Phonological Adaptation and Morphosyntactic Integration in Igbo-English Insertional Codeswitching

Abstract

In African-European language insertional codeswitching, the African language is usually the matrix language that provides the morphosyntactic frame into which elements of the embedded language (a European language) are inserted. Morphosyntactic integration, especially of inserted verbs and verbal expressions, is a defining feature of such codeswitching. The study describes insertional codeswitching in the speech of Igbo-English bilinguals. Igbo, a West-Congo language, is the matrix language, and English, an Indo-European language is the embedded language. It notes that as a result of major phonological differences (segmental and suprasegmental) between Igbo and English, namely, a harmony vs. non-harmony vowel system and a tone vs. stress system, English verbs often lack the requisite phonological features for morphosyntactic integration into Igbo. The phonological features of English verbs are, therefore, adapted in such a way that English vowel segments fit into the Igbo vowel system, and English word stress fits into the Igbo tonal system. English verbs with phonologically adapted features are thus enabled to achieve full morphosyntactic integration into Igbo and to function like Igbo verbs in terms of selection of inflectional affixes and subject pronouns on the basis of tone and vowel harmony. The study describes Igbo-English insertional codeswitching as a highly rule-governed linguistic phenomenon.