A Grammar of Ígálâ

269 Pages·2016·7.717 MB·English

by  Salem Ǒchála È̩jè̩bá

A GRAMMAR OF ÍGÁLÂ
In the same series

1. Ajiboye, Oladipo. The Syntax & Semantics of Yorùbá Nominal Expressions
2. Anyanwu, Ogbonna Ndubuisi. The Syntax of Igbo Causatives: A Minimalist
Account
3. Ngulube, Isaac. The Eleme Phonology
4. Obiamalu, Greg Orji. Functional Categories in Igbo: A Minimalist Perspective
5. Onumajuru, Virginia C. Affixation and Auxiliaries in Igbo
6. Ashipu, K.B.C. Bette Ethnography: Theory & Practice
7. È̩ jè̩bá, Salem Ǒchála. A Grammar of Ígálâ
8. Isaac, Baridishi Hope. Aspects of the Grammar of Gokana
A GRAMMAR OF ÍGÁLÂ

Salem Ǒchála È̩ jè̩bá
Lecturer
Department of Linguistics & Communication Studies,
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

M & J Grand Orbit Communications Ltd.
Port Harcourt
The Landmarks Series Publications
Landmarks Research Foundation
Box 237 Uniport P.O.
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

e-mail: [email protected] Mobile Phone: [phone]

Copyright © Salem Ǒchála È̩ jè̩bá 2016

All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner, by print, photoprint,
microfilm, or any other means, without the written permission from the Copyright
owner except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978-978-54311-8-6

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Dedication

I dedicate this work to Jesus Christ, the King of glory who reached down for me, gave
me hope, and who alone makes me strong.

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Editorial Note

This is the revised version of Dr. Salem Ejeba’s doctoral thesis which was recently
submitted to the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. It is a fairly detailed account of
the Igala phonology, morphology, syntax as well as semantics.
The book establishes 28 phonemic consonants and 7 vowels, as well as lexical and
grammatical tones in Igala. It shows the canonical syllable types as V and CV with no
complexity, and relates resyllabification to the retiming of segments as tone bearing
units and the duration of their mora. The work discusses nine word classes, as well as
ideophones and clitics in Igala. There are splitting verbs of various structures and
fully-fledged pronouns with morphologically toneless clitic counterparts that are toned
in their syntactic context, among other elements of the Igala morphology.
The work establishes clitics as generally bearing the grammatical tones of various
categories as a result of their morphological tonelessness and their availability for
post-lexical tone assignment. It also accounts for the generally complex interaction of
clitics and tones in the organisation of the morphosyntax and the tone-syntax
interface.
Igala has both verbal and nominal extensional affixes with various semantic
features. Some interesting discussions in the Igala syntax include the structural and
functional types of serial verb constructions, the detransitivizing process of verb
movement in object demoting structures, coreferentiality in relativised constituents
and the future/non-future temporal distinction.
Complementary binominals are conjoined with a specified binominal morpheme,
and their rigidly irreversible structures have implications in the Igala semantics. The
binominals demonstrate a grammatically specified pattern defined over a conceptual
space, showing the network among conceptual categories, such as kinship, marital,
social, hunter-hunted, more-less and cause-effect relationships as reflected in the Igala
grammar.
This is an excellent book for the professional linguists and non-initiates written is a
straightforward prose without allegiance to any specific theoretical framework. It is a
book for all ages. I strongly endorse it.

Ozo-mekuri Ndimele
Professor of Comparative Grammar
&
Founding Editor

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Preface

This book, A grammar of , is a descriptive-oriented study on the Igala language,
a member of the New Benue-Congo language family. Igala has an approximate
population of 2, 000, 000 native speakers in Kogi State, Nigeria. The population for
this work is the Igala language community that speaks the Dekina variety of the
language, around Dekina, Anyigba, and Egume areas. The study utilized incidental
sampling, as the researcher observed the speech of other competent native speakers
encountered through the period of six years within which the researcher collected data
for this work. The study generalizes the outcome of the research on the larger
population in this grammar. The primary source of data for this study is the perception
of the Igala native speaker’s speech through day-to-day social interaction,
supplemented by the intuitive knowledge of the researcher as a native speaker of the
Dekina variety of the Igala language. The method of data collection used for the
research is the guided task of perceiving the speech of the Igala native speaker through
day-to-day social interaction. This is supplemented by introspection. The researcher
collected language samples from the native speakers through direct personal contact
and analyzed the data using the descriptive method of interlinear morpheme-by-
morpheme glossing. For the phonetic experiments, labelling and tracing were done at
the midpoint of the sound segments and at some calibrated points in seconds. The
results are laid out in formant plates.

