A DOCUMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL TERMS IN ILAJE DIALECT
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Abstract
Language serves as a conduit for cultural expression, reflecting the culture and practices of a community. Among the diverse linguistic language of Nigeria, the Ilaje dialect emerges as a prominent language spoken in the western region, particularly in Ondo State. The Ilaje people, known for their agrarian lifestyle deeply rooted in farming and agriculture, possess a rich
linguistic heritage intertwined with their farming practices. Despite the cultural significance of agricultural terms in the Ilaje community, scholarly exploration into this aspect of their language remains limited. This study aims to address this gap through a descriptive analysis of agricultural terms in the Ilaje dialect, delving into their categories, function, and semantic
dimensions. The primary objectives of this research include compiling a comprehensive list of agricultural terms in Ilaje, investigating their functions, characteristics and exploring their semantic nuances in different agricultural contexts, and examining their cultural and sociolinguistic implications. The data for this study were collected utilizing a combination of qualitative methods, including interviews with native speakers, observations of farming activities, and analysis of written texts. The analysis conducted reveals several significant findings. The Ilaje dialect exhibits a rich agricultural vocabulary encompassing various aspects of farming ranging from crop terms, cultivating/tillage term, processing terms, livestock terms, to equipment terms, reflecting the community's deep engagement with agricultural practices. Semantic specificity is observed in the precise categorization of different agricultural elements, highlighting the linguistic details of Ilaje farming terminology. The study uncovers instances of borrowing and adaptation from other languages, indicating the incorporation of modern scientific concepts into traditional agricultural lexicon.
linguistic heritage intertwined with their farming practices. Despite the cultural significance of agricultural terms in the Ilaje community, scholarly exploration into this aspect of their language remains limited. This study aims to address this gap through a descriptive analysis of agricultural terms in the Ilaje dialect, delving into their categories, function, and semantic
dimensions. The primary objectives of this research include compiling a comprehensive list of agricultural terms in Ilaje, investigating their functions, characteristics and exploring their semantic nuances in different agricultural contexts, and examining their cultural and sociolinguistic implications. The data for this study were collected utilizing a combination of qualitative methods, including interviews with native speakers, observations of farming activities, and analysis of written texts. The analysis conducted reveals several significant findings. The Ilaje dialect exhibits a rich agricultural vocabulary encompassing various aspects of farming ranging from crop terms, cultivating/tillage term, processing terms, livestock terms, to equipment terms, reflecting the community's deep engagement with agricultural practices. Semantic specificity is observed in the precise categorization of different agricultural elements, highlighting the linguistic details of Ilaje farming terminology. The study uncovers instances of borrowing and adaptation from other languages, indicating the incorporation of modern scientific concepts into traditional agricultural lexicon.
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