DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTIC STUDIES

This research examines Igbo traditional marriage songs as a vital aspect of the Igbo people’s oral literature and cultural heritage. The study explores the linguistic, stylistic, thematic and cultural features of the songs performed during traditional marriage ceremonies. It aims to reveal how these songs serve as instruments of communication, education, entertainment and cultural preservation. Data for the study were collected through oral interviews, observation and recordings of live performances. The analysis focused on the language use, poetic structure, stylistic devices and underlying meanings of the selected songs. The study is anchored on two theoretical frameworks – the Semiotic/Structuralist Theory and the Performance Theory. The Semiotic/Structuralist approach provides a framework for interpreting the symbols, signs, ad structures embedded in the songs, helping to uncover the deeper cultural meanings conveyed through linguistic and poetic patterns. The performance Theory, on the other hand, views the songs not just as texts but as dynamic acts of performance that involve interaction, participation, and emotion, reflecting the social and cultural context of Igbo marriage ceremonies. Finding shows that Igbo traditional marriage songs are rich in imagery, metaphor, repetition, proverbs and call and response patterns that promote communal participation and aesthetic beauty. Thematically, the songs express love, unity, fertility, respect and moral instructions all of which reflect the Igbo worldview about marriage as a sacred and communal institution. The songs also serve as a means of transmitting cultural values and social norms from one generation to another. The study concludes that Igbo traditional marriage songs are not merely for entertainment but are powerful tools for sustaining the people’s language, traditional and identity. It recommends the documentation, preservation and promotion these songs as an essential part of Nigeria’s intangible cultural heritage.

This study investigates the sociolinguistic construction of power and gendered authority in the context of queenship in ancient Benin, with particular focus on the Iyoba (Queen Mother). The research explores how language, as a system of symbolic communication, encodes and legitimizes political and spiritual authority within the Benin monarchical tradition. Anchored in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as proposed by Fairclough (1989, 1992) and van Dijk (1993), the study examines the ways linguistic forms and discursive practices reflect the ideological structures of power, hierarchy, and gender in precolonial Benin society. The study adopts a qualitative descriptive methodology, relying on both primary and secondary data sources such as historical texts, oral traditions, court poetry, and ethnographic accounts. These data were critically analyzed through the CDA lens to uncover the relationship between discourse, ideology, and social structure. The analysis revealed that the titles and honorific expressions associated with the Iyoba, such as Oba N’erie (Mother of the King) and Eson n’Oba (the King’s Eye), are not merely linguistic adornments but powerful semiotic instruments through which authority, motherhood, and divine legitimacy are discursively constructed. Findings further indicate that the linguistic representation of the Iyoba differs significantly from that of the Oba, emphasizing intercession, wisdom, and maternal guardianship rather than absolute sovereignty. These distinctions reflect the gender complementarity inherent in Benin’s conception of rulership. The study also identifies strategies of persuasion and ritualized deference in palace women’s speech, revealing language as a tool for negotiating influence within a patriarchal order. Comparative insights show parallels between the Benin Iyoba, the Oyo Iyálóde, and the Dahomean Kpojito, highlighting shared West African patterns of female authority constructed through discourse. Based on these findings, the study recommends amongst other that (1) further ethnographic documentation of contemporary palace discourse in Benin to preserve linguistic heritage, (2) comparative discourse studies across African monarchies to expand theoretical understanding of gendered power, and (3) interdisciplinary research combining linguistics, anthropology, and art history to explore how verbal and visual semiotics jointly construct royal ideology.

This study examines how negation is expressed in Ẹdo basic clauses by analyzing different types of negators used in the language. Negators are words or expressions that indicate when something is not happening, did not happen, or should not happen. The research explores how these negators are formed, how they function in different sentence structures, and what they mean in various contexts. Using data from native speakers and previous studies, this research identifies and categorizes different types of negators, showing their roles in communication. The study finds that Ẹdo has specific negators that indicate different kinds of negation. For example, the negator "ma" is used to show that an action did not take place, as seen in Òzó ma yó ("Ozo did not go"). The negator "ɡhẹ" expresses that an action should not happen, such as in ghẹ́ ye obọ́ kan ọ̀re ("Do not touch it"). Additionally, there are negators that show a loss of ability, like "Ẹ ghi khian" (He no longer walks...), and those that indicate a discontinued habit, such as "Ẹ ghi yo evba" (He no longer goes there). The research also looks at how these negators interact with different clause structures and the patterns they follow. Findings reveal that Ẹdo negators are structured in a way that changes both the form and meaning of sentences, influencing tense and aspect. By explaining the role of each negator with examples, the study highlights the richness of Ẹdo negation and its importance in effective communication.

