MORPHOPHONEMIC ANALYSIS OF THE ENUANI DIALECT OF IGBO LANGUAGE

ABSTRACT

The present study investigates the Morphophonemic Analysis of the Enuani Dialect of Igbo Language. The focus of the work is to examine the relationship between the phonology and morphology in Enuani dialect. It is aimed at viewing the alternations that occur in Enuani dialect in relation to their phonological and morphological environments and to explain what motivates the alternations. Enuani people are predominantly based in Aniocha and Oshimili areas in Delta north. The study used both primary and secondary data. The primary data were in form of oral data which were collected from ten (10) native speakers of the language using Ibadan 400 wordlist and vital questions concerning the study. Their responses were written down using a pen, pencil, eraser, recorder and book. The secondary data consists of articles, journals, internet sources, textbooks and both published and unpublished works. The data was analyzed qualitatively. The theoretical framework used is the Natural Generative Phonology (NGP) Framework.

In conclusion, we observed the interrelatedness between phonology and morphology with their alternations.