A comparative analysis of extra syllabification in Yoruba and Japanese English usage (Published)
This research takes a look at a common phonological error among Japanese and Yoruba language users of English. This error has to do with the addition of extra syllables in English loanwords used by speakers of both languages, even when speaking English. The research reveals that despite difference in language type—with Japanese being a pitch accent and Yoruba a tonal language, both languages share certain traits and this turns out to be the reason for both languages having this error. It is however realised that the error is more pronounced among Japanese users of English than their Yoruba counterparts and the reason is because of their little exposure to and use of English language. The research discusses the effect of this error on the spoken English of both users, proffers solutions to this problem and suggested ideas for further research.
Citation:Bartholomew Ayeni (2021) A comparative analysis of extra syllabification in Yoruba and Japanese English usage, International Journal of English Language and Linguistics Research, Vol.9, No 7, pp.32-44
Keywords: Japanese, Phonology, Yoruba, extra syllabification, loanwords
A Comparative Analysis of English and Annang Phonological Systems (Published)
The problems facing an Annang speaker of English are many: he applies the rules of Annang in his use of English particularly in sound production; when he is confronted with vowel sounds that are non-existent in the Annang sound inventory, he reduces the English vowel to the nearest vowel in his inventory; he hardly discriminates between long and short vowels; he also has problems relating to nonsegmental phonology particularly in the areas of stress and intonation. This study has provided the rationale for the comparative analysis model. Four null hypotheses were used for the study and were measured with the Chi-square test. One hundred and twenty final year Annang Secondary School students provided the sample and were drawn through stratified random sampling. Literature was reviewed on phonology and Annang language studies. At 0.01 confidence level and 1 degree of freedom (df), the calculated value of x2 (30.8) was greater than the table value of X2 (6.63) and so. Hypotheses 1 and 2 were rejected. At 0.01 confidence level and 1 degree of freedom (df), the calculated value of X2 (22.8) was greater than the table value of X2 (6.63) and so Hypotheses 3 and 4 were rejected. It was discovered that Annang speakers of English encounter problems in sound articulation. There is need for English teachers in Annang land to diagnose these problems and help the learners overcome them
Keywords: Annang Language Studies, Comparative Linguistic Analysis, Phonology
A Consonant Shift in Kuwait: Challenging the Bedouin Vs Sedentary Hypothesis? The Case Of [ʧ] (Published)
In light of sociolinguist phonological change, the following study investigates the shift of [ʧ] to [k] sound in the speech of Kuwaitis and argues against the Bedouin/ Sedentary distinction. The main hypothesis is twofold: first the shift seems to be driven not by the differences between the sedentary and Bedouin varieties, but by the widespread of the English language as a prestige form and by the recent change of Kuwaitis’ lifestyle; second, the shift is not totally in the direction of [k], but rather in the direction of a lexical replacement by either English loanwords, classical Arabic, or other Arab dialects. To test this hypothesis, 130 informants were informally interviewed. 503 tokens were collected and were examined across gender, age, level of education. Their speech was phonetically transcribed and accordingly was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed. Results indicate that the [ʧ] variant is undergoing change and that the social parameters and the significant social changes, that Kuwait has undergone recently, have triggered this linguistic shift.
Keywords: Kuwaiti Variable, Phonology, Social Parameters, Sociolinguistics
Analysis and Critical Reflection of Acehnese Language Phonology (Published)
The uniqueness of any language arises because of its distinct phonetic system. For one to learn a new language and effectively communicate in it, he or she will have to incorporate new intonation patterns, new grammar rules and new sounds among other skills. The number of local languages spoken in the Indonesian province of Aceh is significantly high. Acehnese, which is popular in the northern part of Sumatra, is one among them. Acehnese is identified to share several phonemes with languages such as English and Arabic. However, some of its sounds cannot be established in both languages. The current study principally aims to evaluate and critically reflect on the phonology of Acehnese, for instance by describing it in detail. Zulfadli Aziz, who is a native Acehnese speaker pursuing a Ph.D. at Adelaide University, provided the data used in the research. By using IPA symbols, the researcher noted and transcribed all the language instances. Several similarities and differences are identifiable between Acehnese and English, and a large number of Acehnese words originated from Arabic. The current study identifies the challenges that native Arabic and English speakers are likely to encounter in learning Acehnese. Additionally, the paper proceeds to provide several practical techniques that can be employed to ease the experience that foreign-language learners go through while learning Acehnese.
Keywords: Acehnese, Consonant, Consonant Clusters, Phonology, Vowels
PHONOLOGICALLY CONDITIONED MORPHOLOGICAL PROCESS IN MODERN STANDARD ARABIC: AN ANALYSIS OF AL-IBDAAL ‘SUBSTITUTION’ IN FTAʕAL PATTERN USING PROSODIC MORPHOLOGY (Published)
This paper provides an analysis of Al-ibdaal ‘substitution’ phenomenon found in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) derivational processes, particularly, in the pattern ftaʕal. Al-ibdaal ‘substitution’ is defined in many Arabic morphological books (Al-Raagihi, 1984; Al-Galaayiini, 1991) as removing a letter and replacing it by another. For example, the /t/ in ztaha: is replaced by /d/ resulting in zdaha: ‘flourished’. The paper analyzed examples of words representing the pattern ftaʕal based on prosodic morphology; an approach used to describe non-concatenative morphological processes as those found in Arabic and other Semitic languages (McCarthy, 1981). The analysis of the words revealed that there is actually no substitution of sounds and the change that takes place in that pattern is phonologically motivated. The paper recommends the reconsideration of the concept of Al-ibdaal ‘substitution’ in the pattern ftaʕal in Arabic morphological books
Keywords: Arabic Morphology, Morphophonology, Phonology, Prosodic Morphology, Substitution