Phonological Effects and Functions of English Loan-words on the Tiv Grammar

Abstract

There is no human language that is devoid of borrowing loan-words from a parent language to its own (recipient) language. When loan-words are injected into a recipient language, there are certain phonological effects that such words have on the grammar of such a language. This paper critically discusses the phonological implications and functions of English loan-words on Tiv the grammar. The objectives of this paper are to: classify phonological implications of English loan-words on the grammar of Tiv language; discuss the implications of English loan-words on Tiv grammar; explore the phonological functions of English loan-words; and, state reasons that necessitate borrowing of loan-words. The author used primary and secondary sources. The researcher used participant-observer technique as his primary source and documentary sources were used. It has been found out that most English loan-words have no substitutes in Tiv; loan-words have expanded the vocabulary of the Tiv grammar; the original syllabic structure of most loan-words changed from close to open syllables; and epenthetic letters are added to break consonant clusters, for plurality and as a hiatus repairing strategy. It has been recommended that papers should be churned out in the areas of historical, comparative and contact linguistics. Lecturers should give assignments or project topics on phonologically related processes.