This study examines the processes of word formation in Benin Pidgin within the framework of the Lexical Morphology Theory (LMT). The research investigates how new words are created, structured, and used in Benin Pidgin, with particular attention to the linguistic creativity that characterizes the language. Contrary to the common perception of Benin Pidgin as a “broken” or unstructured form of English, this study demonstrates that it possesses an organized morphological system governed by identifiable linguistic rules. Data for the study were collected from natural speech contexts, popular media, and informal interviews in Benin City, Lagos, Warri, and Port Harcourt. The analysis focused on six major morphological processes observed in Benin Pidgin reduplication, compounding, affixation, clipping, blending, and borrowing all of which contribute to lexical expansion and communicative efficiency. The Lexical Morphology Theory provided the analytical framework for classifying these processes across the derivational, inflectional, and post-lexical strata of morphology. Findings reveal that word formation in Benin Pidgin is both systematic and innovative. While the language exhibits limited inflectional morphology, it shows high productivity in derivation and post-lexical creativity. Reduplication and compounding are the most frequent and culturally grounded processes, while blending and borrowing reflect urbanization and multilingual interaction. The study concludes that Benin Pidgin is a linguistically rich and evolving language that mirrors the cultural diversity and adaptability of its speakers. The study recommends further research into syntactic and semantic aspects of Benin Pidgin, as well as the development of a standardized morphological corpus to aid documentation, teaching, and preservation of the language

This study examines the role of Yoruba-language music in the preservation and revitalization of the Yoruba language within Nigeria’s contemporary music industry. With increasing globalization and the dominance of English and Pidgin in urban communication, the Yoruba language faces a decline in daily usage among younger generations. However, Yoruba music, particularly in genres such as Afrobeat, Fuji, and Highlife, continues to serve as a medium for cultural expression and language transmission. This research explores how Yoruba musicians integrate their native language into their lyrics, the extent to which music influences language retention, and the implications of code-switching and linguistic mixing on language preservation. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilizing Dell Hymes’ Ethnography of Communication Theory as a theoretical framework. Data collection involves content analysis of selected Yoruba songs and interviews with musicians and audiences. The findings reveal that Yoruba music remains a powerful tool for language sustainability, reinforcing linguistic identity and cultural values. Additionally, the study highlights how music provides an alternative domain for language use, ensuring its relevance in modern social contexts. Code-switching between Yoruba and English/Pidgin enhances audience accessibility while maintaining Yoruba’s presence in mainstream music. The study concludes that Yoruba music significantly contributes to language preservation by promoting linguistic awareness and engagement among younger audiences. It recommends further research on audience perception of Yoruba-language music and its long-term impact on language retention. Additionally, it suggests that digital media platforms be leveraged to enhance the visibility and global appreciation of Yoruba-language music, strengthening its role in sustaining indigenous linguistic heritage.

The aim of this study was to examine body part polysemy in Igbo with a view to understanding how linguistic and cultural meanings are extended across contexts. The objectives of the study were to identify commonly used body part terms in the Igbo language that exhibit polysemous behavior, analyze patterns of semantic extension, investigate linguistic and cultural factors influencing meaning shift, and examine how these terms function in proverbs, idioms, and everyday expressions. Despite its insightful findings, the study is limited to selected body part terms in central Igbo and focuses mainly on semantic analysis, without covering all dialects, linguistic levels, or extensive data sources. The study also compared the patterns observed in Igbo with those reported in other languages. Using Prototype Theory and Conceptual Metaphor and Metonymy Theory as its theoretical framework, data for the study were gathered from ten Igbo native speakers aged 25 to 65 years through informal interviews, supplemented by participant observation. The findings reveal that body part terms in Igbo extend beyond their literal meanings and are used in proverbs and idiomatic expressions to convey cultural values and worldviews. This shows the deep connection between language, thought, and culture in the Igbo linguistic system. The study recommends that future researchers explore body part polysemy across other Igbo dialects and expand the range of terms analyzed using larger data sources. The study concludes that body part polysemy

This study examines the concept of lexical relations in Ibibio, a Lower Cross language spoken in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. It explores the semantic interconnections that exist among lexical items in the language, focusing on the relationships of synonymy, antonymy, polysemy, hyponymy, and meronymy. The study is anchored on the structuralist theoretical framework, which posits that meaning is relational and that words derive significance from their place within a linguistic system. Data were gathered through descriptive and analytic methods, drawing from native speakers’ intuitions and examples found in natural Ibibio usage. The analysis reveals that lexical relations in Ibibio are context-dependent and culturally motivated rather than absolute, reflecting deep connections between linguistic structures and sociocultural realities. For instance, synonymous words in Ibibio are often differentiated by pragmatic and situational nuances, while antonyms may display complementary or gradable features. The study further shows that polysemy in Ibibio is influenced by metaphorical and metonymic extensions, and that hierarchical relations like hyponymy and meronymy play a crucial role in lexical categorization and meaning organization. Overall, the research contributes to the understanding of Ibibio semantics, highlighting the interdependence between language, thought, and culture. It also underscores the need for more descriptive studies of African languages to enrich the global body of linguistic knowledge

