i PHONOLOGICAL VARIATIONS IN AKU AND UKEHE DIALECTS OF THE IGBO LANGUAGE BY EZEORAH, EMMANUEL CHIKE PG/MA/12/61872 DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS, IGBO AND OTHER NIGERIAN LANGUAGES UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA JANUARY, 2017 i TITTLE PAGE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS, IGBO AND OTHER NIGERIAN LANGUAGES PHONOLOGICAL VARIATION IN AKU AND UKEHE DIALECTS OF IGBO LANGUAGE A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award Master of Arts (M.A) in Linguistics (Phonology) BY EZEORAH, EMMANUELCHIKE PG/MA/12/61872 SUPERVISOR: DR. (MRS) J.O. UGURU JANUARY, 2017 ii CERTIFICATION This is to certify that Ezeorah Emmanuel Chike, a postgraduate student in the Department of Linguistics, Igbo and other Nigerian Languages, University of Nigeria, Nsukka has satisfactorily completed the requirements for the courses and project work for the degree of the Master of Arts (M.A) in Linguistics. The work embedded in this project is original and has not been submitted in part or full for any diploma or degree of this or any other university. _______________________ ________________________ Ezeorah Emmanuel Chike Dr. (Mrs) J.O. Uguru (Student) (Supervisor) iii APPROVAL PAGE This research project has been approved for the Department of Linguistics, Igbo and other Nigerian Languages, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. By ___________________ ________________________ Dr. (Mrs) J.O. Uguru Prof. C. U. Agbedo (Supervisor) (Head of Department) _____________________ ________________________ External Examiner Internal Examiner _________________________ Prof. Christian Onyeji (Dean of Faculty) iv DEDICATION Giving God all the glory, I dedicate this work to my parents Mr. and Mrs. M. U. Ezeorah for their boundless love and care to my siblings and I. v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I have come to the full understanding of the saying that “iron sharpens iron”. My success in this thesis would have been a will-o-the-wisp without the unquantifiable contributions of some people whose moral and academic support enhanced the accomplishment of this work. I owe a lot to my supervisor Dr. (Mrs) J.O. Uguru whose motherly directives, co- operation and patience all through the duration of this research; and through whose constructive criticisms, guidelines and library materials, we were able to manoeuvre all hurdles. Mummy! Without mincing words, you have made an indelible mark in my life. May God continue to grant your heart’s desires. My sincere appreciation goes to all the lecturers in the Department of Linguistics, Igbo and other Nigerian Languages: Dr. E.E. Mbah, Professor G. I. Nwaozuzu, Professor (Mrs) Ijeoma Okorji, Dr. Chuma Okeke, Dr (Mrs) M. I. Iloene, Professor B. M. Mbah, and the Departmental Coordinator for Postgraduate Studies, Professor Chris Agbedo for all their efforts and good wishes till the end of my M.A. Programme. I also express my gratefulness to all the non-academic staff of the Department for their friendly relations. I give special thanks to all my academic advisers at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki from where I obtained my B.A. degree. They are: Prof. Eric C. Okoli of the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST), Dr. Jerry C. Chukwuokolo of the Department of Philosophy, George O, Iloene of the Department of Languages and Linguistics. My thanks go to Dr. M. A. Nwala Linguistics Department, University of Port Harcourt. Others are Dr. E. C. Obianika, Mrs. Ngozi Nwobia, Mrs. Onu, Mr. Anyabuike, Mrs. Umeche, Mr. Jerry Nwankwegu, Mr. O. E. Ubi, and Dr. Chinwe Okolo for all their care, concern and closeness, especially during this research. vi I thank my loving parents Mr. And Mrs. M. U. Ezeorah who “fought tooth and nail”, paying prices of every form to see to the successful completion of my post graduate programme. Dad and Mum! I’m not surprised, you did it before, and you have done it again. I cannot forget to acknowledge in a more special way, my Uncle Prof. G.C.E Mbah who never looked back financially, especially when it comes to the issue of my academics. Uncle! Only God will bless you for me. Other siblings who deserve my acknowledgement are Ezeorah Calistus Chukwuma, Ezeroah Kenneth Agunecheibe and Chinenye Jane Ezeorah for all their affectionate supports and good wishes. Next in my appreciative memory are my research respondents, helpers and informants who come from the two communities Aku and Ukehe where my research work was conducted. I give special kudos to all my friends and well wishers: Mr Ugwu Gerald Okechukwu, Mr. Nsude Solomon Afamuefune, Isife Oluchi Victory, Ezike Genesis, Miss. Nwani Chinasa and Nnabuchi Ebere Miracle for all their positive thinking and good wishes to me throughout the period of this research. For want of space, I cannot mention everybody’s name. I hereby plead with all my people whose names are not mentioned here to bear with me. You are wonderful people and I cannot forget your special love for me. Please join others in sharing the credit of this work, while all the errors of commission or omission in the work are mine, and to that effect, I tender a humble apology. