The Linguistic Analysis of the Structure of the Yoruba Numerals

This paper adopts a descriptive approach in analyzing the counting system of the Yoruba language. It explains the technicalities of its arithmetical involvements which appear to have been contributing to the difficulty often encountered in its learning. The study relies on three major sources in gathering data for the descriptive analysis, namely, compilation of relevant list of Yoruba numerals, the researcher’s intuitive knowledge of the language coupled with his training as a linguist, and a search of the relevant literature. The work throws more light on the crucial roles of some affixes in realizing some odd numbers, multiples of twenty, centenary, bicentenary etc in their order of increase. The paper goes much further to examine the linguistic structure of numerals in a bid to bring to light some salient linguistic features that are of significant interest to the teaching of the grammar of the language. Here, we discover that Yoruba numerals derive more of its formation from different aspects of the language structure like sound level (phonology), form/structure level (morphology and syntax), and meaning level (semantics) as evidenced in instances like deletion, assimilation, coalescence, tonal changes, ambiguity, affixation, linguistic typology to mention a few. We also discover that unlike in English, the direction of counting in Yoruba is done from right-to-left. Not only this, it adopts base five, decimal (base ten) and vigesimal systems of counting. This is because the language employs a numeral structure where counting is done mostly in multiples of ogún (twenty). We therefore hope that the detail analysis given in this work will not only fill a gap in the study of the Yoruba language in particular but will also lead to the expansion of Yoruba linguistic database in general. We admit the views of the scholars that linguistic documentation such as this is necessary not only for the study of the language but for the record-keeping of its norm and values which are fast giving way for the impact of technology and domineering influence of the world languages

Morphophonological Deviation in Yoruba: Its Implication for Communication

This paper examines the morphophonological violation of the linguistic rules of Yoruba especially by the literary artists in their attempt to achieve communicative aesthetics. Through observational method, we discovered that they manipulate the morphophonological resources of the language without a second thought on its implication for communication. In the work, we discover that this deliberate deviation from the linguistic norms of the everyday language do have some consequences (i) it may lead to ambiguity (ii) it often leads to derivation of a new words which may be out of context with the discussion at stake (iii) it could be for the ease of speech production (iv) it is also noticeable in ordinary discourse as against some views that it is only manifested in the literary discourse (v) it is capable of constituting communicative difficulty to the language learners. Keywords: morphology, phonology, deviation process, derivation, communicative aesthetics, literary discours

Tonal Sandhi in the Yoruba Language

This paper looks at a phonological phenomenon called tonal sandhi which is seen as an interaction among tones especially in register tone languages like Yoruba. The work examines various grammatical constructions where this linguistic feature usually occurs. It is observed that tones do not change or displace one another especially when words appear in isolation. Such interaction which often leads to displacement is noticeable in speech within some grammatical constructions. We equally discover that vowel elision leads to tone movement (since tone operates on a different tier, it does not get elided with vowel). This in turn leads to tone displacement. Keywords: tones, perturbation of tone or tonal sandhi, tone placement and tone Assimilation, register tone language. tone elision, floating tone

Optimal Utilization of Indigeneous Languages: An Imperative for the Attainment of Millennium Development Goals

This paper examines the imperative of indigenous languages in the attainment of the millennium development goal (MDG). The works argue that until indigenous languages are empowered and fully developed as our main mediums of expression, we are 'merely pursing a dead end.' Thus, the strong ties and relationship between indigenous languages and development cannot be separated. It is against this backdrop that we put forward that  literacy through indigenous languages is crucial and necessary - for majority of Nigerians who are still  illiterates and constitute the majority of indigenous peoples on which  the achievement of the MDGs in 2015 lies. A language is just more than a tool of communication. It is a channel of values, traditions and cultures. It is therefore obvious that communication within a human community as mobilization of such people for a specific purpose will achieve the best results when done in the popular language of the people. Nigerian indigenous languages are rich in idioms, adages, proverbs, witty expressions and figures of speech which make messages and information clear and concise. Different stakeholders who know the quintessential power of language have long before now admitted that Nigerian languages have been neglected and marginalized with its attendant under utilization, loss of value, status, relevance. A good number, in fact three-quarter of the Nigerian languages are yet to be used as vehicles of instruction. Sadly, a lot of these languages are yet to be documented and described. Indigenous peoples also have the right to benefit from the MDGs and fulfill the aspirations contained in the UN Millennium Declaration. The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) recently observed that indigenous issues are often absent from the MDGs and poverty reduction processes and from the MDGs reports and poverty reduction strategy papers. Indigenous peoples were not formally involved in the formulation of the Goals and until now they have been largely absent from developing MDG strategies and indicators as well as from the monitoring and reporting process. This paper therefore advocates the use of current Information Technology (IT) resources to mobilize people and disseminate the information to people in their local languages. Such idea was used in India through ‘simputer project’ which makes information available to people in the rural settings using their local languages at an affordable rate. This ICT facility has been confirmed to be advantageous to the underdeveloped, undeveloped and developing countries where illiteracy, maternal and infant mortality, preventable diseases, epidemics, poverty, unemployment, civil unrest etc are still on the increase. Besides, speech synthesis – the ability of computer to create spoken words in an audio form in such a way that it is similar to human speech using diphones, can equally be used. With these methods the goals of MDG is made known to the grassroot people in their local languages

Igbo Language Needs Analysis of Non-Igbo University of Nigeria Post-Graduate Students: Implication for Curriculum Design

This studyadopted the theoretical framework of Needs Analysis to investigate the Igbo language needs of non-Igbo University of Nigeria Post-Graduate (PG) students. Four research questions guided the study and descriptive survey research design was adopted.The population of this study consist of all the post-graduate students who are non-Igbo speakers at the University of Nigeria from 2009/2010 to 2012/2013 sessions.Purposive sampling method was used to select 76 students who are resident at the Post-Graduate Hall. The instrument for data collection was a four (4) point Likert-type rating scale in four clusters. Descriptive statistics was used in data analysis. The findings of the study showed the various aspects of Igbo languagelearners need to be equipped with for effective communication. The study therefore concluded that as Nigeria has adopted education as a tool for national development, it has become imperative that the Igbo language needs of non-Igbo University of Nigeria post-graduate students be articulated in designing an effective curriculum. Recommendations were also proffered. Keywords: Igbo language, Language needs, Needs Analysis, Communicative language needs, Social language needs, Commercial language needs, Curriculum design, University of Nigeria Post-Graduate Students

The impact of audio-lingual and TPR methods in teaching Igbo to L2 learners

This study evaluates the value of the total physical response (TPR) method for teaching Igbo to L2 learners. Specifically, it evaluates which of these methods is more effective. It is quantitative research which adopts the experimental design. 100 students are placed in control and experimentalgroups of 50 students each, taught Igbo lexis and structure, and evaluated. Data analysis, by using the independent samples t-test at a 0.05 significance level, reveals that the majority of the students taught with the TPR method achieved the group’s mean score and generally performed better than the students taught with the audio-lingual method, whose majority failed to achieve the group’s lower mean score. The study, therefore, recommends the use of the TPR method for teaching Igbo to L2 learners