PhD Dissertation. Durham: University of New Hampshire.
Lieber, R. 1983. Argument Linking and Compounds in English [J]. Linguistic Inquiry, 14:251-285.
Mbah, B. M. 1999. Studies in Syntax: Igbo phrase structure [M]. Nsukka: Prize publishers.
Ndimele, O. M. 1999. A First Course on Morphology and Syntax [M]. Port Harcourt: Emhai Printing & Publishing Co.
Ojonugwa, N. J. 2015. Affixation in Igala [A]. In R. I. Okorji, C. A. Eme & G. S. Omachonu (eds.). Contemporary Issues in Linguistics and Language Studies: A festschrift in honour of Prof. Clara Ikekeonwu [C]. Enugu: Rossen Publications Ltd, 24-32.
Omachonu, G. S. 2001. Igala Morphological Process [J]. Nsukka Journal of Linguistics and African Languages, 2(3):55-65.
Owolabi, K. 1995. Language in Nigeria: Essays in honour of Ayo Bamgbose [M]. Ibadan: Group Publishers.
Onwukwe, C. 2018. Percolation Principle of Verb-Suffix Distinction in Igbo Verb Compounds [J]. Africology: The journal of Pan African studies, 11(2):72-82.
Oyebade, F. O. 1992. Morphology [A]. In O. Yusuf (ed.). Introduction to Linguistics [C]. Ilorin: Unilorin Press, 307-321.
Scalise, S. 1984. Generative Morphology [M]. Dorchrecht: ForisPublications.
Selkirk, E. O. 1982. The Syntax of Words [M]. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
Waya, D. & S. O. Babarinde. 2018. The Suffixation Processes in the Morphology of Tiv Verbs [J]. Language Matters, 49(1):131-148.
Williams, E. 1981. On the Notions Lexically Related and Head of Word [J]. Linguistic Inquiry, 12:245-274.
Zwicky, A. M. 1985. How to Describe Inflection [J]. Berkley Linguistics Society,11:372-386.
友情链接: