NSUK Repository :: Browsing by Author "Akase, Tiav Thomas"

Browsing by Author "Akase, Tiav Thomas"

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Open Access
ACCULTURATION IN THE PERIOD OF GLOBALIZATION: TIV LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-07-05) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Amende, Charles A.
Acculturation is the adoption of the element of one culture by a different cultural group. Culture entails the knowledge, belief art, morals, laws, customs, habits, and language acquired by the people of the society. Language is known to be the sole transmitter of culture. Globalization encourages integration among countries and cultures across the world. The forces of globalization have therefore, endangered the world's linguistic and cultural diversity. This paper therefore, examines the effects of globalization on Tiv language and culture in recent times. The paper will also suggest useful solutions to avoid total annihilation of the Tiv man's valued cultural heritage.
Open Access
AMBIGUITY IN TIV DISCOURSE
(Department of Englsih, Nasarawa State University keffi, 2019-04-04) Akase, Tiav Thomas
This study examines ambiguity in Tiv discourse and how it can be interpreted. Ambiguity connotes a situation where a word or sentence has more than one meaning or interpretation. Ambiguity affects communication in language where meaning is distorted between a speaker and a listener, leading to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. This study therefore examines ambiguity in general with emphasis on lexical and structural ambiguities. Other causes or factors that are responsible for ambiguity in Tiv such as homonymy and polysemy are also examined. The study reveals instances of such ambiguities in Tiv discourse. The choice of appropriate words and the role of context are used to disambiguate such ambiguities. This is done, in order to ensure effective communication in Tiv as well as to contribute to the development of the Tiv language.
Open Access
AN ANALYSIS OF AMPHIBOLOGY AND SYNTACTIC AMBIGUITY IN TIV
(Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-06-06) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Ishima, Jighjigh Leo Justus; Kwarpo, Matthew Sylvanus
There are a number of grammatical or syntactic structures in sentences that are ambiguous in Tiv that make the interpretation of such sentences difficult to the listeners or readers. These grammatical or syntactic structures are a model of language discovery distribution of words that are both semantically and syntactically coherent; but the distributions sometimes create more problems semantically for they give room for dual interpretations. The result of this is that it affects effective communication since the meaning is not clearly brought out at a glance, thereby resulting into semantic complexity. This study therefore, examines syntactic ambiguity in particular and amphibology in Tiv and how they impede communication in the language. The causes of such semantic complexities and the strategies to be adopted to overcome those problems are also examined. Data for this study were gathered from Tiv speaking area of Benue state through conversation with the native speakers of the language and through participant observations. The findings of the study reveal that syntactic ambiguity and amphibology can be eliminated if there is a clear structural relationship between the various syntactic units in the grammatical structure of a phrase, or sentence and the phrases selected in our conversations are used denotatively rather than connotative in the sentence structures to avoid confusion to readers and listeners.
Open Access
AN ANALYSIS OF LINGUISTIC ARCHITECTURE OF TIV ANTHROPONOMASTICS
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2013-01-07) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Anthroponomastics is a subdivision of Onomastics. It is concerned with the study of personal names. It is different from Toponomastics which is place names. The division is however an arbitrary one, as places are often named after people and vice versa. Personal name refers to the names of people assigned to them by their parents, relatives, guardians or elderly members of the family and the community. Tiv personal names have a structure that reflects the grammatical structure of the language. This structure of personal names is however, something that most of us take completely for granted. This is because, we are so used to the mentioning and understanding our native names with unselfconscious ease that we do not notice the complex linguistic architecture that underlies almost every Tiv personal name. It is in view of this that, the work is carried out to examine the various grammatical structures that are found in Tiv personal names, beginning from the smallest constituent of personal names to larger ones.
Open Access
Aspects of traditional Tiv naming practices: A sociocultural account
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2019-01-05) Mensah, Eyo; Rowan, Kirsty; Akase, Tiav Thomas; Ishima, Jighjigh
Abstract Naming in the African cultural context serves both referential and connotative functions as a unique means of identity construction which contains important cultural meaning and metaphysical presuppositions. Among the Tiv people of Benue State, North-central Nigeria, personal names reflect social relations and reveal major insights into their history, philosophy, language, spirituality’ and worldview. Naming practices in Tiv are indicative of the community’s social existence and redefine the essence of its being. This article explores the interaction of the Tiv people naming system with their sociocultural experi ence and physical environment. We investigate how naming intersects with social class distinction (wealth vs. poverty), emotions, occupations and topography, and examine their sources, social categorization and socio-onomastic significance. This study is theoretically rooted in Goddard’s (2006) ethnopragmatic paradigm which examines the locally relevant construction of cultural and contextual meanings in the interpretation of language. Data for the study were sourced from two Tiv communities of Gboko and Makurdi in Benue State, Nigeria through participant observations, personal interviews and conversations with name-bearers, -givers and -users. We conclude that Tiv personal names reflect the socio cultural environment and provide prominent sites for the creative expression of the Tiv social universe and lived cultural experiences.
