Question Formation in Eha-Amufu
Keywords:
Polar questions, Content questions, Vowel lengthening, DialectAbstract
Question is a universal phenomenon; every language in the world has a strategy for asking questions. Two main types of questions ‘Yes/No’ (Polar questions) and Wh-questions (content questions) have been identified for the world languages. However, the structure for the content questions is not uniform across languages. While some languages operate the syntactic whstructure others operate the LF wh-structure. Also, the question word or trigger for ‘yes/no’ (polar) questions is not the same for the languages and dialects; the Igbo language inclusive. This paper therefore, looks at question formation in Eha-Amufu dialect of Igbo with the aim of finding the type of wh- structure present in the dialect as well as the question trigger for other question forms present in the dialect using the descriptive method. This study shows that both the syntactic and the LF wh-structure are present in the dialect. Additionally, the trigger for ‘Yes/No’ question in the dialect is identified as Vowel Lengthening. The last vowel of the last word in the sentence irrespective of the word category is lengthened to indicate polar question in the dialect.
References
Angitso, T.M. & Anarudu, S.M. (2012). “The Process and Properties of Question Formation in Tro” Journal of the Linguistic Association of Nigeria. 1 & 2: 12 – 32.
Cobbina, E.S. (2013). Question Formation in Efutu. Unpublished M.Phil Thesis, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
Dixon, R.M.W. (2012). Basic Linguistic Theory: Grammatical Topics. Vol. 2. New York: OUP.
Emenanjo, E.N. (1978). Elements of Modern Igbo Grammar. Ibadan: OUP.
Emenanjọ, E.N. (2015). A Grammar of Contemporary Igbo. Port Harcourt: M & J. Grand Orbit Communications Ltd.
Maduagwu, G.O. (2012). “Interrogative Constructions: A Case for Content Questions in Igbo”. African Education Indices 4. 1:24-38.
Ndimele, O.M. & E.E. Efere (2003). “On Wh-questions in Izon”. In Ndimele, O.M. (ed.) In the Linguistics Paradise: A Festschrift for E. Nolue Emenanjọ. Aba: NINLAN.
Ndimele, O.M. (2003). “On the Wh-Parameter and Grammar Induction: Insight from African Languages”. In Ndimele, O.M. (ed.) Four Decades in the Study of Language & Linguistic in Nigeria: A Festschrift for Kay Williamson. Aba: NINLAN.
Nwachukwu, P.A. ()1987). “Igbo Questions: Movement and Trace” Mimeograhp: University of Nigeria Nsukka.
Nwaozuzu, G.I. (2008). Dialects of Igbo Language. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Nsukka Press.
Oha, A.B. (2015). A Split Tone-Interrogative Structure of some Mgbidi Igbo Questions. Kiabara: Journal of Humanities 21. 2: 1-18.
Radford, A. (1988). Transformational Grammar: A First Course. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Uwalaka, M.A. (1991). “Wh-Movement in Igbo” UCCL Working Papers in Linguistics 3.
Uwalaka, M.A. (1997). Igbo Grammar. Ibadan: The Pen Services.
