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Research Article
A Contrastive Analysis of the Morphological and Syntactic Aspects of Urhobo and Ijaw Languages
Blessing Ugochi Uwasomba*
,
Andrew Okiemute
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, June 2024
Pages:
104-110
Received:
5 December 2023
Accepted:
21 December 2023
Published:
10 May 2024
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijll.20241203.11
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Abstract: The study undertakes a contrastive analysis of the morphological and syntactic aspects of Urhobo language and the Izon language, which are two indigenous languages spoken in the Niger Delta area in Nigeria. Contrastive analysis is used as the theory of preference to explore these languages, to show their similarity and points of divergence. The findings from the study attest to the similarity of these languages predictably as a result of their shared origin as they both are from the same Niger-Congo language family. There are cases of exact translations and linguistic interconnectedness between both languages in the morphological level. The study also confirms that there is noticeable difference in all levels of linguistics that makes both languages not mutually intelligible. The research’s implications include recommendations for language teaching and preservation as both languages are highly relevant for intercultural communication. The study also recommends that further research should be done in Nigeria’s indigenous languages as a way to respect and maintain unique linguistic identities. Scholars from different Nigerian languages should encourage the development and the growth of the indigenous languages to stop them from going into extinction. English language is the official language in Nigeria, it is the language of government, commerce, education, law, mass media and other areas of communication at the official level. The Nigerian language learner encounters so many problems in learning English. This paper reveals the importance of our indigenous languages.
Abstract: The study undertakes a contrastive analysis of the morphological and syntactic aspects of Urhobo language and the Izon language, which are two indigenous languages spoken in the Niger Delta area in Nigeria. Contrastive analysis is used as the theory of preference to explore these languages, to show their similarity and points of divergence. The fin...
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Research Article
A Study of Appraisal System and Its Texture/Textuality Mechanisms
Mingyue Sun*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, June 2024
Pages:
111-120
Received:
19 April 2024
Accepted:
8 May 2024
Published:
24 May 2024
Abstract: Language, as a social symbol, functions to express world experiences, construct social role relationships, and choose words and sentences to organize discourse. The interaction between language meta-functions is a problem deserved studying. From the perspective of textual meta-function, this paper tries to discuss the mechanisms of organizing Appraisal system as a texture, and construct a rather comprehensive analysis framework of the textual devices for evaluation meaning as a whole text. The framework built consists of three strata (contextual, discourse-semantic, and lexico-grammatical), two dimensions (micro and macro), and an intermediary variable (rhetorical strategies). At the contextual stratum, the generic structure of genre and mode of register, through rhetorical strategies, determine the distribution and combination patterns of evaluative meaning at the discourse-semantic stratum. In micro dimension, cohesion, information distribution pattern, and evaluative prosody, together with theme, new information and logical semantic relations in macro dimension, are combined to organize evaluation meaning at the discourse-semantic stratum. At the lexico-grammatical stratum, Appraisal meaning is thus embodied and realized by the evaluative lexical chains, thematic structures, new information structures, connectives and meta-discourse markers at the discourse-semantic level of a text. This framework reflects the interactions between the interpersonal meta-function and textual meta-function of Appraisal system and provides insights for the development of Appraisal Theory.
Abstract: Language, as a social symbol, functions to express world experiences, construct social role relationships, and choose words and sentences to organize discourse. The interaction between language meta-functions is a problem deserved studying. From the perspective of textual meta-function, this paper tries to discuss the mechanisms of organizing Appra...
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Research Article
Home and Spread of Indo-European Tribes in the Light of Name Research
Jürgen Udolph*
Issue:
Volume 12, Issue 3, June 2024
Pages:
121-151
Received:
21 April 2024
Accepted:
9 May 2024
Published:
30 May 2024
Abstract: Today, large parts of Europe are populated by speakers of Indo-European languages. People have long wondered where they came from, where their original home was. Archeology has long been trusted to provide a solution to the problem. This has now been abandoned. Today there is a great deal of trust in the results of genetic research, which can certainly contribute to important findings. However, one should not forget an important aspect: when one looks for the speakers of Indo-European languages, one is not looking for specific material finds (devices, weapons, etc.) or for the carriers of certain genetic peculiarities, but for the speakers of languages. Their homeland and distribution can only be determined using linguistic methods. The languages alone are crucial. And at this point a scientific discipline that is based on languages comes into view: it is place name research. Place and river names are firmly anchored in the original region. They often pass on their names to changing populations and are therefore undoubtedly the most important witnesses to the history of peoples and languages. And another scientific discipline must be included: agricultural science, because early settlements were based on good and productive soils that enabled continuous settlement. With the help of geographical names and the distribution of Europe's good soils, the study determines the original settlements of the Slavs on the northern slope of the Carpathians, the Germanic tribes north of the Harz and those of the Celts on the western edge of the Carpathians. River names that can be assigned to Old European, i.e. Indo-European, hydronymy also show that old ones come from almost all settlement areas. There is evidence of connections to the Baltics and the Baltic languages. The Baltics are therefore the center of Indo-European names and there is no reason not to consider them as the starting area and home of Indo-European expansions. A homeland outside of Old European hydronymy, be it in southern Russia or in Asia Minor or in the Caucasus, as is often assumed today, especially on the basis of genetic studies, is excluded.
Abstract: Today, large parts of Europe are populated by speakers of Indo-European languages. People have long wondered where they came from, where their original home was. Archeology has long been trusted to provide a solution to the problem. This has now been abandoned. Today there is a great deal of trust in the results of genetic research, which can certa...
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