Reduplication Process in Ewulu

Authors

  • Don C. Utulu Department of Languages and Linguistics Delta State University, Abraka.

Abstract

This paper examines reduplication process in Ewulu. The process is formed from verbal derivatives known as simple gerunds. Reduplication is defined as a case of affixational morphology where affixes are phonologically underspecified, receiving their full phonetic expression by copying adjacent phonological units (Broselow and McCarthy 1984:25). Simple gerunds, the equivalents of the English –ing-ending verbs that function as a noun, are formed in Ewulu by affixing a harmonizing low-toned /o/ or/?/ to reduplicant that is copied from a one-syllable verb stem functioning as base. In Ewulu, simple gerunds can either be complete reduplication or partial reduplication, subject to the morphonological relations existing between the base and its adjoining reduplicant. Using Marantz (1982). McCarthy and prince (1990)prosodic morphology approach together with the auto segmental paradigm, we will examine the formation of simple gerunds, the direction of association of reduplicants vis-‘a-vis the base and subsequently account for how a subset of phonological units interacts with morphological elements to derive complete and partial reduplicated simple gerunds in Ewulu

Downloads

Published

2008-06-17

Issue

Section

Articles