I wish to specifically list some key features of this grammar that make it important.
This grammar of the Igala language is indispensable to the linguist interested in
further investigating particular aspects of the grammar of Igala. It is also useful to the
student learning the grammar of Igala and the native speaker of Igala who wishes to
be consciously acquainted with the systematic organisation of the language s(he)
knows, uses and with which s(he) lives. The grammar herein also meets one of the
two fundamental conditions for the adequate translation of text into the Igala
language, the other being the availability of a lexicon. The lexicon in this grammar
puts well underway the making of an English-Igala bilingual dictionary that will aid
adequate translation of texts into the Igala language. Translation of more texts into
Igala will guarantee a robust functional load for the Igala language through the
adequate knowledge of the grammar, publishing in the language and consumption of
published materials.

The writing of this grammar of Igala is a major step towards more progress in Igala
linguistics. The study furthers the understanding of major aspects of Igala grammar. It
therefore forms the basis for further academic and pedagogical works, and serves as a
framework for a reference grammar of the language. Future researchers now have a
basis for further studies on specific areas of the grammar enunciated herein, to make
the discourse on Igala linguistics a lively and ongoing enterprise. This is the only way
native speakers and linguists alike may better understand and appreciate the grammar
of the language.
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A major task for Igala linguists, language teachers, language enthusiasts, and the
government of the day is the development of teaching materials, readers, functional
primers, storybooks, reference grammars, and lexicons with wide themes that will be
helpful for teaching and learning the Igala language at primary, secondary, and tertiary
institutions. These categories of people interested in developing the Igala language
may assess the body of knowledge in this grammar, as it will be indispensable for
their various tasks.

The text, O̩ takada O̩ la O̩ jo̩, is the translation of the Holy Bible into Igala.This
translation of the Bible into Igala is a very popular text which native speakers of Igala
frequently read. The problems associated with this text are associated with lack of
tone marking, inaccurate and inconsistent division of words and inappropriate
indication of grammatical relations. These problems characterise not only this
religious text but also many other texts in the Igala language. Today, more readers of
the Igala Bible translation have come to appreciate the enormity of the problem as the
rigours of mere reading deters many a competent native speaker from reading in Igala.
However, after more than 30 years of the existence of O̩ takada O̩ la O̩ jo̩ , in 2004, a
committee was set up that has worked on revising O̩ takada O̩ la O̩ jo̩ to what it terms a
‘Common Language’ translation. In my opinion, and from interaction with some
members of the committee as well as some facilitators of the project, the Igala
Common Language Bible Project will stop at using the form of the Igala language that
is more semantically comprehensible to the younger generation and wider population
of native speakers. As much as this will be a great accomplishment, the argument still
rages on whether or not tone should be represented and what the convention would be
in the case of marking tones. I recommend that tone should be fully marked or certain
tone marking conventions should be proposed. This research provides a clear outline
of tones in the Igala language in a way that will be very helpful to this end. I also
recommend that what is now known on Igala word classes, clitic elements and word
boundaries should be utilized in the Igala Bible project that has been in progress for
more than a decade now.

This grammar of Igala is based on the formal levels of phonology, morphology and
syntax and some aspects of the semantics of the language. Future researchers may
carry out studies in other aspects of Igala language based on what this study of the
grammar of Igala has outlined. I therefore urge future researchers to make
advancements in Igala linguistics by tackling aspects of studies such as Igala
semantics, pragmatics, historical linguistics, applied linguistics, and the wide area of
the interface between linguistics and other fields of studies.

This grammar of Igala is a product of a thesis, which I defended for the award of PhD
in linguistics at the University of Port Harcourt in March 2016. The work is sincerely
a product of prayer, enormous perspiration and inspiration from God Who made me
carry the study in mind like a six-year pregnancy.

