THE MORPHEME STRUCTURE CONDITIONS IN THE UKWUANI LANGUAGE

ABSTRACT

The present study investigated the morpheme structure conditions in the Isoko language. The objective of the study was to ascertain the segment and sequence constraints in the language. The study relied on oral and documented data gotten from native speakers of the Isoko language as well as from published works on the language. The method used to collect the oral data was the interview method and the instruments used were a voice recorder as well as writing materials. The collected data comprising of the recorded oral data and the data gotten from documents were then systematically organized in order to ascertain the functional phonemes in the language as well as their phonological features and permissible combinations. The frame work adopted for the study was the standard theory of the generative phonology as it allows for the proper analysis of the features of sound segments by use of binary features. The study found out that the Isoko language exhibits both positive and negative conditions with reference to sound segments and sound sequence and also, the sounds had redundant features that needed not to be stated as the presence of one feature makes the occurrence of the other feature predictable, i.e., if a segment is voiced and also a continuant then it is syllabic. The study therefore concluded that morpheme structure conditions helps in the understanding of the phonological patterning and combination of a particular language. It was also concluded that the morpheme structure conditions should be added to the curriculum of language teaching.