Word Formation Processes in Etsako a Dialect of Uzairue

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to examine the various word formation processes in Uzariue a dialect of Etsako. It differentiated between derivational and non- derivational word formation processes in Etsako and accounted for lexical categories that are sympathetic and resistant to new word formation. This work is relevant to linguistics in general as its findings help to provide a wider understanding of the nature of languages. Also, it serve as a way of documenting and preserving the Etsako language. The study serves as reference material for interested Etsako language researchers. The data collected consisted of primary and secondary data. The primary data was documented and recorded from native speakers, while the secondary data was collected from published and unpublished materials. The basic linguistic theory which is descriptive, theoretical and linguistic framework as developed by Dixon (1997) adopted for the data analysis because it basically describes linguistic data as it is employing non-formal and non-technical terms that are mostly traditional grammar in nature. The study found out that the word formation processes in Uzairue dialect of Etsako are both inflectional and derivational in nature.