Abstract
This paper examines the phonotactic processes in Yoruba adaptation of English syllable structures. It investigates the nativization of English consonant structure in the word-initial and word-final positions by Yoruba-English bilinguals. From the contact and influence of the English language and Yoruba language in an ESL environment, the fundamental thrust of linguistics would be to explicate the influence that one language would have on another. In this case, the focus is on the effects the English has on Yoruba. When these effects are viewed, it is discovered that structural rules are affected. Our findings reveal that vowel epenthesis is not constantly the repair device. Analysis of data shows that consonants are either preserved or deleted which justifies the earlier position of scholars of foreign syllable modifications.
Highlights
English and Yoruba languages came in contact when the missionaries came to Yoruba land in search of business succour and to propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ
Most Yoruba speakers of English embraced foreign items and introduced them into their language while speaking in their mother tongue
Some foreign syllable structures were imported into Yoruba basically for commercial purposes
Summary
In the early 19th century, those missionaries had infiltrated the lifestyles of the Yoruba people. This encroachment affected their social, political, economic and religious activities. Most Yoruba speakers of English embraced foreign items and introduced them into their language (since most of the foreign words have no ready substitutes in their native language) while speaking in their mother tongue. These foreign words were fully adapted into the linguistic system of Yoruba. The foreign words are more pronounced in certain activities, most of which are foreign to the Yoruba, such as occupations
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