On the Role of Functional Categories in Code-Switching: The Igbo-English Examples

Code-switching (CS) has been defined as ‘the act of alternation of two languages within a single discourse, sentence or constituent’ Poplack (1980:583). Technically, code-switching refers to alternation between sentences while intra-sentential alternation is referred to as code-mixing. Following Poplack (1980), we use the term code-switching to refer to the intra-sentential alternation which is more amenable to grammatical description. Most scholars on codeswitching will agree that it has a grammar but differ on the nature of this grammar. Some are of the opinion that codeswitching involves two monolingual grammars with constraints that determine points where switches are possible. While some see code-switching as a monolingual grammar where the host or base language provides the mould into which lexical items from both languages could be inserted. The present researcher belongs to the last school of thought. Adopting the Functional Head Selection Constraint of the Matrix Language Frame (MLF) Model proposed by Myers- Scotton (1993, 1995) and with samples of code-switched expression collected from Igbo English bilinguals, the study examines the pattern of code-switching using Igbo and English as the focal point. Igbo is the Matrix language while English is the Embedded language. Our study reveals that the functional heads such as T, Agr, Neg, Det, would normally come from Igbo and provide the skeletal mould. The choice of whether the lexical items will come from Igbo or English or both is determined by the selectional properties of the Igbo functional heads. Perhaps this is the case for all other language pairs where one language is the Matrix Language (ML) and the other Embedded Language (EL).UJAH: Unizik Journal of Arts and Humanities vol 14 (2) 201

Documentation Of African Languages: A Panacea For The Negative Effects Of Globalization

Globalization is the ability of many people, ideas and technology to move from one country to another (cf. Emenanjo, 2005). This implicates globalization as oriented to achieving universalization, homogenization, integration and centralization: factors which portend danger to the cultural and linguistic identity of most of the peoples of the world, especially the African peoples. In fact, the benefits advanced by the proponents of globalization make this danger difficult to be observed. However, some scholars have identified the danger. For instance, Mbat (2005) interprets it (globalization) as neo-colonialism. That is, it is a system with socioeconomic cover equipped to destroy the remnants of African cultural and linguistic identity left by colonialism. This paper argues that the only workable way of preserving the remnants of African cultural and linguistic identity is via documentation of African languages, developed, undeveloped or underdeveloped ones. Moreover, it recommends a course of action for the documentation of the languages and proposes that any successfully documented language should be utilized in the modernization of other languages

Motivations For Code-Switching Among Igboenglish Bilinguals: A Linguistic And Sociopsychological Survey

Code-switching and code-mixing are known to be universal phenomena among bilinguals. Not until recently, codeswitch ng/ mixing was seen as evidence of “internal mental confusion, the inability to separate two languages sufficiently to warrant the description of true bilingualism” (Lipski 1982:191). Studies have shown that code-switching is not a manifestation of mental confusion but a rule-governed behaviour among bilinguals which is motivated by various socio-psychological as well as linguistic factors. It has been observed that code-switching is more predominant among Igbo-English bilinguals compared to any other linguistic group in Nigeria. This paper seeks to explain why the Igbo people code-switch a lot by looking at the history of the Igbo language contact with English, the socio-psychological factors as well as the Linguistic factors that contributed to the predominance of code-switching among Igbo-English bilinguals

OPEN DIGITAL REPOSITORIES: PROSPECTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITHIN THE GLOBAL INFORMATION SPACE

This study examines the contributions of African countries to open digital repositories in the world information space. Two online directories of open digital repositories were used as data sources. The OpenDOAR is an authoritative directory of academic open access repositories listing 3,670 repositories as at 6th January, 2019. The Registry of Open Access Repositories (ROAR) is a directory of 4,580 institutional repositories and their contents as at 7th January, 2019. Extracted data were analysed using quantitative techniques and presented in tabular and pictorial formats to reveal findings in accordance with desired objectives. The results revealed that Dspace is the most preferred open digital repositories software across the world. The results showed that the contributions of African countries (3.78%) to open digital repositories in the world are low. The results also showed that only 22 African countries contribute to global open digital repositories and that the rate of contribution increased rapidly in the last few years. The study concludes that for Africa to overcome the challenges associated with open digital repositories there is need for more African countries to be involved in the African Open Access Initiative and the need to tap into the experiences of various professionals on the African continen

Optional Agreement Patterns in Igbo

Abstract Apart from dominance and precedence relationship, other relations exist in syntactic constructions. One of such relations is the agreement relation. Scholars have discussed the clausal agreement relations of the subject and object. Many of such scholars working on Igbo grammar hold the opinion that Igbo verb forms do not inflect to mark agreement with their arguments. This study, which is purely descriptive without any theoretical colouration, describes and illustrates the optional agreement patterns in Igbo, with the intention to highlight the possibility of number agreement between Igbo verbs and their external and internal arguments. The study shows that clitic elements such as "cha/ga" and "nu" optionally attach to the verb in agreement with the plural subject or object in a sentence. Igbo verbs also take some extensional suffixes to agree with their arguments. We therefore gloss them as AGR morphemes