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page - - - - - - - - - - - i Certification - - - - - - - - - - ii Approval Page - - - - - - - - - iii Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iv Acknowledgements - - - - - - - - - v Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - vii Abstract - - - - - - - - - - ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - - 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - - 2 1.3 Research Objectives - - - - - - - - 3 1.4 Research Question - - - - - - - - 3 1.5 Justification of the Study - - - - - - - 4 1.6 Scope and Limitations - - - - - - - 5 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 6 2.1 Theoretical Studies - - - - - - - - 6 2.2 Empirical Studies - - - - - - - - 18 2.3 Summary - - - - - - - - - 31 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - 31 3.1 Area of Study - - - - - - - - - 31 3.2 Research Instrumentation - - - - - - - 31 3.3 Method of Data Collection - - - - - - - 31 viii 3.4 Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - - 32 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS 4.1 Introduction - - - - - - - - 34 4.1 The Phonenemic Inventories of Aku and Ukehe Dialects - - - 34 4.1.1 The Concept of Variation - - - - - - - 34 4.1.2 Consonant Variation in Aku and Ukehe Dialect - - - - 36 4.1.3 Consonant Similarities between Aku and Ukehe speech communities - 39 4.2 Vowel Chart of Aku and Ukehe Dialects - - - - - 40 4.2.1 The Concept of Vowel Variation - - - - - 41 4.2.2 Vowel Variations in Aku and Ukehe Speech communities - - - 42 4.3 Tones in Aku and Ukehe Dialects - - - - - - 43 4.3.1 Tones Variations in Aku and Ukehe Speech Community - - - 44 4.3.2 High Tones in Aku and Ukehe Dialects - - - - - 46 4.3.3 Low Tones in Aku and Ukehe Dialects - - - - - 47 4.3.4 Down Step Tones in Aku and Ukehe Dialects - - - - 47 CHAPTER FIVE 5.1 Summary and Conclusion - - - - - - - 48 5.2 Recommendations - - - - - - - - 49 REFERENCES ix ABSTRACT This research work critically examines the phonological variation in Aku and Ukehe dialects of Igbo language. The method of data elicitation was mainly perceptual against descriptive approach. This was achieved through systematic observation and analysis of the speakers’ use of language in natural situations. In collecting the data 16adult male and female were interviewed with 8persons from each dialect, 4male and 4female respectively. We observes that the phonemes [dv], [ʃ], [ʒ], [r],[m], from Aku dialect was pronounced differently to Ukehe dialect as thus: [v], [s], [z], [l], [n]. Looking at both phonemes, one will think of different meaning from both dialects or rather that the meaning lied on their accent. From our findings, they are semantically the same but phonologically variants. Through the primary and secondary data, we were able to identify areas of similarities and differences in their phonology. The study focuses on the phonological variables of the selected dialects of Igbo language. We have also established that at the segmental level, the choice and use of certain segments by some dialectal groups may bring about phonological differences. The study also explores the use of tone and intonations in these dialects and clearly shows that tone and intonation play a dominant role in phonological variation in their dialects. Above all, the study reveals that there is a high level of mutual intelligibility amongst Aku and Ukehe dialects in spite of the phonological variation. 1 CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1.1 Introduction This research work studies the phonological variation in Aku and Ukehe dialects of Igbo Etiti local government area of Igbo. Igbo is one of the four largest languages of West Africa. Within Nigeria, Igbo is spoken primarily in the following Southern Delta region state: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. Igbo speakers are typically bilingual, speaking English as well. Igbo language is of the Benue-Congo sub family of the Volta Congo and Atlantic Congo branches of the Niger Congo language family. According to Barmby (1929) there are approximately thirty Igbo dialect including the Igbo Etiti dialect; Within the Igbo Etiti, ‘Aku and Ukehe’ are the most populated town within the dialectal zone. These dialects vary considerably with respect to degree of intelligibility with the standard dialect. In studying any language in the world it is obvious to note that one has to take a look at the speech sound level. Through the available record, not much work has been done in Igbo, especially the Igbo Etiti dialects of Aku and Ukehe respectively. This is what led to the choice of the topic of this project report, ‘Phonological variations in Aku and Ukehe dialects. This work is expected to show clearly the Aku and Ukehe dialect of Igbo Etiti and further reveal parameters that account for their differences especially on the basis of their sound structure. Variation is mostly lexical and phonological. The standard literary form is itself a dialect under development. It is based on the Owerri, Onitsha and Umuahia dialects. Aspiration and nasalization are also phonemic (contrastive) in the language.