Aspects Of Migili Verb Phrase

This research is aimed at discussing the general overview of verb phrase in Migili language. This research work is divided into five chapters which are relevant aspects of the theory of syntax.

Title Page          i

Certification          ii

Dedication          iii

Acknowledgements          iv

Table of Contents         vi

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.0 General Background of the Study      1

1.1 Historical Background of Migili      2

1.2 Socio-Cultural Profile       3

1.2.11 Occupation        3

1.2.2 Religion        3

1.2.3 Festival         4

1.2.4 Mode of Dressing       4

1.2.5 Marriage        5

1.3 Genetic Classification       5

1.4 Scope and Organization of Study      7

1.5 Theoretical Framework       8

1.6 Data Collection        8

1.7 Data Analysis         9

1.8 Review of the Chosen Framework      9

1.8.1 Sub-Theories of Government and Binding   10

1.9 Case Theory         13

1.10 Theta Ө Theory        15

1.11 Binding Theory        16

1.12 Government Theory        19

1.13 Bounding Theory        20

1.14 Control Theory        21

CHAPTER TWO: BASIC PHONOLOGICAL AND SYNTACTICAL CONCEPT

2.0 Introduction         22

2.1 Consonant Sound in Migili Language     22

2.2 Sentence Types        25

2.2.1 Simple Sentence       25

2.3 Basic Word Order        28

2.4 Phrase Structure Rule       29

2.4.1 The Phrase Marker       30

2.4.2 Verb Phrase        38

2.4.3 Adjectival Phrase       42

2.4.4 Prepositional Phrase       44

2.5 Lexical Categories        47

2.5.1 Noun         47

CHAPTER THREE: THE VERB PHRASE OF MIGILI

3.0 Introduction         67

3.1 The Verb Phrase        67

3.2 The Verb Phrase and the Principle of Head Parameter   68

3.3 The Structure of Verb Phrase      69

3.4 The Functions of Verb Phrase I n Migili     107

CHAPTER FOUR: TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESSES IN MIGILI

4.0 Introduction         111

4.1 Transformational Processes Defined     111

4.1.1 Focus Construction       114

4.1.1.1 Subject NP Focusing     115

4.1.1.12Diret Object NP Focusing     121

4.1.2 Relativization        127

4.1.2.1 Subject NP Relativization     128

4.1.2.2 Object NP Relativization     134

4.1.3 Reflexivization       138

4.1.4 Question Formation       143

4.1.4.1 Yes/No Questions in Migili     145

4.1.4.2 WH-Questions     148

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0 Introduction         153

5.1 Summary         153

5.2 Conclusion         154

5.3 Recommendations        155

 References          156

 

Language is the fabrics that ties every member of the society together, which serves as an instrument used by man for specific and distinguishable purposes. Indeed, the focus of this research is to shed light on how verb phrases are formed in Migili language. Therefore, the first chapter of this research is focused on the genetic classification of Migili language. As an introductory chapter, attempts shall be made to trace the origin, socio-cultural profile, administrative system, religion, geographical location, topography (life zone) economy, marriage rites, map, genetic classification of Migili. Effort shall also be extended to the organization of the study, theoretical framework together with a review of the chosen theory, data collection and analysis and some syntactic concept.

 According to Crystal (1994: 420) syntax is the study of the rules governing the way words are combined to form grammatical sentences in contrast with morphology that studies word structure. This branch of linguistics is concerned with how words are combined to form phrases are sentences in a rule governed manner. In a nutshell, words are not together in a random order, they follow certain observable patterns in any language.

Migili refers to the name of a language and also a group of people. The Migili people constitute about 96% of the total population of Agyaraoju Obi Local Government, Nasarawa State in Nigeria; with a total population of about 18,000.

 

History has it that different tribes including Migili, Alago, Eggon all settled at Korofa Kingdom in Taraba state. It was said that a man named Akuka was denied the right to the throne and as a result had to leave Kororofa together with some other members of the Migili tribe to a place called Ukari and later to Lafia region. Some of them moved to Abuja, Minna in Niger State, Kubacha in Kaduna state.

The Eggon tribe are also neighbours of the Migilis with some of them having the knowledge of Migili language. 

 Today, Migili language has various alternate names such as: Higili, Migili, Koro of Lafia.