SYLLABLE STUCTURES AND PATTERNS IN ỌWỌ DIALECT OF YORUBA

ABSTRACT

This work examines the syllable structures and patterns in Ọwọ dialect of Yoruba. The data that were used in this research were gotten from the native speakers of the dialect. The tools used for the collections of data are Ibadan 400 word­-list of basic lexical items and a phone audio recorder which was used to get audio data. The CV Phonology is the theoretical framework adopted for analysis of the data. The study found out that the Ọwọ dialect had two syllable structures and various ways of patterning the structure. The syllable structures are the V and CV. The dialect also manifests syllabic nasals, which function as a nucleus and bears tone. The study concludes that the Ọwọ dialect have the V, CV and N̩ syllables and the dialect follow a simple way of patterning its syllable structure such as V, V.CV, CV.CV.CV, etc. The dialect also does not permit consonant clustering.