Verbs of Avowing in Izón
Keywords:
performative, Izọ́n, rendition, correspond, simultaneous, avowing, speech acts, intentAbstract
Studies show that renditions of tokens of language do not merely reveal states of affairs but also the performative functions associated as distinguished by speakers’ intention. Such renditions also indicate end states with various stages specified by clausal predicates. Thus, a locution is complete and said to be the case if and only if it is accompanied with various stages of performance as required by a verb. In Izọ́n the rendition of a verb of avowing for instance is complete only if the participants in the various stages of the activity structure requirements partake physically and simultaneously with its rendition. Such requirements are often neglected in syntactic analyses that are hinged on structuralist manifestations. This either reduces the semantic content of such renditions or leads to misinterpretations. This study examines Izọ́n oral renditions which fall under the semantic class referred to herein as verbs of avowing. These verbs are isolated from spontaneous utterances/performance of Izọ́n native speakers for the purpose of ascertaining if performance is necessary for the specification and completion of their activity structure. The study is cast within the paradigm of Austin’s (1962) Speech Acts and posits that a rendition indicative of a verb of avowing obligatorily requires illocution and perlocution for the completion of its event. Otherwise, that rendition is incomplete as locution alone does not clearly portray the intent of the utterer as such the three perspectives of speech acts should be considered in the analyses of verbs of avowing.
References
Agbegha, M. (1996). Izon English Dictionary. Port-Harcourt: Riverside Communications
Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do Things with Words. London: Clerendon Press.
Chomsky, N. (1995). The Minimalist Program. Cambridge: MIT Press
Chomsky, N. (1986). Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin and Use. Praeger: New York
Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspect of the Theory of Syntax. MIT Press: Cambridge MA.
Emenanjo, E. (2005). “Igbo Verbs: Transitivity or Complementation.” Trends in the Study of Languages and Linguistics in Nigeria. A Festschrift for P.A. Nwachukwu. Ndimele, O. ed. Port Harcourt: Grand Orbit Communication and Emhai Press. 479 - 497.
Kekai, C. P. (2010). “The Internal Structure of the Izon Verb Phrase” Unpublished MA Thesis. Department of Linguistics and African Languages. University of Benin: Benin City.
Kekai, C. P. (2012). “The Internal of Izọn Juxtaposed Verb Phrases” In Ozo-Mekuri Ndimele, ed. Kiabàrà Supplement on Language. Port-Harcourt: University of Port-harcourt Press. 3,287-306.
Kekai, C. P. (2013). “The Problems and Prospects of Morpho-phonemic Conditioning of English Loan Words: The Izọn Situation. Journal of Language and Literature Teaching. 125-133.
Kekai, C. P. (2016). “The Product of the Synergy between Vowel Elision and Tonal Re-association in Izọ́n”. In Ozo-Mekuri Ndemili (ed) Multi-Disciplinary Approaches to the Study of African Linguistics. A Festschrift for Ahmed H. Amfani. 251-256
Kekai, C. P. (2017). “The Argument Structure of the Izọ́n Verb” Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Department of Linguistics Studies. University of Benin: Benin City.
Levin, B. (1993). English Verb Classes & Alternations: A Preliminary Investigation. Chicago IL: University of Chicago Press.
Levin, B. and M. Rappaport H. (2005). Argument Realization. Cambridge: CUP
Locke, J. (1690). An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. London: Thomas Bassett.
Ndimele, O and Efere, E. (2003). “On WH-Question in Izon”. In Ndimele, Ozo-Mekuri, ed. in The Linguistic Paradise: A Festschrift for Emenanjo, E Nolue. Aba: National Institute for Nigerian Languages.526-540
Nwachukwu, P. (1976) “Noun Phrase Sentential Complementation in Igbo.” Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of London.
Nwachukwu, P. (1984a). “Transitivity. Readings on the Igbo Verb” Studies in Igbo Linguistics Vol.1 Nwachukwu, Philip. ed. Nsukka: Igbo Language Association. 102-121.
Pesetsky, D. M. (1982). “Parts and Categories”. Doctoral dissertation. MIT: Cambridge, MA.
Radford, A. (1997). Syntax: A Minimalist Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Stowell, T. (1981). “Origins of Phrase Structure” Doctoral dissertation. MIT: Cambridge, MA.
Uwajeh, M.KC. (2002). Beyond Generative Grammar: A Course in Performative Linguistics. Second Revised Edition. Benin: University of Benin Press.
Uwajeh, M.KC. (2010). Beyond Generative Grammar: A Course in Performative Linguistics. Ibadan, Nigeria: Spectrum Books
Vendler, Z. (1957). “Verbs and Times”. The Philosophical Review, 66(2): 143-160. ISSN 0031-8108. Williamson, K and A. O. Timitimi, eds (1983). Short Izon-English Dictionary. Delta Series, 3. Port-Harcourt: University of Port-Harcourt Press.
Yuka, L. C. and Agbo, M. S. (2011). “Transitivity and Double Object Constructions in Igbò” Journal of West African Languages (JWAL). 38. 2, 33-47.
