ASPECTS OF THE LEXICAL SEMANTICS OF URHOBO. A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS ON ENGLISH/LINGUISTIC

ASPECTS OF THE LEXICAL SEMANTICS OF URHOBO. A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS ON ENGLISH/LINGUISTIC

ABSTRACT

This study examined aspects of the lexical semantics of Urhobo, with the aim of identifying some of lexical relations in the language, as well as discussing the forms of lexical negation. The methodology adopted for this study is based on descriptive linguistics which attempts to describe a language in terms of its current form (i.e. synchronically without reference to earlier forms or other languages). The data employed for the project was obtained from primary sources via interviews. Some of the data was obtained from secondary sources including the Urhobo dictionary. For lexical relations, the analysis showed that Urhobo has synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, and homonymy. It also showed that they are somewhat similar to what one finds in English language. The study therefore concluded that most of the lexical relations identified in other well studied languages can be found in the Urhobo language.

CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION

This study seeks to examine in detail various aspects areas of lexical semantics in the Urhobo language. We will look in general term at lexical relations i.e. the meaning relationships words have with one another, the semantic features that help to differentiate one from the other and also at how lexical negations are realized i.e. if a morpheme is added to negate it or if an entirely different word is used.
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Semantics is a branch of linguistics studies, and has been defined by different scholars. Okolo and Ezikeojiaku (1999:175) defined semantics as “the study of meaning”. Radford (1997:27)defined semantics as “the linguistics aspect of meaning”. Fitch (2010:120)“semantics is the branch of linguistics studies that is constantly in shoulders with philosophy. This is because the study of meaning raises a host of problems that are the traditional stomping ground of philosophy”. Charles (1955:202) “linguistics semantics is the study of how language organizes and expresses meaning.” Semantics is like a coin with two aspects: lexical and post-lexical semantics. Lexical semantics the subject of this study deals with the meaning of words. It’s a linguistics theory that investigates word meaning. Iloene and Iloene (2013:4) “word meaning in language are atoms that are intricately interconnected in a web-like fashion, in which some concepts have been differentiated into two fundamental types: i) the ones that necessarily involve a relationship with other concept ii) the ones that are just seen to be independent units.” Mowarin (2010:57) “lexical semantics deals with the study of lexis, it focuses on lexical universals. It is observed that the denotation of a word is not studied in isolation”. Saeed (2007:53) reinforces this fact where he states that “…the meaning of a word is defined in part by its relation with other words in language.”

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE PROJECT MATERIAL

ASPECTS OF THE LEXICAL SEMANTICS OF URHOBO. A RESEARCH PROJECT TOPICS ON ENGLISH/LINGUISTIC