SYLLABLE STRUCTURE IN IHIEVBE LANGUAGE

ABSTRACT

According to Maddieson (2013), languages of the world are generally grouped into two syllable typologies: simple typology and complex typology. He stated that the simple typology possess the structure ‘(C)V’ and the complex typology ‘CCVCC’, the later can further be broken into another typological classification; moderate syllable typology, this typology Maddieson explained to have structure such as ‘CCVC’ or ‘CVC’. Ihievbe language as an Edoid language, belong to kwa sub group of language family, which is said to exhibit a simple syllable typology, Following maddieson (2013) typological classification and Ugorji (2014) explanation on syllable typologies, this current study examine evidence of this typology by carrying out an analysis with a body of data collected for the study, with an Ibadan wordlist of 413 words. With the use of CV phonological framework, an investigation is carried out to determine what syllable typological classification the Ihievbe language exhibit.

 Consequently at the end of the study, conclusions are drafted about the former statement, in other to establish a fact on what syllable typological classification the language of study exhibit, either the language exhibit a simple, complex or rather a moderate syllable pattern.