Open Access
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE FOR GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(Department of Lanaguages and Linguisitcs, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-12-12) Akase, Tiav Thomas
n every human society, man has evolved a system by which interaction is ensured. This system of interaction enables man to share his thought and ideas as well as exert control over the wide range of phenomenon and human actions which results into development. This system is known as communication which is attained through the medium of language. Language is so vital in human existence that there is hardly any situation or human function where language is not required. It thus follows that for any idea to be transformed into any global development; it must be sufficiently couched in human communication.' This means that the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for sustaining development for the benefits of man must be communicated to him through the medium of language. This paper therefore, aims at discussing communication and language as a vehicle for global sustainable development. To achieve this, effort is made to define the key terms use in the paper and to examine the role(s) communication and language can play in sustaining development.
Open Access
DIALECT DISTANCE AMONG GBAGY1 DIALECTS: GBAGYI NGE-NGE AND GBAGYI NKWA
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-01-01) Amende, Charles A.; Akase, Tiav Thomas; Salisu, Muhammad Raj.
This work examines dialect distance among Gbagyi dialects. Dialect distance connotes the degree of mutual intelligibility between dialects of the same language. The degree of mutual intelligibility however, relates to the extent of divergence between the dialects of Gbagyi language; and is measured by the degree of closeness in the writing system and pronunciation, coupled with high tendencies of cognacy between the dialects of the language. Mutuality breeds cordial relationship and understanding between speakers of a language, and its absence may often create problems in communication which may lead to misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and disintegration. This work therefore, examines the extent of dialect distance between two (2) dialects of Gbagyi language as they affect speakers of both dialects. The study is survey in nature; and findings reveal that mutual intelligibility exists between Gbagyi Nge-Nge and Gbagyi Nkwa dialects of Gbagyi language but the degree of mutual intelligibility is low. The study suggests a harmonization of the dialects for the standardization of the Gbagyi language.
Open Access
DIALECT DISTANCE AMONG GBAGYI DIALECTS: GBAGYI NGE-NGE AND GBAGYI NKWA
(DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, KEFFI, 2020-07-16) Amende, Charles A.; Akase, Tiav Thomas; Salisu, Muhammad Raj
This work examines dialect distance among Gbagyi dialects. Dialect distance connotes the degree of mutual intelligibility between dialects of the same language. The degree of mutual intelligibility however, relates to the extent of divergence between the dialects of Gbagyi language; and is measured by the degree of closeness in the writing system and pronunciation, coupled with high tendencies of cognacy between the dialects of the language. Mutuality breeds cordial relationship and understanding between speakers of a language, and its absence may often create problems in communication which may lead to misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and disintegration. This work therefore, examines the extent of dialect distance between two (2) dialects of Gbagyi language as they affect speakers of both dialects. The study is survey in nature; and findings reveal that mutual intelligibility exists between Gbagyi Nge-Nge and Gbagyi Nkwa dialects of Gbagyi language but the degree of mutual intelligibility is low. The study suggests a harmonization of the dialects for the standardization of the Gbagyi language.
Open Access
THE EFFICACY OF LANGUAGE IN THE PROPAGATION OF RELIGION IN NIGERIA
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-07-12) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Language is the chief tool for effective communication. Be it science, politics or religion, it is language that plays the crucial role in the propagation of axioms and ideas. There are different kinds of languages that are peculiar to the physical, natural and social sciences. But whether there is any specific language in the disclosure of religion is a question that needs to be discussed and analyzed. If comparative study of religion is carried out world over, it will be clear that there is no specific or universal language of religion. This is because unlike other sciences which are empirical in nature, religion is faindamentally an experience or awareness involving trans-empirical elements within its ambit. For this reason, its language is quite distinct and desires serious attention.
