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The Use of Conjunctions in English and Igala: a Contrastive Analysis

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The Use of Conjunctions in English and Igala: a Contrastive Analysis Int. J. Adv. Multidiscip. Res. (2017). 4(8): 34-62 International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research ISSN: 2393-8870 www.ijarm.com DOI: 10.22192/ijamr Volume 4, Issue 8 -2017 Research Article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22192/ijamr.2017.04.08.006 The use of conjunctions in English and Igala: A contrastive analysis Unubi, Sunday Abraham Department of Igala Language & Culture, School of Languages, Kogi State College of Education, PMB 1033, Ankpa, Nigeria Corresponding Author: [email protected] Abstract Keywords This research analyses the use of conjunctions in English and Igala, using the linguistic tool English, of contrastive analysis. Conjunctions are words that link or connect two words, phrases, Igala, clauses or sentences together, either in speech or in writing. Conjunctions which are one of conjunctions, the eight parts of speech of the English are also found in other languages, according to the contrastive analysis traditional grammar. Over the years, this important area of language study has received less attention from language scholars, students and linguists in comparison with other parts of speech like nouns, verbs, adjectives and prepositions. In Igala, some scholars have pointed out that conjunctions are few in the language when compared with English, without suggesting reason(s) for their fewness. The resolve of the researcher to fill this gap necessitated the present study. This research, which is qualitative in nature, collected its data based on a text of twenty-two English conjunctions (that comprised coordinating, subordinating and correlative conjunctions) which was produced in copies and distributed to some selected Igala informants for translation from English into Igala. These respondents speak the Idah/Igala-mela dialect of the language. The researcher used the translated text of conjunctions to read two books of the Igala Bible: Jonah and James, and monitored the frequency of use of those conjunctions, as used in these books of the Igala Bible. The major findings of the study showed that: (i) the additive coordinating conjunction in Igala, kpàí and, unlike in English, does not perform a linking function when it begins a sentence, according to the Igala Bible (ii) conjunctions are actually many in Igala but it is just that few are used; (iii) there are more differences between the use of conjunctions in English and Igala than the similarities. The study’s contributions to knowledge included its pedagogical/practical implications for the learners and teachers of the Igala language. The first task for teachers of Igala and Igala linguists in order to increase the use of more conjunctions in the language is to list all the conjunctions in English and translate them into Igala. After the translation exercise, the translated text should be carefully examined to ensure that it is devoid of any equivalent error. Then the new conjunctions should be added to the existing curriculum, and the teaching and learning of them can begin immediately in all the primary, secondary and tertiary institutions in Igala land where Igala language is taught as a subject or course. In addition, there have been few contrastive studies carried out on conjunctions either between English and one Nigerian language, or between two Nigerian languages generally over the years in Nigeria. Most language scholars believe that conjunctions are few, and as such, there is nothing much to say there. Therefore, the fact that the researcher has taken a bold step to research into this neglected area of language study makes this study important and insightful, thereby giving it credibility. 34 Int. J. Adv. Multidiscip. Res. (2017). 4(8): 34-62 Introduction/Background to the study conjunctions do not constitute major groups in the Igala lexicon (82-83). The use of conjunctions in English is obvious, perspicuous and well defined, as one of the core Despite their fewness, however, he identifies the use grammatical classes, popularly known as parts of of conjunctions – especially coordinating and speech in a language, according to traditional subordinating conjunctions in the language, and grammarians. However, this is not so in Igala. This provides some examples (96-7). indicates that there is a big difference or wide gap between the use of conjunctions in English and Igala. These scholars, who are also native speakers, have not This, no doubt, has informed and propelled the need to only established the presence of conjunctions but also carry out a contrastive analysis of the use of their use in the language. Nonetheless, left untouched conjunctions in these two languages. According to is the disparity or difference between the use of James (151), a contrastive analysis (CA) specifies conjunctions in English and Igala, as well as the those features of language two (L2) which are reason(s) that could be advanced for their fewness in different from