Browsing by Author "Garba, Patience Ashesla"

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    Eggon Compounding
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2020-03-16) Garba, Patience Ashesla
    Compounding is a common word derivation process in languages of the world, and it is said to be a productive way of forming words. However, the meaning and formation processes of compounds are more or less language specific, although there might be similarities. This study investigates and describes compounding in Eggon, its structures, defining criteria and productivity. The study tries to answer the questions: What are the defining criteria of Eggon compounds? What is the structure of the compound and how productive is compounding as a word formation process in the language? Eggon is one of the so called ‘minority group’ languages spoken in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. The language belongs to the Benue-Congo Plateau: Eggonic group of African languages. The study reveals that compounds are written as either a single word or two words; are head first (left headed) and their definition is based on semantics rather than phonology and syntax. Compounding in Eggon consists of various structures: N+N =N, N+V =N, V+N = V, V + V = V, Phrase = V, and Phrase = N components. The most productive are N+N = N, N+V = N, V+N = V while the least productive is V+V= V. Purposeful sampling, participant observation and interview, the writer’s intuitive knowledge of the language and training as a language student, alongside other documented sources constitute the major sources of data for the study. This paper adds to linguistic study in general and Eggon in particular, as not much has been done on compounding; it serves as a source of data and a reference material for other researchers.
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    Eggon Language Counting System and Derivational Processes
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2017-08-04) Garba, Patience Ashesla
    The paper presents Eggon numerals in their order of occurrence, explaining the computation and derivation processes involved using descriptive method. The writer's intuitive knowledge of the language and a review of previous works on Eggon numerals constitute a major source of data for this paper. The study reveals four type* of numerals- cardinals, ordinals, distributives and adverbials (times). The cardinal numerals are classified into basic and derived. The basic numerals which are akyen ‘ 1 aha *2', a'tra ‘.V, c)iyi ‘4’, of no ‘5\efi ‘6’. d folia *7\ af'ofe18’, dtronye ‘9', ck'po' I O’, end’gd ‘100’, and ezbi ‘ 1000’ are used to derive the secondary numerals using the arithmetic principles of addition and multiplication, on the one hand, and the linguistic phonological, morphological, and syntactic processes of vowel elision, tone change, compounding, sentential expressions on the other. The ordinals are derived using the prefix ha before the respective cardinal number except on ‘first’ which has a distinct word. Similarly, the adverbials are also derived using the prefix engyi, while the distributive are produced by partial reduplication in a triplicate form. It can be said that Eggon is a decimal language that is it counts in multiples often.
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    Inflection in Eggon
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2020-07-06) Garba, Patience Ashesla
    This study describes the inflectional processes of some Eggon traditional word classes that show inflection. Il aims at providing documentation on Eggon inflection for the purpose of pedagogy and language revitalization. Previous studies on Eggdn inflection were limited to plurality, hence the need for the present study to fill the research gap by exposing other aspects of inflection such as sentence plurality, reflexives, possession and tonal inflection in the language. Data were sourced from NasarawaEggon and Kcffi Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State through participant observation, documented sources from Eggdn dictionary draft. Ibadan 400 wordlist and researcher's introspection. The collated data were written down using field notes and analysed using descriptive method. Findings show that Eggon has three word classes that show inflection: nouns, verbs and pronouns. Nouns show plurality and possession through affixes (prefixation). reduplication, phoneme alternation, tone placement and zero morphemes. Only one verb 1/ 'go' shows inflection as in are 'went'. Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns in Eggon are formed by prefixing u- to the possessive pronoun. Other verbs show tense by adding morphemes before or after the verbs. The study reveals that inflection in Eggon is used to show number, possession, tense and reflexive pronouns: change meanings of words and differentiate word classes. The paper adds to the study and documentation of small group indigenous languages in Nigeria, and serves as a useful reference material for pedagogy and further research in linguistics on other small group languages
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    A LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE EGGON NUMERAL SYSTEM
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2021-09-17) Garba, Patience Ashesla
    Eggon refers to both the speakers and the language. The language is one of the major indigenous languages spoken in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria. The paper presents the linguistic (phonological, morphological and syntactic) analysis of Eggon counting system using descriptive method. Previous works on Eggon numerals, the intuitive knowledge of the language and the writer's training as a linguist, constitute the major sources of data for this paper. The derivation of Eggon numerals involves the use of the basic numbers to derive the secondary numbers using arithmetic principles of addition and multiplication; on the one hand and the linguistic phonological processes of coalescence, tone change, vowel elision and syllabic distribution, morphological processes of null morpheme, compounding and reduplication, and sentential expression, on the other. This study adds to Eggon language data base and linguistic study in
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    A Linguistic Study of Eggon Personal Names
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2021-04-14) Garba, Patience Ashesla
    The article is a linguistic study that analyzes Eggon personal names. The study of personal names is common in most languages around the world. However, nothing has been done on a description of Eggon names. There is a dictionary of Eggon names which only lists the names and their meanings without any linguistic information whatsoever on the names. This necessitates the present study to fill the existing gap. It aims at exploring the sources, morphological, and syntactic structures of Eggon personal names and their meanings. Data were sourced from documented materials, interviews and the intuition of the author as a native speaker. The source of personal names in Eggon can be traced to history, culture, religion, body parts, traditional occupation, circumstance of birth, and geographical location. The study reveals that most Eggon names begin with a vowel {/a/); they are formed from single lexical items, phrases and sentences. The derivation of the complex names involves phonological and morphological processes of elision, shortening, affixation and compounding. Personal names in Eggon can be made up of a single lexical item, nominal or verbal phrases and/or a sentence. Most of the names derived from sentences are declarative, while a few others are imperative and interrogative. The meanings of the names that are made up of single lexical items are literal, but the meanings of the complex names are both literal and non-literaL The study concludes in line with many scholars that Eggon personal names are similar to the grammar of the language. The study adds to the documentation of the language and provides data for farther study by researchers and linguists.