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My senior and line colleagues in the Department of Linguistics and Communication
Studies, University of Port Harcourt greatly supported me in finishing this work
eventually. The following are my teachers who have contributed invaluably to the
linguistic experience and understanding brought to bear in doing this study: Prof. E.N.
Emenanjo [1943 – 2016], Prof. S. Yul-Ifode, Prof. P. Ejele, Prof. O.-M. Ndimele, Dr.
C.E.W. Jenewari, Dr. O. Ojukwu, Dr. E.E. Akpan, Dr. E.E. Kari, Dr. B.H. Isaac and
Dr. R.I.C. Alerechi. Dr. E.N. Oweleke and Dr. E.F. Obikudo also made vital
contributions in this wise.

My PhD thesis supervisors, Prof. Yul-Ifode and Prof. E.E. Kari have provided for me
academic mentorship, spirituals and filial support over the years.

I am grateful to Rev. Fr. Dr. W.C. Ihejirika, Engr. E.J. Eyo, Dr. C.U. Omego, Prof. E.
Amakoromo, Prof. and Dr. (Mrs.) B.E. Okoli, and Dr. A.A. Sado. I appreciate Östen
Dahl and Hedvig Skirgård for comments and materials. My spiritual mother, Prof.
(Mrs.) T. Gani-Ikilama and my big brother, Prof. G.S. Omachonu are two great
sources of motivation and support for me. I am also grateful to God for late Prof. B.
Gani who supported me by no mean measure. I wish to specially appreciate Aunties
N.I. Kari and B.L. Nwikobe for their goodwill over the years. I am grateful for Auntie
E. Nordman’s constant prayer mobilization and immense support over the years.

God has blessed me with parents who really care, being to me a rock and a role model;
my father, Rev. (Dr.) P.S. Ejeba and my mother, Deaconess S. Ejeba. I express my
love to the greatest siblings anywhere: Sis. Eli, Bro. Emma, Sis. Ojone, Dorcas and
Ezekiel. I also appreciate my cousin, Omachonu and my sister-in-law, Sis. P.

I pay my debt of respect to Mommy E.G. Omachonu, Auntie Y. Johnson, Auntie
P.B.K. Gbosi, Dr. (Mrs.) E. Eze, Dr. (Mrs.) F. Olubode-Sawe, Dr. I. Essien, Dr. C.
Ochonogor, Dr. A. Udoudo, Prof. B.J.O. Efiuvwevwere, Prof. and Mrs. N.E.S. Lale
(Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt), Prof. and Dr. (Mrs.) G.O. Avwiri,
Prof. L.C. Yuka, Prof. and Dr. (Mrs.) A.A. Obafemi, Prof. S.B. Arokoyu, Prof. O.
Akaranta , Prof. E.G. Akpokodje, Dr. E.E. Ezedike, Dr. A. Ahiamadu, Prof. M.T.
Bestman, Prof. F.O. Shaka, Prof. S.A. Okodudu, Prof. B.E. Nwigwe, Prof. A.O.
Kilani, Dr. I.C. Krama, Dr. S. Okoroafor, the Rev. K.T. Francis, Dr. F.U. Nte, Dr. S.L.
Harcourt, Dr. (Mrs.) D. Morokonla, Mrs. R. Ochonma, Mrs. E. Ire and Mrs. O.A.
Chimezie. My very good friend and brother, I.S. Obot, my cousin, J.O. Negedu and
Mrs. M. Akinwale are part of the lot to whom I am grateful. There are yet others
who are constant admirers: Mr. A. Okpako, E. Adi, F.M. Ogunka, Auntie Amadi,
Auntie Ozuru, Mr. A. Okoko, Mr. B. Evans and Mr. S. Kpenu. Special thanks must go
to Professor and Dr. (Mrs.) Otokunefor for the pleasant time outs.

I acknowledge the support of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU),
London, United Kingdom, for graciously awarding me the Early Careers Grant for
conference attendance. This grant made it possible for me to attend the XIII
Conference of the Linguistic Association of SADC Universities at the University of
Botswana, Botswana in June 2015. The conference afforded me the opportunity to
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