ASPECTS OF THE PHONOLOGY OF KOFYAR LANGUAGE
LIST OF SYMBOLS USED
à Arrow notation ‘becomes’
/ Environment
____ Place of occurrence
[ ] Surface/Phonetic Representation
~ Tilde [nasalization symbol]
Æ Empty/Null Element
+ Morpheme boundary
[/] High tone
[-] Mid tone
[\] Low tone
V Rising [contour] tone
Ù Falling [contour] tone
LISTS OF CHARTS, TABLES AND DIAGRAMS
Genetic Classification Tree
Oral Vowel Chart
Nasal Vowel Chart
Vowel Distinctive Features Matrix
Phonetic Consonant Chart
Consonant Distinctive Features Matrix
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgements iv
List of Symbols Used vi
List of Charts/Tables and Diagrams vii
Table of Contents viii
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRDOUCTION
1.0 Introduction 1
1.1 Historical Background of the Kofyar of People 1
1.1.1 Colonial History 3
1.2 Socio-Cultural Profile 3
1.2.1 Religion 3
1.2.2 Occupation 4
1.2.3 Cultural Festivals 4
1.2.4 Food Items 5
1.2.5 Tourist Attraction 5
1.3 Socio-Linguistics Profile 5
1.4 Genetic Classification of Kofyar Language 7
1.5 Statement of Research Problems 8
1.6 Aims and Objective of Study 8
1.7 Scope and Organization of Study 8
1.8 Data Collection 10
1.9 Data Analysis 11
1.10 Theoretical Framework 12
1.10.2 The Structure of Generative Phonology 13
1.10.2.1 Phonetic Representation 14
1.10.2.2 Underlying Representation 15
1.10.2.3 Phonological Rules 16
CHAPTER TWO: BASIC PHONOLOGICAL CONCEPTS
2.0 Introduction 17
2.1 Phonology 17
2.1.1 Phonology and Phonetics 19
2.2 Phonemes and Allophones 21
2.2.1 The Phoneme and its Realities 22
2.2.1.1 Phoneme as a Phonetic Reality 22
2.2.1.2 Phoneme as a Phonological Reality 23
2.2.1.3 Phonemes as a Psychological Reality 23
2.3 Principles of Phoneme Identification 24
2.3.1 Principle of Minimal Pair 24
2.3.2 Principle of Complementary Distribution 25
2.3.3 Principles of Analogous Environment 26
2.3.4 Principle of Free Variation 27
2.5 Phonological Processes 27
2.5.1 Assimilation 28
2.5.2 Deletion 29
2.5.3 Insertion (Epenthesis) 30
2.5.4 Metathesis 31
2.5.5 Nasalization 32
2.5.6 Coalescence 33
2.5.7 Vowel Harmony 33
2.5.7.1 Partial or Incomplete Vowel Harmony 36
2.6 Tone 37
2.7 Syllable Structure 39
CHAPTER THREE: THE SOUND SYSTEM OF KOFYAR LANGUAGE
3.0 Introduction 41
3.1 Vowel System of Kofyar Language 41
3.1.1 The Oral and Nasal Vowel Chart in Kofyar Language 42
3.1.2 Distribution of Vowels in Kofyar Language 43
3.1.2.1 The Distribution of Oral Vowels in Kofyar Language 43
3.1.2.2 Distribution of Nasal Vowels in Kofyar 47
3.2 Phonetic Distinctive Feature Matrix 50
3.2.1 Distinctive Feature Matrix for Kofyar Vowels 50
3.2.2 Justification for the Distinctive Features Used for Vowels in
Kofyar Language 51
3.2.3 Segment Structure Constraints for Kofyar Vowels 52
3.3 Consonant Sounds in Kofyar Language 54
3.3.1 Phonetic Consonants Chart of Kofyar Language 55
3.3.2 Distribution of Consonants in Kofyar 56
3.4 Distinctive Features Matrix of Kofyar Consonants 68
3.4.1 Justification for the Features Used 71
3.4.2 Segment Redundancy of Kofyar Sounds 74
3.5 Tones in Kofyar Language 78
3.5.1 Functions of Tone in Kofyar 83
3.6 The Syllable Structure of Kofyar 84
3.6.1 Closed Syllable in Kofyar Language 86
3.6.2 Open Syllable in Kofyar Language 86
3.6.3 Mono-Syllable Words 87
3.6.4 Di-Syllabic Words 88
3.6.5 Tri-Syllabic Words 89
3.6.6 Quadric Syllabic Words 90
3.7 Summary 90
CHAPTER FOUR: PHONOLOGICAL PROCESS IN KOFYAR LANGUAGE
4.0 Introduction 91
4.1 Phonological Processes in Kofyar 92
4.1.1 Assimilation 92
4.1.1.1 Vowel-Vowel Assimilation 92
4.1.1.2 Consonant Vowel Assimilation 94
4.1.1.1.2.1 Labialization in Kofyar 94
4.1.1.1.2.2. Palatalization in Kofyar 95
4.1.2 Nasalization in Kofyar 96
4.1.3 Vowel Harmony 98
4.1.4 Insertion 101
4.1.5 Deletion 102
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction 104
5.1 Summary 104
5.2 Recommendations 105
5.3 Conclusion 105
Bibliography 107
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
This research work focuses on the phonology of Kofyar Language. Kofyar language is spoken in Plateau State of Nigeria. It is spoken in fairly sizeable area of Qua’an pan local government area of plateau state. In this chapter, we shall discuss the historical, socio-cultural profile, socio-linguistic profile and the genetic classification of the Kofyar Language.