This study is an attempt to carry out a morphosemantic analysis of Yoruba adjectives. The aim of the study is to examine the morphosemantic features of adjectives in Yoruba. The study relied on utterances gathered from primary sources. The data sample comprises forty (40) adjectives which were divided into various categories. The data was collected from four (4) native speakers who live in Lagos State where the language is indigenous. The speakers were 3 women and 1 man. The informants were selected based on the differences in age range, sex, place of early childhood and level of formal education. The collection procedures engaged informants in different forms of interaction such as interviews and storytellings. The theoretical framework employed for the research is the Construction Grammar (C×G) theory framework developed by Filmore, Kay, Michaelis and Sag (1988). The findings revealed three things which are: there are morphemes that make up adjectives in Yoruba, there are meanings attached to the morphemes, and lastly, there are various semantic functions of adjectives within the language. The study concludes that Yoruba adjectives are composed of various morphemes, such as prefixes, root words, and reduplications. These morphemes combine to form adjectives in different patterns. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of Yoruba adjectives underlying how morphemes constitutes the adjectives, the meanings attached to the morphemes and the semantic functions of adjectives within the language. Further research in this area can continue to explore the intricate nature of adjectives and their significance within the broader linguistic landscape of Yoruba and other Nigerian languages.

This study examined language ideology of Igbo feminine praise names in Igbo language. The research relied on the primary method of data collection. Competent speakers of Igbo who are well equipped with the different praise names in Igbo were met, with their ages between 35–50 years, comprising both men and women. The data were extracted using oral interviews with these speakers. Also, the researcher, being born, raised, and a competent speaker of the Igbo language, used her intuitive knowledge of the language to provide some data which complemented those gotten from other sources and was used for data analysis. The data analysis was organized into five key components: praise names for beauty, praise names for leadership/strength, praise names for character/attributes, praise names for wealth/prosperity, and praise names for family and relationships. The analysis was guided using the ideology theory framework. The findings revealed the complex role of women within Igbo society, shaped by different ideologies. Praise names for beauty emphasized the importance of physical appearance, suggesting that a woman’s value is often tied to her attractiveness. In contrast, praise names for leadership and strength highlight the growing recognition of women’s leadership roles, challenging traditional gender norms and celebrating women’s authority and power in both domestic and public spheres. Praise names for character and attributes reinforce the ideal of women as caretakers, nurturing their families and embodying virtues such as respect, loyalty, and responsibility. Praise names for wealth and prosperity acknowledge women as symbols of financial success and generational wealth, highlighting their contributions to economic and familial stability. Lastly, praise names reflecting family and relationships celebrate women as key figures in family structures, emphasizing their roles in maintaining social and moral order.

This focus of this project work is to examine from a linguistics perspective, heroes and heroines eulogies in Igbo language. Eulogy is an intriguing aspect of linguistic expression in Igbo land as it encapsulates the essence of individuals on the entire speech communities. It is one of the important aspects of orature in Igbo language as the Igbos holds in high regards the good and heroic deeds of their people. The thrust of this study is an ethnographic analysis of these eulogies. To highlight the roles of eulogies in preserving the collective memory and cultural identity among Igbo people. Oral interviews were made in collection of the data for this study. A number of eulogies to certain heroes and heroines in Igbo land was collected and these data were analyzed using Dell Hymes’ S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G model of ethnography of communication. Each eulogy present was analysed in respect to ‘settings/scene’, ‘participants’, ‘ends’, ‘act of sequence’, ‘key’, ‘instrument’, ‘norms’, ‘genre’, of which the acronym ‘S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G’ was coined. The findings depicts huge cultural significance, oral traditions, linguistics expression, social cohesion, gender dynamics and adaptation to change. Ethnography of communication analysis entails the analysis of communication within the wider context of the social and cultural beliefs and practices of members of a particular culture or speech community. Documenting heroes and heroines eulogies preserves and ensure the continuity of this cultural heritage. Eulogies also are characterized by rich linguistics expressions including metaphors, proverbs and address terms. Eulogies provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles, contribution and importance of individuals within the Igbo society. This research study is recommended for further study, and for teaching the cultural significance and heritage of Igbo language in institutions.