ILOEGBUNAM IFUNANYA FRANCISCA

One of the three major languages spoken in Nigeria is Igbo. The language is spoken by the Igbo people, and ethnic group in the south East of Nigeria. So many has been written about this particular ethnic group but in some aspect of their life, not really much has been done. It is widely believed that the study of Igbo language is still relatively in its infancy. Many aspects of the language have not been given due attention especially the dialects. This has been observed by a number of scholars. Armstrong (1972) notes that no detailed study of Igbo language has ever been published. Also, Ikekaonwu(1986) writes "... Up till now, this yawning academic vacuum has not to my knowledge been filled" Anam is one of the dialects of the Igbo language with very special future but unfortunately, nothing has been written about it. This might be as a result of historical disadvantage as the people trace their origin to Igala land, so, possibly, they are not considered the Igbo people. Another reason may be the geography of the place. In this chapter, I'll discuss the geographical location of Anam people and their occupation. Methodology and the theoretical framework used, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, and the significance of the study

This study investigates the systematic occurrence of vowel harmony in Anam Igbo, a Benue-Congo language variety known for its distinct phonetic characteristics. While standard Igbo typically adheres to a strict harmony system based on the feature [±ATR] (Advanced Tongue Root), Anam Igbo exhibits unique variations and "opaque" behaviors that challenge traditional rule-based phonology.