In Support of the Matrix Language Frame Model: Evidence from Igbo-English Intrasentential Codeswitching

This paper explores the morphosyntactic features of mixed nominal expressions in a sample of empirical Igbo-English intrasentential codeswitching data (i.e. codeswitching within a bilingual clause) in terms of the Matrix Language Frame (MLF) model. Since both Igbo and English differ in the relative order of head and complement within the nominal argument phrase, the analysed data seem appropriate for testing the veracity of the principal assumption underpinning the MLF model: the notion that the two languages (in our case Igbo and English) participating in codeswitching do not both contribute equally to the morphosyntactic frame of a mixed constituent. As it turns out, the findings provide both empirical and quantitative support for the basic theoretical view that there is a Matrix Language (ML) versus Embedded Language (EL) hierarchy in classic codeswitching as predicted by the MLF model because both Igbo and English do not simultaneously satisfy the roles of the ML in Igbo-English codeswitching

Language endangerment and language documentation in Africa

Non peer reviewe

Assessment of University Libraries in Southeast Nigeria based on LRCN Standards and Guidelines: A focus on Buildings, Furniture and Equipment

This study assessed the University Libraries in Southeast Nigeria based on Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria Standards: A focus on buildings, furniture and equipment. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 10 university libraries in Southeast Nigeria. Total census enumeration sample was used for the study. The sample size for the study consists of 10 university libraries which comprises of five federal and five states university libraries. The instrument for data collection was observation checklist adopted from LRCN standards. The instrument for data collection was validated by three experts. The data collected was analysed with percentage. The finding of the study revealed that the university library building provided for the university libraries in Southeast is not in line with recommended standards and guidelines by Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN). There are some of the major spaces that are required in the university library building such as kitchenette for the library staff to make their coffee; none of the university libraries visited has such provision. The study further revealed that the furniture and equipment in the university libraries were almost in line with LRCN Standards but just for some that is necessary but not found in the university libraries. During the collection of data by the researchers, it was observed that some of the university libraries do not have enough shelves to organise their acquired information materials and as such, some of the print materials where seen on the floor or packed in a cartoon where it was not being assessed by the library users. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made. That the university management and the university librarian should have a meeting point and see how the library building can be renovated so as to create enough space required for furniture and fittings and other facilities in the library building. It was also recommended that there should be enough and adequate furniture in the library to enhance the performance of the library personnel through proper organization of the library resources. The LRCN personnel should be among the NUC verification team, when going for university facilities verification before academic take-off, through that means they will ensure that the university libraries is well equip with adequate spaces and facilities for human and material resources before taking off for the academic programm

On tense, aspect and negation markings in Ògbahù dialect of Ìgbò

This paper presents a descriptive account of some grammatical categories in gbahù dialect of the Ìgbò language, one of the three major languages of Nigeria, West Africa. The purpose of this study is to show how these grammatical categories operate in gbahù dialect. These grammatical categories (functors) are Tense, Aspect, Negation and Agreement. The study reveals that both Tense and Aspect exist as functional categories in gbahù dialect, contrary to earlier works on Ìgbò which claimed that Aspect rather than Tense is explicitly marked in Ìgbò. The -lV suffix clearly instantiates past tense in different constructions in gbahù. The study further reveals the existence of the E-/Aprefix as a default agreement marker which occurs only in negative constructions.Keywords: gbahù, tense, aspect, negatio

OPEN DIGITAL REPOSITORIES: PROSPECTS OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES WITHIN THE GLOBAL INFORMATION SPACE

This study examines the contributions of African countries to open digital repositories in the world information space. Two online directories of open digital repositories were used as data sources. The OpenDOAR is an authoritative directory of academic open access repositories listing 3,670 repositories as at 6th January, 2019. The Registry of Open Access Repositories (ROAR) is a directory of 4,580 institutional repositories and their contents as at 7th January, 2019. Extracted data were analysed using quantitative techniques and presented in tabular and pictorial formats to reveal findings in accordance with desired objectives. The results revealed that Dspace is the most preferred open digital repositories software across the world. The results showed that the contributions of African countries (3.78%) to open digital repositories in the world are low. The results also showed that only 22 African countries contribute to global open digital repositories and that the rate of contribution increased rapidly in the last few years. The study concludes that for Africa to overcome the challenges associated with open digital repositories there is need for more African countries to be involved in the African Open Access Initiative and the need to tap into the experiences of various professionals on the African continen