Open Access
Ethnopragmatic Analysis of Tiv Pet Names for Married Women
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2020-03-03) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Leo, Jighjigh; Ishima, Justus
This study is on ethnopragmatic analysis of Tiv pet parts of people are predominantly found in Benue Stat® of are fxpreSsions of affection the country like Nasarawa and Taraba states. Pet n relationship by husbands to and other forms of endearments used only in a marr‘f js a normaJ healthy thing strengthen their emotional link or union and commitmen^ ^ wjves The study for husbands who are happy, satisfied and passiona . their sources, social examines the motivation for the pet names among Y ' names in the categorization or classification and above all, the sigm icanc ot-Qns that pet Tiv society. The article explores the various experiences a ^ interpretation of convey. It also looks at the culturally and contextua m^an* re gathered from the Tiv the pet names discussed in the study. Data for this stu y .ews, conVersations with speaking area of Benue state, Nigeria through persona in servationS- The data is the pet name bearers and givers, and through par iclPan semantic or denotative analyzed based on ethnopragmatic meaning rat er based on their sources for meanings of the pet names. The pet names are a so gro p g exhibit intimacy and easy analysis. The findings from this study show a P bearers and givers of pet love between the bearers and the givers of the names, f they instill sanity, peace, names are good living examples that other coup es emu unity and harmony in marriages and families.
Open Access
Inflection for Grammatical Gender in Tiv Names
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2017-03-03) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Vitalis, Salem Chiahemba
Gender is one of the grammatical categories that is rigidly maintained in many languages that use them. The use of gender in such languages depends on the semantic association ol the noun and other properties denoted by that noun. Such semantics associations include human, non-human, animate, inanimate, sex, colour, etc. This research is however, concerned with the gender of names which examines in details the grammatical gender of with particular reference to Tiv names. The research is motivated by the lact that many languages do have separate names for men and women, while other languages use regular inflections tor grammatical gender to indicate the gender of names. The work seeks to find out it the Tiv names use regular inflections for grammatical gender or any other means to indicate the gender of the names in the language. The findings ol the research show that three morphological forms are used to generate masculine and feminine names in Tiv. The morphological forms however, vary depending on the sex.
Open Access
THE ISSUES OF LANGUAGE IN GOVERNANCE IN A MULTILINGUAL SOCIETY
(Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-07-05) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Umaru, Jacob Yakubu; Amende, Charles A.; Akwashiki, Vincent S.
Language is very vital to human society, that there is hardly any situation or human function where language is not required. It also means that for any idea to be transformed into good governance, it must be sufficiently couched in human language. This means that the ideas, knowledge, skills, attitude and experiences required for governance must be communicated to people through language. All the interventions and achievements ever recorded in human existence have their roots in language. This explains that no governance can take place without language. Language therefore, plays a role in the development of a nation. It also contributes to individual and societal development. This adopts descriptive approach to discuss the issues of language in governance in Africa with a particular reference to Nigeria. Personal observations have been used in the collection of data for this work. As members of Nigerian society, the researchers have been much familiar with the issues of language in governance as chosen for discussion. Some amount of information was obtained from textbooks and journal publications for clearer understanding of the subject matter. The data collected is systematically described considering the facts and features involved. The research study shows that language policy, language choice and acceptability are the major issues of language in governance in a multilingual society like Nigeria in particular and Africa at large. The study also shows incidences of disunity, low productivity, conflict, fake hate speech and underdevelopment are some of the effects of issues of language in governance in Nigeria. The work finally proffer solution to some of the language issues in governance in Nigeria
Open Access
LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGERS OF ORGANIZATIONS IN NIGERIA
(Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2011-09-09) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Managers of modern organizations are faced with many challenges today; one of them is language and culture. This becomes enormous when the manager has the responsibility of integrating members of the organization who have unique language and cultural values quite distinct from the others to achieve the goals of the organization. The way in which language and culture is managed will therefore, determine the success or failure of the organization. In order to meet up with these challenges, there is need for managers to have good understanding of language and cultural attributes of individual members as it affects their behaviours. This paper therefore, examines language and culture and its implications for managers of organizations in Nigeria. The paper also suggests ways of integrating the culture of members in order to enhance its goals.
Open Access
LANGUAGE AS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
(Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2013-01-01) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Language is very vital to human society that there is hardly any situation or human function where language is not required. It also follows that for any idea to be transformed into any development, it must be sufficiently couched in human language. This means that the ideas, knowledge, skills and attitudes required for sustaining development must be communicated to people through language. This explains that language is the facilitator of human essence. All the inventions and achievements ever recorded in human existence have their roots in language. In view of this language should be part of the inclusion of the things that will bring about development. This paper therefore, examines language as an effective tool for achieving sustainable development. To achieve this objective, efforts is made to define key terms used in the paper and the role language can play in ensuring sustainable development. The key terms include Language and Development.
Open Access
LANGUAGE CHOICE AND LANGUAGE ATTITUDE: THE NIGERIAN SITUATION
(2011-06-12) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Language choice and language attitude is a vital area in a multilingual society like ours (Nigeria). Many problems emanate from language users whenever there is a wrong choice of language thereby creating hostile attitude towards such a language. This is because the language may not be understood by the audience or reader, or it may be a wrong vehicle used to ' deliver the goods. It is in view of this that the paper explains language and the relevant concepts and approaches to language choice and language attitude.
