LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 24:1 January 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

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A Morpho-Semantic Classification Of Igbo V-V Compounds –
Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfilment Of The Requirements For
Master Of Arts (M.A.) Degree In Linguistics

Duru, Ferdinand Ebere

Abstract

This study is a morpho-semantic classification of the V-V compound structures in Igbo. It seeks to establish the kind of internal semantic relationship that characterizes compounding lexemes as well as the degree of semantic relativity between the compounding lexemes and their compound units. Several studies have been carried out on Igbo compound verbs. However, none of the previous works on Igbo compound verbs has accounted for the internal semantic relationships that underlie compound verbs and their compounding constituents, nor classify Igbo compound verbs using such semantic correlations. This study projects the conceptual idea that the Igbo V-V compound is derived from the composition of two verbal lexemes where their idiosyncratic semantic readings are determined by the native speakers’ intuition, cognition, and cultural knowledge. The study adopts the compound verb classificatory framework of Shibatani (1990) and Fabb (1998). This theory seeks to provide a systematic semantic basis for the description and classification of compound verb compositions in languages. This study finds out that the concept of endocentricity; exocentricity and coordinative relationships as projected in this work are stimulated by semantic headedness. It also discovers that the V+nye compound verb structures with benefactive readings are the only compound verb formations that manifest coordinate compound relationships in Igbo. The study concludes that V-V compound formations in Igbo are products of semantic correlation between independent discrete verbal lexemes and that the description and identification of V-V compound heads in Igbo compound structures is solely dependent on the degree of semantic relativity between the compound units and their compounding constituents.

Keywords: Igbo, V-V Compounds, Morpho-Semantic Classification

This Masters thesis has five chapters. The focus of the thesis is to work out a morpho-semantic classification of V-V compounds in Igbo language.

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER FOUR: SEMANTIC CLASSIFICATION OF IGBO V-V COMPOUNDS

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

References

Conclusion

This study investigated the internal semantic relationships that characterize compounding lexemes in Igbo V-V compound formations. It has contributed to the sparse literature in the study of Igbo compound verbs. The study shows evidence that the idiosyncratic relationship between compounding exponents in Igbo V-V compounds can constitute a classificatory criterion for Igbo V-V compounds. The study also proves the indispensable significance of native speakers’ intuition and cognitive knowledge in the formation, interpretation, and conceptualization of compound verbs in Igbo. This study has great implications for Igbo verb studies and Igbo grammar as it introduces a new approach and perspective to Igbo V-V compound studies as well as language typology in general.

This is only the beginning part of the Thesis. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE THESIS IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Current Personal Information of the Author

Duru Ferdinand Ebere
Department of Linguistics
Georgetown University
Washington DC, USA
fed10@georgetown.edu
+1 202 948 8554
Mailing Address: Apt 2, 2228 40th Place NW,
Washington DC, USA.
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