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    A Pragmatic Study of Linguistic Taboos in Tiv
    (Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-11-11) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Garba, Patience Ashesla; Haruna, Iliyasu Makera
    There are a number of words and expressions in Tiv language that are not talked about openly in conversations for various reasons. Such words and expressions have bad connotations: they can cause shame or embarrassment, and are capable of thwarting the smooth flow of communication. This paper is a pragmatic study of linguistic taboos in Tiv. It examines not only the literal meaning of linguistic taboos but also the meaning that is derived from the norms of formality and politeness (pragmatics) that exist in Tiv society. Conversation with native speakers and participants observations served as the primary source of data collection. Written materials in form of textbooks, journal articles and dissertations were used as secondary sources. The data collected were descriptively analysed bringing out euphemistic or polite expressions. The findings reveal that there are linguistic taboos in Tiv and the adult native speakers observe them more than the younger ones in their conversations. The study also agrees that taboos help to instill morals in members of the society. Finally, the study shows that the euphemistic expressions provide free flow o communication which would have been put to a halt by linguistic taboos. The paper concludes that the problem created by linguistic taboos in communication because of its bad connotations can e overcome if the correct euphemistic expressions for such taboos in the language are identified and correctly used.
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    Prefixation as a Derivational Process in Mada
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2021-07-10) Samuel, Nuhu Baba; Makama, Asabe Ezekiel; Garba, Patience Ashesla
    This paper is a preliminary report on an ongoing research on Mada. a minority indigenous Nigerian language spoken in Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states of Nigeria. This present work undertakes a study of prefixation as an aspect of the morphology of Mada by examining the role of prefixes in the derivation of new words in the language. The motivation for this study stems from the fact that Mada has a reduced morphology with scanty literatures available for data-driven analysis in the language, thus a study of prefixation is geared towards documenting this aspect of the morphology of the language through descriptive analysis. However, our focus in this study is to establish the extent of prefixation in creating new words, especially in the formation of agentive (occupational nouns) and plural nouns cushioned on two perspectival premises: derivation and inflection. Ample data were elicited from competent native speakers of Mada for this study. Introspection and the linguistic training of the researchers were employed to collect, collate and analyse available data. It is shown in this study that, the prefix mo-,together with its variants bo- and n-prefix,is used to mark countable nouns whereas the prefixes wan- and ban-, and fo-/vo-acting as pseudo prefixes are used as alternation for persons in the formation of agentive or act as diminutives. The major finding of this study, however, shows that prefixation is the only variety associated with the derivational morphology of Mada and the most widespread.
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    The Role of Government in Revitalizing Numeral System of Indigenous Languages: The Eggon Case
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2018-11-09) Philip, Imoh; Garba, Patience Ashesla
    This paper sets out to investigate the endangerment of Eggon numeral system and the government's role to revitalize and expand it to meet the need of our modern society by implementing the National Policy on Education, especially as it concerns language use. Eggon belongs to the N iger-Congo Phylum ofthe Western Benue Congo Plateau group of African languages. The paper seeks answers to question: To what extent is Eggon numeral system productive? Previous works on Eggon numeral system, the intuitive knowledge of the language and training of the writers as linguists constitute the major sources of data. The descriptive method employed in this study shows that, among other things, unless the government puts concerted effort, the Eggon numeral system will go more moribund and will eventually be extinct. Being abreast of the success of the concerted and sustainable efforts of language policy in some countries, the paper submits that the government is required to play a role in implementing the language policy on education and formulate more policies that will favor indigenous languages, to the advantage of remnant languages, especially Eggon to revitalize its critically endangered numeral system. The findings shows that this study can be applied to other remnant Nigerian and African languages which are victims of endangered numeral system.
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    The Role of Government in Revitalizing Numeral System of Indigenous Languages: The Eggon Case
    (DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY KEFFI, 2019-03-12) Philip, Imoh; Garba, Patience Ashesla
    This paper sets out to investigate the endangerment of Eggon on numeral system and the role government to revitalize and expand it to meet the need of our modern society by implementing the National Policy on Education, especially, as it concerns language use. Eggon belongs to the niger-congo phylum of the Western Benue Congo Plateau group of African languages. The paper seeks answers to the question: To what extent is Eggon numeral system vibrant vis-a-vis modern language use. Previous works on Eggon numeral system, the intuitive knowledge of the language and training of the writers as linguists constitute the major sources of data. The descriptive method employed in this study shows that, among other things, unless the government puts concerted efforts, the Eggon numeral system will become more moribund and will eventually be extinct. Being abreast of the success of the concerted and sustainable efforts of language policy in some countries, the paper submits that the government is required to play a role in implementing the language policy on education and formulate more policies that will favour indigenous languages, to the advantage of remnant languages, especially Eggon, to revitalize its critically endangered numeral system. The findings show that this study can be applied to other remnant Nigerian and African languages which are victims of endangered numeral system.