Grammatical Tone Pattern in Ùhànmì
Main Article Content
Abstract
This study explores the grammatical tone pattern in Ùhànmì, a speech form that belongs to a sub-group of Edoid language family spoken in Ìṣùà-Àkókó of Òǹdó State, Nigeria. The study employs qualitative research method. Data collection was carried out using Ibadan 400 word- list, and was also modified to include sentences in the speech form. The data was sourced from native speakers of the language whose ages range between 50 and 70. The informants were asked questions and their responses in the speech form were recorded, translated and transcribed for accuracy. The study adopts the framework of autosegmental-phonology for its analysis. In the study, specific areas are examined with a view to shed light on the tone system of the speech form. The areas that are investigated include the basic tones in the speech form, functions of tone, and tonal processes in the speech form. Findings from the study demonstrate that Ùhànmì operates four basic tone levels; these are high, mid, low and falling tones. Tone is a unique feature in Ùhànmì, quite distinct from segmental feature. The study reveals that these tones distinguish meaning of segmentally identical words. The study also shows that tones play a distinctive grammatical function in present and past tense. Tonal processes such as tone simplification, tone raising, tone elision, and tone polarization are observed in the speech form. The research is motivated by the need to prevent the speech form from extinction. The study also stems from the missing gap in the knowledge as there is a paucity of publication on the speech form. The research contributes to knowledge in the field of phonology.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.Penulis.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (Refer to The Effect of Open Access).
References
Chomsky, N., & Halle, M. (1968). The sound pattern of English. Harper & Row.
Daniel, D., & Christie, O. (2024). Tone as trigger to semantic variation in Wapan. Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literary Studies, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.XXXX/XXXX (Note: Replace with actual DOI if available)
Durand, J. (1990). Generative and non-linear phonology. Longman.
Elena, P. (2021). Grammatical function of tone in San Maka. Mandenkan, 65, 333-348.
Elugbe, B. O. (1989). Comparative Edoid: Phonology and lexicon. Delta Series, 6. University of Port-Harcourt Press.
Ezenwafor, (2014). Contour tones in Igbo: Where they come from. Academy Publisher, 4, 661-667.
Goldsmith, J. (1976). Autosegmental phonology (Doctoral dissertation, MIT). Garland.
Hyman, L. M. (1975). Phonology: Theory and analysis. Holt, Reinhart and Winston.
Leben, W. A. (1973). Remarks on nasality: The case of Guarany. In S. Anderson & P. Kisparsky (Eds.), A festschrift for Morris Halle (pp. XX-XX). Holt, Rinehart and Winston. (Note: Replace XX-XX with actual page numbers).
Lewis, A. (2013). North Edoid relations and roots (PhD thesis, University of Ibadan).
Maduagwu, G. O. (2013). Ikaram tone system. Awka Journal of Linguistics and Languages, 7.
Owoyele, O. (2016). A comparative analysis of the phonological systems of Ùhànmì and Ukwe, languages in Akókó South East of Ondo State (M.A. thesis, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti). Unpublished.
Pike, K. L. (1948). Tone language. University of Michigan.
Roach, P. (2010). English phonetics and phonology: A practical course. Cambridge University Press.
Welmers, W. (1959). Tonemics, morphotonemics, and tonal morphemes. General Linguistics, 4(1), 1-9.
Yul-Ifode, (2008). Basic phonetics. University of Port Harcourt Press.