PHONOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN THE IGUMALE DIALECT OF IDOMA

Abstract

This research work is concerned with the phonological processes in Igumale dialect of Idoma.The objectives of this work are to: identify, establish and analysethe functional phonemes in the Igumale dialect. This was done by following the step by step procedure outlined by Donwa(1999).

Thus; the focus of this project is on some phonological processes in the Igumaledialect which include; nasalization, vowel elision, glides formation, and vowel harmony. The minimal pair test was also usedto point out sounds that can bring about meaning difference in the dialect. The method of data collection which was elicited from a competent native speaker of Igumale dialect, using the Ibadan 400-word list was helpful in describing the phonology and the phonological processes that exist in the dialect. From the analysis carried out in this research work, Igumale dialect has 26 consonant sounds and 18 phonemic consonant sounds, also discovered were the presence of nine oral vowel sounds and eight (8) phonemic vowel sounds 6 nasal vowels making it a total of 35 phonetic sounds and 26 phonemic sounds in all. The data also shows the existence of three level tones in Igumale dialect namely: high, mid,low tones. These tones are capable of bringing about meaning difference i.e. changes in meaning. Most importantly this work to the best of my knowledge is the first of its kind in the language as regards to phonology.