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The Mernyang Noun Phrase
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1.4 Scope and organization of study
This research work centers on Mernyang Noun Phrase. The work is divided into five chapters.
The
first chapter introduces the general background of the study as well as
the history and socio-cultural profile of the people. Also, genetic
classification of Mernyang, scope and organization of study, including
the brief review of the chosen framework were discussed. The chapter
also focuses on the method of data collection and analysis.
The
second chapter examines some phonological concepts such as sound, tonal
and syllable inventories of Mernyang. Also, it treats some syntactic
concepts, which are phrase structure rules, basic word order, lexical
categories and sentence types in Mernyang.
Chapter three of the work centres on the main aspect of the study, which is the Noun Phrase of Mernyang.
Chapter four addresses the transformational processes in Mernyang which are focusing, question formation and relativization.
The fifth chapter summarizes the work, gives some recommendations and concludes the study.
1.5 Theoretical framework
The
“Government and Binding†framework has been chosen in this research
work to analyse the noun phrase of Mernyang language. This is because it
tries to capture similarities among different phrases by assigning to
them the same structure. The Government and Binding theory model is
examined in detail in section 1.9
1.6 Data collection
The
data for this research work was collected using the informant method,
with the use of Ibadan word list of 400 basic items as well as the frame
technique. The frame technique consists of phrasal and sentential
constructions in English, which were directly translated to Mernyang
language.
Below are brief information about the informants used:
Informant 1
Name: Mr. Amos Datugun
Home town and residence: Kwa
Native language: Mernyang
Other languages: English and Hausa
Age: 40 years
Informant 2
Name: Mr. Daman Naankam
Home town and residence: Kwa
Native language: Mernyang
Other languages: English and Hausa
Age: 48 years
1.7 Data analysis
The analysis of the data obtained was based on the Ibadan word list of 400 basic items and the frame technique.
Therefore,
the data will be analysed using the “Government and Binding†model i.e.
the different structures of Noun Phrase and their transformations would
be exemplified using the different sub-theories of GB.
1.8 Brief review of the Government and Binding Theory
Haegeman
(1991:13) regarded Government and Binding theory as a theory of
universal grammar, which is the system of all the principles that are
common to all the languages. GB theory is otherwise known as principles
and parameters theory. In GB theory, the grammar is a continuous
interaction between components and sub-theories embodying different
principles and parameters (Cook, 1988:31).
According to Cook
(1988:30), “Government and Binding theory elaborates syntactic levels
through the concept of movementâ€. Radford (1988) describes Government
and Binding theory as a modular deductive theory of grammar that posits
multiple levels pf representation related by a transformational rule
called “move alpha( )â€.
Also, Sanusi (1996) says that, GB theory
greatly eliminates proliferation of transformational rules, like:
passive, affix-hopping, verb-number agreement, question formation,
equi-NP deletion, raising, permutation, insertion etc.
Government and
Binding theory operates through the seven modules of grammar, which
include X-bar theory, theta theory, case theory, government theory,
binding theory, bounding theory and control theory. These sub-theories,
according to Horrocks (1987:29), “are interrelated that each of them can
account for grammaticality and ungrammaticality of any sentenceâ€.
1.8.1 X-bar theory
According
to Welbelbum (1995:18), “the X-bar theory is the central module of the
principles and parameters approach in syntaxâ€. The X-bar theory is
designed to formalize the traditional notion called ‘head’ of a
construction and to constrain the range of possible phrase structure
rules. It is the part of grammar regulating the structure of a phrase
(Haegeman, 1994).
The central core of X-bar theory is the recognition
of the fact that (most) phrasal constituents have ‘heads’ upon which
the other elements of the constituents in question are dependent
(Horrocks, 1987:63).
As proposed by Chomsky (1970), the X-bar theory
convention states that every maximal projection has a specifier of XP
position with the intermediate bar projection serving as the XP’s core.
The core consists of the head (X0) and the complement, which can be
maximal projection in itself.
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