Language Standardization processes in Tiv

69 Pages·1991·5.114 MB·

by  Veronica Avenda Torkula

University of Nigeria
              Research Publications 

r TORKULA, Veronica Avenda
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tl Language Standardization processes in Tiv
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m Linguistics and Nigerian Languages
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LANGUAGE STANDARDIZATION PROCESSES IN TIV
A PROJECT REPORT
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTYSNT OF
LIKGUISTICS NIGER1L.K LAXGUAGES
UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA
I N PARTIAL
F U UI LMENT OF THE REQU IREIGFT
FOR TEE AWARD OF TEE DEGREE Or"\
IIBSTERS IN LINGUISTICS
MRS VERONICA AVZNDA TOFXULA
(REG. NO, ~~/MX/86/4222)
SUPERVISOB: DR PAT NDUKWE
.
JANUARY, I9 91
CZRTIFICATIOX
f.ir& Veronica Avenda Torkula, a postgraduate student
in the departzeni of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages
with Reg. KO. l?G/MA/86/4222 has satisfactorily completed
the requirements for course and resezrch work for the degree
of Masters in Linguistics.
The t:ork contained in this thesis is original and has
not been submitted, either in part or full for any degree or
diplonia in this or any other university.
.I Professor 3. 'pldkpe
Head of Departmert Supervisor
University of Nigeria
Nsukka
iii
DSXCATED
TO :
Mama Veronica Nginkaa Torkula Amah, my patient, soft
spoken and pence-loving mother-in-lati who departed this world
on 8th March 1989~
Ymther, all around you was always calm, loving and
peaceful as your kind n a t ~ r en ever thought of revenge or
wickedness.
May your loving soul ever rest in perfect peace with God.
ACKNO\L'LEDGEIGNT
I wish to express my gratitude to those who saw to the
materialization of this ~iork. First is D r Pat Ndukwe, my
su~ervisc:, In fact, 1 would have discontinue6 with this
programme after my course work, bearing i n mind all the problems
I was facing, but with his scholarly advice and all the necessary
support one would need in an academic world, I was able to carry
out this project work.
My sincere thanks also g0e.s to all. the lectu-rers ~LI 1 ; ~
department. Dr (Mrs) Clara Ikekeonl~.v, for one, always had w
topic in mind during her library hoars, thus providing me with
s
all relevat references availzble in the library. Others,
like Plr .:1 Iwtrndu and Mr Nwadike generously lent me books
I needed for this topic.
Ky gratitude also extends to rcy husband, H.R.H. A.A. Torlala
The Tor-Ti< I V for the financial and moral support he rendered
to me during the course of writing this project. Alco for
those who held me in hich esteem during prayers, I also s a ~
thank you. These include Rev. Fr. P'ichael Akure and Rev. Fr.
David Aguh who accepted and offered church prayers for a
successful coapletion of ray course.
My special thanks eq~allyg oes to Mrs Ngunan Anweh, who
took the motherly role of providing for my children's needs in
my absence a d w ho always assisted me both financially a d
morally all through the period of my course.
PRZFACE
Lansages, Tiv included, arc usually characterised by
dihlectal variation mostly markec! by gramctatlc,?l and vsczbul~y
chaagcs. But for some obscure resson Tiv speakers generallg
believe that there are no dialects in the langusge because of the
almost total mutual htelligibility that exist6 mong the various
Tiv communities.
It would appear then that there would be l i t t l e need for
stadardization work in tke language. The ~iixationi s unusual
and is the main motivation for this 6tudy, which attem2ts a
description and analysis of 1anpe.ge standar.d ization processes
n T i . The work, which is as comprehensive as can be achicvocl
constrained as it is by the extremely ~cantym aterials on the
subjects, i~d ivided into five chapters. , Chaptey 1 c.~ &.n es the
tbeoretical considerations underiying laguzge planning and
langurge stzndardization in general. Chapter 2 diocusses t k ~
historical backgrouxd to lan~qages tandardization in Tiv.
v
Chapter 3 examines the linmistic issuecs underlying Tiv crthogr=phy
and chapter 4 complements t h i s with a look at the ISociocultural'
dinensions (official status, educational functions, role in
publishing and broadcasting, etc) of Tiv language standardization,
Chapter 5 provides an assessment of what has been done so far
and general rccommendationc.
As we have already noted, work on Tiv standardization is
very scanty and 't is hoped that this study would serve to
stimulate further interest in the process.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
O O o ODD ODD
Certification ii
O.O oOO 010
- - .
Dedication
0.0..0 o m * a.m 211
Acknowledgements iv
o.. (1
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Preface v
0 0 0 .> 0
.
Table of Contents v i i
O.O OO.
CHDTm ONE: LANGUAGE AND LANGUAGX STANDARDIZATION
1.0 Introduction
O O . o m * 0
1.1 Language
OO. 000
S .2 Lmguage Standardization (LS)
...
1.2.1 Approaches to LS
o 0 a
1.2,2 L6 Strategies
D O 0 O . r
?.-2=3L tj and Language Plaadng (IP)
1.2.4 I$ Evaluation
o.O e P o .
2.2.5 Motivation tor L3
orno O.C
3 Methodology
%9 * O D ‘,.a
1.4 Assumptions and Hypotheses of the Study
CFa-'sEf 3W! O : BKKGROlTD TO WGUAGE STAXDARE1Z ATION
IB TIV #
E
...
290 n&! ?cation ODD 0 0 5
2.3, b i g i n and Migration O.. .. o . ~
2.2 Dialectal Variations in Tiv
o r i
zt .-
5 5 ~%.onologicalV ariation
O.O # # o
&9'3.1'l
F Segmental Phonemes
OD.*. r o e
2e.301 .4%0 ~ Suprasegmental Phonemes ?:.
2 - 5 2 L8xical Variation
O.O O.C
2.3.5 Eyntactic Variation
OO. o r 5
4 Early Attempts on the Study of Tiv and Tiv -LS
..
.,.
2.4.3 Language Planning Agencies , 23
2.'4.1,1 Individual Agents ... 23
O o O a**
24.2 Group (Official) Ageats 26
o.V
.. .
2.5 Present State of Affairs o 27
CTWTER THREE: LT.NGUISTIC ISSUES IN TIE STAN DARDIZA-
'PION OP 'PIV 29
...
3.9 Introduction 75
o ma o..
3.1 The Tiv Alphabet o o o ..O o...- .. 29
3.1.1 VoweL: .*. orno ... 30
3.1. Consonants .. . -I 3
0.. om. , /C
5.2 Spelling Rules
O.O 33
3.3 Tone-Marking 00. 0.. # 0.. 3 4
Q ~ ~ FOEURR: 'PI V LANGUAGE STANDARDIW TION: THE
SOCIOCULTURAL DIMENSION
...
+.l The Status of Tiv O..o. .
1.1 The National Level .
4 .k2 The State Level ..1.
O..
4.A.2.1 Biucation
O.o
4.9.ke12.B2 roadcasting
O.. ..O
4 r.le20P3 ublisning om* 000 9 s 45
CFmER FIVE: ASSESSMENT AND CONCLUSION 47
I'XEFEmCES . *- 0.. 0.. 0.6 !. 9
~CPP~-D?AX a*. O.. cse 5 7
GWER
FIG. 2 : THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS UNDER TIV SECTION OF
b
BENUE STATE.