Scholarly Works http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/175 2025-09-26T02:18:59Z 2025-09-26T02:18:59Z Unaegbu, Ginikachi Lovelyn Obiamalu, Greg Orji, .Dereck-M.A http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/838 2023-10-17T10:25:05Z 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Language Attitudes of Igbo Speakers: A Comparative Study of Igbo People at Homeland (Awka) And in Diaspora (Lagos) Authors: Unaegbu, Ginikachi Lovelyn; Obiamalu, Greg; Orji, .Dereck-M.A Abstract: Language attitudes refer to individuals' beliefs, evaluations, and emotions towards their native language, other languages and its usage in various social contexts. By comparing the language attitudes of Igbo peopleat home and in diaspora, this research aims to investigate various domains influencing language attitudes among Igbo people in their homeland such as Awka metropolis and Igbo people residing in diaspora communities such as Oshodi in Lagos. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods such as a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview to collect data from 300 participants: 150 participants in Awka and 150 in Oshodi from Anambra and Lagos States respectively. In other to gather insights into the participants' language attitudes, perceptions of language vitality, language use patterns, and the challenges associated with Igbo language maintenance, a questionnaire was administered to 300 sample population while a semi-structured interview was administered to twenty participants who were randomly selected from the sample population. The findings reveal that the majority of Igbo people in diaspora share similar positive attitude with Igbo people in their homeland towards their language and culture, although they face challenges in maintaining it due to the influence of the dominant English language and culture. Various reasons were identified as the challenges these speakers have in maintaining the Igbo language when communicating, such as limited knowledge of some Igbo words, lack of properly trained teachers to teach Igbo language effectively, parents preference to the English language, dialectal differences etc. In other to preserve and promote the Igbo language both in the Igbo homeland and among diaspora communities, the study, recommends that: parents should expose their children to the Igbo language and culture at a very tender age, there should be development of more books, audio, video materials, and online resources to teach and learn Igbo language, awards or sponsorships should be granted to winners of quiz competitions organized in Igbo language and many more. Description: scholarly work

2023-01-01T00:00:00Z Obiamalu, Greg Orji Ofor, Ifeanyi E. http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/837 2023-10-17T10:18:53Z 0023-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Verbs of Cognition in Igbo: A Reanalysis Authors: Obiamalu, Greg Orji; Ofor, Ifeanyi E. Abstract: Verbs of cognition which refer to an Experiencer NP’s mental processes is argued to describe an entity’s unconscious behaviour. Traditionally marked as mental process verbs (Fillmore 1968, Uwalaka 1988), this definition which aligns with the structural properties of the generative grammatical framework poses a critical challenge to Igbo in the generation of more verbs of cognition because of the Igbo verbal system as it is less productive in Igbo. This study therefore aims to reanalyze verbs of cognition in Igbo using the theoretical framework of the Role and Reference Grammar Approach (RRG) proposed by Van Vallin and Lapolla (1997) and Van Vallin (2005). RRG applies the principles of the triad interface of syntax-semantics-pragmatics to decipher verbs of cognition embedded in the intuitive knowledge of the speakers of the language using the inherent temporal properties existing in the language. To analyze verbs of cognition in the language therefore, the Layered Structure of the Clause (LSC), the Aktionsart principles and the logical structures are used to decompose verb structures. This study adopts the descriptive survey research design, the data are obtained from literary Igbo novels and the researcher’s native intuition. Applying the theoretical framework of the decomposition principles of RRG by Van Vallin and Lapolla (1997) and Van Vallin (2005), it is observed that more verbs of cognition in Igbo can be realized through grammaticalized Metaphorical Expression and Figures of Speech. Others are Evidentials using the Macrorole Transitivity. Indications prove that verbs of cognition in Igbo is found not to lie strictly on verbs in a clause as mental processes but more on the co-occurrence of the verb and the nominal complement (V+N predicate). In the clauses Ọ nà-āwá ji ‘He is cutting yam’ and Ọ nà- àwá ànyá ‘He is arrogant’ proves from the perspective of the intuitive speaker that though they have the same grammatical structure, the latter is a cognition clause. This is because, the cognition meaning lies on the co-occurrence of the Verb+Nominal element wá ányá ‘arrogant’ and not on the verb nà- àwá ‘is cutting’. The study concludes that these sources which are originally part of the Igbo structures should be integrated into the verb classes as sources of cognition features in Igbo. Description: scholarly work

0023-01-01T00:00:00Z Ifeanyi, E. Ofor Obiamalu, Greg O http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/836 2023-10-17T10:16:50Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Uncensored Language of Social Media News, Videos and Pictures as a Source of Insecurity in Nigeria: the Anambra State Example Authors: Ifeanyi, E. Ofor; Obiamalu, Greg O Abstract: Uncensored language of the social media is a serious threat to the security and wellbeing of Nigeria and Anambra State in particular. Censorship is the art of editing and controlling the language that maybe used in the publication of any material (oral or written) for human consumption. This study investigates the dangerous effects lack of censoring the language of the social media thrusts on the security of Nigeria and Anambra State in particular, from the perspective of J. L. Austin’s 1962 Speech Acts theory. The theory sees language as an activity in the context of Performative Acts which when applied can trigger a lot of either negative or positive social action. A lot of ills have taken place and several unhealthy groups have been formed due to uncontrolled use of language in Nigeria social media space. Prior to the existence of digital appliances as the mobile phones and use of social media; anger, hate, aggression, banditry, religious bigotry, agitations and violence were comparatively low. The prevalent insecurity is caused by the untamed use of misguided, raw and unedited language and digital manipulations to trigger violence in the society. The unguarded language of uncensored information has created various restive and aggressive groups such as IPOB, Fulani Herdsmen,Militants, UnKnown Gun Men (UGM), Kidnappers, Yahoo boys, Ritualists, e.t.c. that were never in existence but now unleashing mayhem and death in the society. Social media videos, pictures, and news reportage can be censored through creating awareness, integrating the use of social media in the curriculum for our youths, government promulgation of rules to litigate offenders, redirecting our youths and empowering them financially among others. It is the belief of the researcher that if that had been done, the debacle at the inauguration of the Anambra State Governor, H.E. Prof. Chukwuma C. Soludo could have been averted from the public domain. Description: scholarly work

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z Obiamalu, Greg O. http://repository.unizik.edu.ng/handle/123456789/835 2023-10-17T10:08:33Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: ON THE ROLE OF TONE IN IGBO NEGATION Authors: Obiamalu, Greg O. Abstract: Negation in Standard Igbo is marked by the general negative suffix . Some other Igbo dialects use other types of negative suffixes. It is a well known fact that tone plays important grammatical roles in Igbo. And so negation is also marked by changes in tone pattern. However, there are some dialects such as Nneewi and Onicha that have suffixless negative constructions and also have inherently negative auxiliary verbs. In these suffixless negative constructions, tone is the only indicator of negation. It seems that the common denominator for the suffix and suffixless negative constructions in most Igbo dialects including Standard Igbo is the presence of a floating high tone which could be borne by the ‘default agreement prefix’ (Dechaine 1993) or the verbal element (aux and main verb). This position is contrary to Ndimele (1995, 2004, 2009), who argues that a floating low tone plays an important part in Igbo negation. My position is supported by different constructions in different dialects of Igbo that lack the negative suffix but yet negation is overtly implied. Data from these dialects show that negation could be marked by high tone alone in some construction or high tone plus the negative suffix in some others. I therefore conclude that high tone (not low tone) plays important role in Igbo negation and in fact the primary negative marker in Igbo Description: scholarly works

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z