A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS IN ITU MBONUSO
ABSTRACT
The main aim of undertaking this research is to find out the semantic analysis of idiomatic expression in Itu Mbonuso, a Lower Cross Language Spoken in Ini Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study was set out to examine the idiomatic expression in Itu Mbonuso, the meaning and also to classify idiomatic expression based on socials and functions. This research work is derived from the basis of in depth analysis through logical reasoning to give detailed explanation and to examine and re-examine the materials and procedures by analyzing the theoretical framework. This work was conducted under the theoretical framework of pragmatic construction, design to investigate and analyze how it operate at sentence level, word level and phrasal level during the process of deriving explicit content, context and implicatures for the purpose of arriving at a combination that satisfies his expectations of relevance. The instrument used for data collection was mainly oral interview which the data collected was recorded and written down, findings revealed that youth rarely use idioms, let alone encouraging the use of idioms, hence this study will gather a lot of data on Itu Mbonuso Idioms in order to provide a reference point for speakers and learners of Itu Mbonuso. This will serve as a contribution towards promoting and developing variety through idioms in the curriculum of studies within secondary school and tertiary institution in Akwa-Ibom State and Nigeria as a whole.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Title Page – – – – – – – – i
Declaration – – – – – – – – ii
Certification – – – – – – – – iii
Dedication – – – – – – – – iv
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – v
Abstract – – – – – – – – vii
Table of Content – – – – – – – viii
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the Study – – – – – 1
1.2 Historical Background of the People – – – 2
1.3 Statement of the Problem – – – – – 7
1.4 Research Aims and Question – – – – 7
1.5 The Question that Arise from these Objectives – – 8
1.6 Significance of the Study – – – – 8
1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the Study – – 8
1.8 Research Methodology – – – – – 9
1.9 Research Design – – – – – – 9
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Preamble – – – – – – – 11
2.1 Review of Concept – – – – – – 11
2.2 Theoretical Framework – – – – – 15
2,2.1 Pragmatic Construction of Idiomatic Expression – 15
2.3 Nature of Idioms/Idiomatic Expression – – – 17
2.4 Proverbs – – – – – – – 19
2.5 Function of Idioms – – – – – – 20
2.6 Origin of Idioms – – – – – – 20
CHAPTER THREE: DATA PRESENTATION
3.0 Preamble – – – – – – – 22
3.1 Data Presentation on Idioms in Itu Mbonuso – – 22
3.2 Semantic Implication of Idioms in Itu Mbonuso – – 31
3.3 Idioms and Cultural Context – – – – 32
3.4 Contextual Meaning – – – – – – 33
3.5 Language – – – – – – – 33
3.6 Translation Effect – – – – – – 34
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
OF FINDINGS
4.0 Preamble – – – – – – – 35
4.1 Presentation of Data/Analysis – – – – 35
4.2 Idioms session in Itu Mbonuso community – – 39
4.3 Idioms event in Itu Mbonuso Community – – – 40
4.4 Naming Ceremony (úsío ényí) – – – – 41
4.5 Puberty Rites – – – – – – 42
4.6 Dowry (όkúk Ńdɔ´) – – – – – – 42
4.7 Burial (Ḿkpά όwôm) – – – – – – 43
4.8 Discussion of Findings – – – – – 45
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary – – – – – – – 46
5.2 Conclusion – – – – – – – 46
5.3 Recommendation – – – – – – 47
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the Study
Idioms are common occurrences or phenomenon in our everyday conversation with people in various domains and have been the subject of academic research by scholars. Idiomatic expression is not deduced from the literal definition and arrangement of its constituent parts, but it is figuratively inferred through conventional usage. Idioms are colloquial metaphors which require some background knowledge, information or experience about the localized culture of reference.
An idiom is an expression which is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements or from the general rules of a language (F. Cogbalu & E. Emenanjo, 1975; p.186).
Idiomatic expressions are broad terms covering spoken expressions; it is an umbrella term for a wide range of prose traditions and oral literature. Idiomatic expressions are expressions that one’s knowledge of the individual words that make up the expression will not help one’s understanding of the meaning of expression. For example; “Clara a spilled the beans” meaning that “Clara revealed the secret”.
According to Eyo (1994; p.41) Idioms is an expression whose meaning is not decipherable through the knowledge of the individual meaning of the constituent words, but lies subtly beyond the words and within the depth of the expression.
A knowledge of idioms is an important part of understanding ordinary spoken English and in an effective way Latilo (1979). Idioms can be used when writing narrative and conversional essays and when writing friendly, informal or family letters.
To this end, the aim of this research is to provide as much information as possible about the use of idiomatic expressions in Itu Mbonuso language.
1.2 Historical Background of the People
Itu Mbonuso is in the Northern part of Ini Local Governments are of Akwa Ibom State and it takes almost a half of the area in terms of land mass. The origin of the Itu Mbonuso Clan like early history of the non-literate people has been a matter of speculation and controversy. Many traditions explain the origin and migration of Itu Mbonuso people.
One of the traditions has it that the history of the origin of the Itu Mbonuso people is essentially a part of the history of migration and dispersal of the “Efik Ibibio” people which resulted from the series of wars which prompted a band of people to take refuge in Ibibio land for fear of losing their lives. A large number of this immigrants settled at Uruan in Ibibio land, but this band of fugitives were after some years forced to more further following the wake of renewed hostilities in the 10th century. This stemmed from the refusal of the fugitives to worship Uruan Deity (Ata Okpo Ndem Uruan), and the immigrant intention to introduce worship of their origin native deity; Ndem Isong (God of the land).
The conflict generated from the controversy over the worship of their Deity ended in the flight of the migrants from Uruan, whereby a set of the fugitives settled at Ukwa and at Obot Etim in Ibibio land of Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, while some of the migrants settled at Okopedi Okobo in Oron and others fled to other part of Ibibio land.
However, some of their Efik cultures which the fugitives came with, had to undergo the process of decay as a result of oversight, the Ekpe and Obon societies survived the onslaught. In any case, other survivors including the days of worship of their gods, crowning of Osung, Obongs, and chiefs of different stratars, as well as burial ceremonies of priest. That of Osung and Obongs still remain the culture of the Itu Mbonuso people originated from Efik and kept on in practice while in Ukwa until today.
A SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS IN ITU MBONUSO
