PHONOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF VOWEL HARMONY IN TÈÈ
PHONOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF VOWEL
HARMONY IN TÈÈ
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Introduction
This chapter presents an overall
introduction to the work. It focuses on the language and people of [Tèè] Tai.
We shall also survey the geographical location and give a brief cultural
background of the people. This chapter also highlights the linguistic situation
and classification of the language.
1.1 The People and Their Language
Tèè is one of the languages spoken by
the Tai people of Eleme local government area in Rivers State. ‘Tèè’ officially
stands for both the language and its speakers. According to Nkporbu (1993:9).
This name ‘Tai’ by which the people of the area referred to, is a corruption
and multilated form of what it should be. The original name of the clans is
[Tèè] and its people [pìà-t?E?E]?
(Tai indigenes). Hence in this work Tèè would be used to stand for the people
and their language.
Some of the towns are Ueke [/úékE],
Korokoro [Kòrò kòrò], Kpiite [K?¡pììté], tẽ́m],
Kporgho [K?Botem
[bò:¡pOg?:?Ó?́],
Norwa-Uedum [n?Oá-?́w?:/uedũ̀mÉ],?
Nonwa-Kebara [nOã́ K?́w?́:?E?@bàrà],
Barakara-Norwa-Bunu [bànàkàrà-nOã́-bṹnũ?́w?́:?@
and Sìme [S?ĩ̀mÈ].?
The Tèè language is the first language
(mother tongue). Tèè is used in the market places, in social gatherings and in
village, clan and family meetings. It is also the language used for church
services, prayers, church bulletins and sermons. The speakers used the Bible
written in Kana. Sometimes sermons are delivered in Pidgin English and Kana.
In the early primary school, Tèè is
used for teaching i.e. as a method of instruction, while on the later stages
English and at times Pidgin English is used for teaching. Speakers of Tèè
understand other neighbouring languages of Ogoni like Kana, Baan, Gokana, and
Eleme. In the same manner, speakers of these languages understand Tèè.
1.2 Geographical Location and Population
Tèè is one of the Ogoni districts in
the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State with its headquarters at
Sakpenwa. According to Nkporbu (1993:10) “Geographically, Tèè lies roughly
between longitudes 6.5o and 7.5o East of the Greenwich
Meridian and between Latitudes 4.3o and 6.3o North of the
Equator. It is bounded on the North by the Khana; on the South-East by the
Gokana; on the West by the Eleme and on the South-West by the Okirika”.
(Kabaari, 1986:3). As stated by Nkporbu (1993:10) that “In terms of relief, the
area forms part of the coastal plain terrace which appears as gently sloping
and elevated land form of not more than one hundred metres above sea level. It
is intersected by few valleys which carry water periodically into streams and
creeks at the Southern border.
1.3 The People and their Culture
According to Nkporbu (1993:13) “the
people of Tèè constituted a non-centralized but orderly society. They lacked
unquestionable allegiance to any given authority, and the question of social
stratification also remained a non-present phenomenon as there existed no
clear-cut lines of division and demarcation between the rich and the poor.
Nkporbu (1993:17), observes that
“several initiation rites into adulthood were performed in Tèè, these, amongst
others included: [bé] which involved male children. After the usual sacrifices
and rituals a day comes when all participants were carried shoulder-high by
‘able bodied youngmen while the women chanted and echoed lore’s as all danced
round the village attracting spectators; and the yaago or koo undergone
restrictively by female children who as a ruler lived isolated secluded loves
in the room for a stipulated period. They stayed away from farm, market and
stream and were properly fed with the period of seclusion, they become very
attractive and most times fat with sure manifestation of beauty. Following was
the day when they danced in the public, virtually naked (with only a woven
piece of leather around the waist). No girl was married, qualified for marriage
except they had undergone the [Jáágo]. While the former is still observed till
today, the latter seems to have died a natural death”. One of the festivals
observed by Tèè people is [dúà] and [pìa zÈ?È
n?È?È].?
1.4 Methodology
The
data used for this project was collected through the revised edition of the
Ibadan 400 Word List, (updated/expanded by Kay Williamson (1993). The informant
was Mr. V. Ogbugbu, who is a native of Nonwa Town. He is aged 60 years.
1.5 Purpose of the Study
This work is aimed at a phonological
study of the language with emphasis on vowel harmony. Hence, this work is an
attempt towards a detailed study of vowel harmony in Tèè.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The various levels of language studies
need adequate linguistic investigation in order to project the uniqueness of
each. Consequently, this work focuses on a phonological study of Tèè with
emphasis on vowel harmony. The present research therefore is very significant
as it will add to the body of phonological research in the language for future
investigation.
1.7 The Scope of Study
This work is restricted to the
phonological description of vowel harmony in Tèè. As a follow-up, it also
describes the vowel harmony types and processes in Tèè. For instance, whether
the language has complete or partial vowel harmony and the [+ATR]/[-ATR]
harmony groups.
1.8 Linguistic Classification
Wolff (1962) maintains that “three
dialects” which are mutually intelligible may be distinguished in Kana – Tèè in
the vicinity of Chara, Northern Kana, around Taabaa and Southern Kana,
recognized as the standard dialect.
Presently on linguistic grounds, Tèè
is a member of the Ogoni (Kegboid) group of classification under the
Delta-Cross Sub-branch of the Cross River branch of languages in the
Benue-Congo division of the Niger-Congo phylum (Williamson, 1989:2). The name
was proposed by Ikoro (1991), based on his earlier proposal (1989) as an
acronym for Kana, Eleme, Gokana, Baan.
check on my next article
No comments