Open Access
LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN NIGERIA: PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS FOR NIGERIAN INDEGENOUS LANGUAGES
(Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2013-07-07) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Language education is the teaching and learning of foreign language or second language. It is a branch of applied linguistics. Language education has many unique functions among which are that it plays dual roles in most known formal education systems. It is featured as a subject on the school curriculum just as we have history education, economics education, chemistry education etc. On the other hand and completely unlike any of the other subjects on the curriculum, it serves as the medium of instruction in all subjects including itself. This paper wants to capture and examine the indigenous languages in school environment. The paper also examines the prospects of using the indigenous languages for education and the problems associated with it. Finally, a conclusion was made on the stand of the paper.
Open Access
THE LANGUAGE OF ADVERTISING: A POWERFUL COMMUNICATION TOOL
(Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2009-07-07) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Advertising has become a profession world wide. This is because it has certain rules governing its practice, a body of knowledge and legal framework setting out its ethnical norms. As a profession and specialized discipline, it needs its language just like other professions and specialized disciplines. This paper therefore, examines the language of advertising as a powerful communication force in the business world. This is because the language of advertising creates mass awareness; convey information and education about goods and services towards extending the markets. More so, when ever it is effectively used, it convinces the listener and changes his mind to go for a particular good or service that is being advertised. The paper also explains why the language of advertising is a specialized form and why it is . different from other varieties of language use.
Open Access
Language Use in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era in Nigeria
(Department of French, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-05-05) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Obi, Esther Ebere; Abu, Lois Owiyoda; Samuel, Nuhu Baba
The year 2020 was a constant subject of discourse both in the national and global politics, social, economic and academic scenes. This is because it was used as a yardstick for national and international goal-setting. The whole humanity awaited the year 2020 with so much hopes and expectations. The language of discourse during the period was that of hopefulness and grandiose •plantations’. On the verge of year 2020, the language and narratives had a ‘tournure’ in some sort of uneasiness and fright due to the emergence of Corona Virus disease. In this narrative, we have looked at the language used in the COVID-19 Pandemic era in the national and international scenes. We have tried to explicate the language or narratives of the pre-COVID-19, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 discourses and also identified the effect of the language use on the mental psyche of individuals as well as the collectivity in both Nigeria and the global scenes at large. The methodology used in this discourse was interview, personal interactions and secondary sources. The findings review that the language used was more or less that of threat, deceit, hopelessness, misrepresentations and humorous propaganda.
Open Access
Lexico-Semantic Relations in Tiv
(Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2019-03-03) Akase, Tiav Thomas
This work examines semantic relations in Tiv. Semantic relations are a set of words with an identijiable semantic affinity. This affinity creates a relationship between words in which they are connected in order to make more acceptable meaning out of them. It is obvious that semantic relations in Tiv consist of vocabularies that empower speakers of the language in attaining proficiency in the use of the language, but is this always the case? When you listen to most communications in the language, users do not show good mastery and use of sense relations. It follows that, misapplication of these sense relations by speakers render the listeners confused as to what the right option of word or expression should be in a given scenario. This misapplication in the use of the semantic relations would also result to wrong grammatical construction in the language. This work, therefore, calls for the need to identify these semantic relations in Tiv and understand their uses and applications to produce very intelligible and pragmatic sentences. The work examines the various possible semantic relations that exist in Tiv language with emphasis on synonymy, antonymy, homonymy and hyponymy. The tendency for wrong choice of words meant for one situation for another is almost inevitable due to lack of mastery in these areas of linguistic domain. The researchers are able to detect these semantic relations and their wrong applications in this work through the researchers ’ interaction with native speakers using our intuitive knowledge of the language. The work explains the need to educate students and learners of the language on the importance of semantic relations and their appropriate applications in daily discourse. It is also expected that the work will deepen the grammar of the speakers and learners and will further enhance effective communication in the language.
Open Access
The Linguist and Manpower Development in Nigeria
(Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi., 2013-03-03) Akase, Tiav Thomas
Abstract The role of linguist vis-a-vis manpower development in Nigeria is examined in this paper. A linguist is generally perceived as a good material only for classroom and encyclopedia of linguistic facts to consult. Against this backdrop, this paper apathy demonstrated that linguists can be gainfully employed outside the classroom and contribute to manpower development. The paper shows that linguists in Nigeria are engaged in areas such as documenting endangered languages, working in the field of law as forensic phoneticians, field of health as speech pathologist, creating reading machines for the blinds, developing and teaching our indigenous languages, serving as peace corps members, working internet and other business applications to mention but a few. The discussion in this paper will leave no one in doubt, concerning the contributions of the linguist in manpower development even outside the classroom.