ASPECTS OF THE PHONOLOGY OF KOFYAR LANGUAGE

ASPECTS OF THE PHONOLOGY OF KOFYAR LANGUAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                   i

Certification                                                                                                              ii

Dedication                                                                                                                 iii

Acknowledgements                                                                                                 iv

List of  Symbols Used                                                                                             vi

List of Charts/Tables and Diagrams                                                                      vii

Table of Contents                                                                                                     viii

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRDOUCTION                                           

1.0       Introduction                                                                                                  1

1.1       Historical Background of the Kofyar of People                                      1

1.1.1 Colonial History                                                                                 3

1.2       Socio-Cultural Profile                                                                                 3

1.2.1   Religion                                                                                             3

1.2.2 Occupation                                                                                          4

1.2.3 Cultural Festivals                                                                               4

1.2.4 Food Items                                                                                           5

1.2.5 Tourist Attraction                                                                               5

1.3       Socio-Linguistics Profile                                                                            5

1.4       Genetic Classification of Kofyar Language                                             7

1.5       Statement of Research Problems                                                               8

1.6       Aims and Objective of Study                                                                     8

1.7       Scope and Organization of Study                                                              8

1.8       Data Collection                                                                                            10

1.9       Data Analysis                                                                                               11

1.10    Theoretical Framework                                                                               12

1.10.2 The Structure of Generative Phonology                                       13

1.10.2.1 Phonetic Representation                                                              14

1.10.2.2 Underlying Representation                                                         15

1.10.2.3 Phonological Rules                                                                       16

CHAPTER TWO: BASIC PHONOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

2.0       Introduction                                                                                                  17

2.1       Phonology                                                                                                     17

2.1.1 Phonology and Phonetics                                                                  19

2.2       Phonemes and Allophones                                                                         21

2.2.1 The Phoneme and its Realities                                                         22

2.2.1.1 Phoneme as a Phonetic Reality                                                     22

2.2.1.2 Phoneme as a Phonological Reality                                             23

2.2.1.3 Phonemes as a Psychological Reality                                          23

2.3       Principles of Phoneme Identification                                                       24

2.3.1 Principle of Minimal Pair                                                                  24

2.3.2 Principle of Complementary Distribution                                      25

2.3.3 Principles of Analogous Environment                                            26

2.3.4   Principle of Free Variation                                                                        27

2.5       Phonological Processes                                                                               27

2.5.1 Assimilation                                                                                        28

2.5.2 Deletion                                                                                               29

2.5.3 Insertion (Epenthesis)                                                                                   30

2.5.4 Metathesis                                                                                           31

2.5.5 Nasalization                                                                                        32

2.5.6 Coalescence                                                                                        33

2.5.7 Vowel Harmony                                                                                 33

2.5.7.1 Partial or Incomplete Vowel Harmony                                        36

2.6       Tone                                                                                                               37

2.7       Syllable Structure                                                                                        39

CHAPTER THREE: THE SOUND SYSTEM OF KOFYAR LANGUAGE              

3.0       Introduction                                                                                                  41

3.1       Vowel System of Kofyar Language                                                           41

3.1.1 The Oral and Nasal Vowel Chart in Kofyar Language                 42

3.1.2 Distribution of Vowels in Kofyar Language                                  43

3.1.2.1 The Distribution of Oral Vowels in Kofyar Language              43

3.1.2.2 Distribution of Nasal Vowels in Kofyar                                      47

3.2       Phonetic Distinctive Feature Matrix                                                         50

3.2.1 Distinctive Feature Matrix for Kofyar Vowels                              50

3.2.2 Justification for the Distinctive Features Used for Vowels in

Kofyar Language                                                                              51

3.2.3 Segment Structure Constraints for Kofyar Vowels                       52

3.3       Consonant Sounds in Kofyar Language                                                   54

3.3.1 Phonetic Consonants Chart of Kofyar Language                          55

3.3.2 Distribution of Consonants in Kofyar                                            56

3.4       Distinctive Features Matrix of Kofyar Consonants                                68

3.4.1   Justification for the Features Used                                                           71

3.4.2 Segment Redundancy of Kofyar Sounds                                        74

3.5       Tones in Kofyar Language                                                                         78

3.5.1   Functions of Tone in Kofyar                                                          83

3.6       The Syllable Structure of Kofyar                                                              84

3.6.1   Closed Syllable in Kofyar Language                                            86

3.6.2   Open Syllable in Kofyar Language                                               86

3.6.3   Mono-Syllable Words                                                                     87

3.6.4   Di-Syllabic Words                                                                           88

3.6.5   Tri-Syllabic Words                                                                          89

3.6.6 Quadric Syllabic Words                                                                    90

3.7       Summary                                                                                                       90

CHAPTER FOUR: PHONOLOGICAL PROCESS IN KOFYAR LANGUAGE

4.0       Introduction                                                                                                  91

4.1       Phonological Processes in Kofyar                                                             92

4.1.1 Assimilation                                                                                        92

4.1.1.1 Vowel-Vowel Assimilation                                                           92

4.1.1.2 Consonant Vowel Assimilation                                                    94

4.1.1.1.2.1 Labialization in Kofyar                                                           94

4.1.1.1.2.2. Palatalization in Kofyar                                                         95

4.1.2   Nasalization in Kofyar                                                                    96

4.1.3 Vowel Harmony                                                                                 98

4.1.4 Insertion                                                                                               101

4.1.5 Deletion                                                                                               102

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0       Introduction                                                                                                  104

5.1       Summary                                                                                                       104

5.2       Recommendations                                                                                       105

5.3       Conclusion                                                                                                    105

Bibliography                                                                                                 107

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

This research work focuses on the phonology of Kofyar Language. Kofyar language is spoken in Plateau State of Nigeria. It is spoken in fairly sizeable area of Qua’an pan local government area of plateau state. In this chapter, we shall discuss the historical, socio-cultural profile, socio-linguistic profile and the genetic classification of the Kofyar Language. We shall also discuss the scope and organization of study, aims and objectives of study, the theoretical framework we intend to use, method of data collection and analysis.

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ASPECTS OF THE PHONOLOGY OF KOFYAR LANGUAGE