the corresponding features of language the Igala language. one (L1), and by implication, those that are identical. Therefore, this present study investigates the disparity Moreover, it is worthy of note to indicate at this or difference between the use of conjunctions in juncture that some language scholars or linguists have English and Igala, as well as the circumstance(s) that done some works already in this area. One of them, led to the fewness of conjunctions in Igala. To achieve Omachonu comments: this purpose, the researcher uses Contrastive Analysis (CA) as a tool, including its principle, theory or It is true that Igala exhibits word classes … but the hypothesis, and one of the Igala core texts: the Igala taxonomic categorisation into parts of speech like Bible. The Bible provides us adequate information noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition, about the use of conjunctions, as used by the conjunction, and interjection, though it may work translators in it. The reason why the researcher has perfectly for English, may not be so with Igala chosen to do this is hard to find. It is to carry out a language. This is because the division or classification quality study that will stand the test of time in terms of of lexical items into word classes or parts of speech validity. may not follow exactly the same pattern for English. For instance, there are only two open word classes or Brief History of English and Igala major parts of speech in Igala, namely, nouns and verbs. All others are either derived from these two or English: Historically, English was spoken exist just as small groups in the language (Igala first in England about 1,500 years ago. However, it Language Studies: 26). was in existence before then. Geographically, the English language was confined to ‘the British Isles’, a At another instance, he submits that conjunctions are group of Islands lying off the north-west coast of the few in Igala: continent of Europe in the northern temperate zone of the world. Furthermore, there are two main islands, “Owing to the fewness of conjunctions,…the Igala namely Britain, the larger of the two, and Ireland, the language, at times resorts to serial verb constructions smaller. Politically too, the British Isles today also (SVC)” (Igala Lang. Studies & Dev.: Progress, Issues comprises two main parts, namely the United & challenges: 26). Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, made up of England, Wales, Scotland (i.e. Britain), and Speaking in a similar fashion, Atadoga stresses that: Northern Ireland, with its capital at London; and the Republic of Ireland, with its capital at Dublin. Parts of speech or word class in Igala are nouns and verbs only (being the major ones), whereas all others: Associated with the British were the Celts, the adverbs, adjectives, pronouns, prepositions, Romans, the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes. The Celts conjunctions and determiners are considered as were the first inhabitants of the British Isles about 500 belonging to the closed or minor parts of speech and 100 BC. The age in which they existed is called because most of them are seen to be largely derived ‘The Iron Age’. Having spread through central and from the major two and are few in number. Therefore, western Europe, they arrived in south-eastern England. They did not speak English, but their languages 35 Int. J. Adv. Multidiscip. Res. (2017). 4(8): 34-62 belonged to the Indo-European family of languages, to The influence of the original Indo-European language, which English also belongs. The Romans were a designated proto-Indo-European can be seen today, succession of peoples of the Ancient World who even though no written record of it exists. The word invaded Britain from the Middle East around the father, for example, is vater in German, pater in Latin, Mediterranean in the period of 3000 BC – 500 AD and pitir in Sanskrit. These words are all cognates, (3,500 years). They developed a literate civilisation similar words in different languages that share the based on agriculture and slave labour, and through same root. military prowess brought other peoples under their control. The Roman Empire with Latin as its language Igala: Igala is a dominant language in Kogi and its capital at Rome in Italy, was the most extensive State spoken by over two million natives in nine Local of all, and with the conquest of Britain, it reached Government Areas (namely – Ankpa, Bassa, Ibaji, almost its fullest extent. By the end of the fifth century Idah, Igala-mela/Odolu, Ofu, Dekina, Olamaboro and AD, the Roman Empire in Western Europe had Omala) of Kogi East Senatorial District, North Central disappeared and had been replaced by ‘barbarian’ Nigeria. Furthermore, the language is equally spoken kingdoms. The Anglo-Saxon invaders arrived in in some communities outside Kogi State: Ebu in Delta Britain in large numbers with the intention of settling, State, Olohi and Ifeku in Edo State, Ogwurugwu, Ojo, when with the Roman withdrawal, the native British Iga and Asaba in Enugu State, Odokpe, Njam, Inoma, were left to fend for themselves.
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