ENGLISH AND HAUSA LOAN WORDS IN TIV BY Usar, Ignatius Iornenge [email protected] Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages University of Jos AND Ofoegbu Cyril Okechukwu [email protected] Department of English, Anambra State University, Igbariam Campus, Anambra State. 1 Abstract The Tiv language spoken largely in Nigeria and some parts of Cameroon should on the face value be thought to have developed so much considering that studies in the language started in the early 20th Century. However, owing to contact with the Hausa language and the status of the English language as the National/Official language of Nigeria, words from the Hausa and English languages shave been loaned into the Tiv through various processes. This paper examines English and Hausa adopted words into Tiv with the aim of finding out the enormity of loanwords from the two. The paper also examines strategies adopted by the Tiv language in naturalizing and integrating the loan words into the target language. 2 1.0 Historical Background of the Tiv People There is no agreement among scholars as to the original home of the Tiv from where they may have started their migration to the present home. One can of course say this of most, if not all the ethnic groups in Nigeria. Most accounts however indicate that the Tiv are of Bantu stock, and therefore must have had their original home somewhere in central Africa. The linguistic approach to the question attempts to establish a link between the Negro groups by pointing to the similarity of language. Abraham (1933) bases his thesis on a Congo origin for the Tiv on a sixty­seven word list. The list purports that to demonstrate some similarity between Tiv language and the Bantu Nyanza who live in present day Malawi. The time of Tiv migration to their permanent homeland cannot be known with any certainty, however, Downes (1933) cited in Wegh (1997) estimates that the really general migration into the present area began around 1800 and that the Tiv were present south of the Benue River in large numbers by 1850. The various clans shifted position until 1890 when the boundaries were rather well established and permanent settlement undertaken. Greenberg (1963) provides a broad and significant framework for classifying African languages which has earned the status of a reference point. Tiv is a member of the Bantoid languages a sub­division of Benue Congo group where it forms a prominent part of the sub group. Benue Congo is a sub­family of the Niger­Congo family. Today, the Tiv people are predominantly found in central Nigeria and a significant number in the Republic of Cameroon in West Africa. Gboko is the headquarters town of the Tiv. Studies by Udu, Dooga, and Isa ( 1998, p.2 and Udu 1999, p.4) cited in Udu (2009) have revealed that in Nigeria, the Tiv people occupy over thirty three (33) Local Government Areas across Benue, Nassarawa, Taraba and Cross River States. In Benue State alone, the Tiv settle in large numbers in Buruku, Gboko·, Guma, Katsina­Ala, Konshisha, Kwande, Ushongo, Makurdi, Vandeikya, ,Gwer, Gwer­West, Ukum, Tarka and Logo Local Government Areas. In Cross River State, they are found in Yala, Boki, Obudu and lkom areas while in Taraba State, the Tiv language is spoken in their settlement areas such as Aldokolor, Sardauna, Wukari, lbi , Bali, Takum, Donga, and Gasol Local Government Areas while in Nassarawa State they settle in Lafia, Keana, Doma, Awe, Nassarawa and Obi. Furthermore, the Tiv are also found in Qu'an Pan, Shendam and Langtang South in Plateau State. Considering the geographical spread and the large number of speakers, Tiv language is indeed a very important language. It is an interesting scenario that in spite of the fact that while the English and Hausa languages belong to the Indo­European and Chadic family respectively, Tiv language which is a Bantu language borrowed excessively from the two. Although Hausa, the largest known Chadic language is spoken in Nigeria, Tivland does not share any close geographical affinity with speakers of the language. One wonders therefore, why languages indigenous to Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River and Plateau states have not found their way into the Tiv lexicon. The plausible explanation for this is simply that languages indigenous to these states have themselves heavily depended on the Hausa language thus serving as ‘buffer languages which facilitated the extensive loanwords found in the Tiv lexicon. From the above information therefore, it can be asserted that a large number of the Hausa words adopted into the Tiv language were originally English or other languages from which the Hausa might have also borrowed. Consider the following words: 3 English Hausa Tiv Gloss Table Tebur Tebul Table Shovel Shebur Shebul Shovel Bread Burodi Beredi Bread Mango Mangoro Mongoo Mango Field Fili Fiidi Field Garage Gareji Galeeji Garage Government Gwamnati Gomenti government 1.1 Hegemonic Influence of the Hausa Language evidenced in Loanwords The nature of the Hausa people of Nigeria as traders and the influence which the Hausa language has on many languages in the Northern part of the country has made encouraged the growth and continual blossoming of the language. According to Busa (2008) ‘Hausa Language has virtually captured almost all the minor languages of Northern Nigeria in so many ways. This process has compelled the native speakers of the minority languages to adopt Hausa words into their vocabulary through the processes of loan­adoption, coinage, extension of meaning and loan­ translation.’ This process has also helped in developing the vocabulary of the Tiv language and has made for ease of interaction with their neighbouring communities who have also fallen prey to the Hausa language’s hegemonic influence and assimilation processes. This paper is therefore concerned with English and Hausa adopted words in Tiv only. 1.2 What is Loanword and what Factors Necessitate Loaning According to Crystal (2008, p.286) a ‘loan’ is a linguistic unit (usually a lexical item) which has come to be used in a language or dialect other than the one where it originated. It says further that several types of loan process has been recognized, such as loan words (where both form and meaning are borrowed, or assimilated with adaptation to the phonological system of the new language; loan blends, loan shifts and loan translations. Mathews (2007:230) describes a loan word as a word imported by borrowing from another language. Such words are sometimes adapted directly to fit the sound patterns of the borrowing language. Millar (2007:21­22) says there are many different ways of acquiring new words in language, some of them exceedingly common, others rather unusual but the simplest and most obvious source of all in borrowing. The process of acquiring new words is curiosly called borrowing because the lending language does not lose the use of the word, nor does the borrowing language intend to give it back. Why should people be so eager to borrow somebody else’s word? Linguists have proposed so many reasons for loaning of lexical items from one language to another which include: i. the word is the name of something genuinely new to speakers of the borrowing language; ii. the need to designate new things, persons, places and concepts for which a language has no term(s) in its vocabulary but has sufficient contact with another language which has these terms; iii. to enhance communicative competence amongst speakers of different languages in 4 contact; and iv. to promote scientific and technological development and advancement of the borrowing language, amongst other reasons. 2.0 English Loan Words in Tiv This study shows that there are a large number of English loanwords in Tiv. Words denoting mostly household items, clothing, means of transportation, school materials etc. have been loaned into the Tiv language. These words in the Tiv vocabulary were originally English and did not come into the lexicon through any buffer languages. These words are loaned into the Tiv language directly from the English language, they include the following: English Names Tiv Adopted Name Gloss Shirt Sheti Shirt Air conditioner Eakondishena Air conditioner Skirt Siketi Skirt Cup Koopu Cup Plate Peleti Plate Drum Durum Drum Digger Ijiga Digger Black board Belakaboodu Black board Desk Deseke School desk Duster Doseta Duster Pencil Pensel Pencil Biro Biro/bairo Biro Dust bin Dosebin Dust bin Cupboard Koboodu Cupboard Whistle Wusul Whistle Ball Bol Ball Teacher Tica Teacher Wheel barrow Wiibaro Wheelbarrow Pick up Pikov Pick up van Tractor Turokoto Tractor Grader Gereda Grader Pastor Paseto Pastor Lawyer Loya Lawyer Chairman Ciaman Chairman Deacon Diakon Deacon Dictionary Dikishenali Dictionary Typewriter Tapirata Typewriter Ink Inki Ink Brush Buroshi Brush Soldier Orshoja Soldier It is noticeable that the English words assume a new phonological shape in the Tiv language. 5 This is because in order for borrowed material to be fully integrated into the recipient language it must be adapted into the existing patterns of that language. The phonological shape of the borrowed item has to be made to conform to recipient­language patterns. Hence we find English words loaned into the Tiv language spelt as if it were written in the English phonetic forms. 3.0 Hausa Loanwords in Tiv This study shows that there are a large number of English and Hausa loanwords in Tiv. Words relating to names of animals, plants and fruits, commerce and transport, household items/utensils, professions as well as clothing have, over the years, found their ways into t h e Tiv language. Some of the words in these categories are presented thus: 3.1 Hausa Words Relating to Animals Tiv language has borrowed a lot of Hausa names relating to animals.