ASPECTS OF THE PHONOLOGY OF IGBANKE

This Research effort focuses on some aspects of the phonology of the Igbanke language. a language spoken in the Niger Delta area of Delta State as well as in Orhiomwon Local Government Area of Edo State. The Igbanke language is actually spoken in six speech communities which are: Omulual, Ahe, Igbontor, Obiogba, Ottah and Idumuodin. This work aims at examining the Phonological processes and rules in the language. Data gathered for this study were collected from personal interview with the aid of a digital tape recorder. The study is analyzed using the standard theory as presented by Chomsky and Halle (1968), and the Autosegmental model of analysis as presented by Goldsmith (1976). The major findings of this study however revealed the phonological processes present in the language which are: Vowel Elison, Glide formation and Nasalization.