THE GRAMMATICALISATION OF SỊ 'SAY' IN IGBO

Abstract

Although many works have been done in the verbs of the language but much work has not been Adone in the language as regards to grammaticalization of the lexical words in the syntactic constructions. It is on this premise that this study sets out to investigate the grammaticalization of the verb sị'say' in the Igbo language with the objectives of examining the various grammatical functions it can perform in the syntactic constructions, its grammatical relations and its distributions as well as finding out the processes that are involved in itsgrammaticalisation. The study employs the parameters of Lehmann's (2015) aspects ofgrammaticalization as a theoretical framework in the analysis of the data. The data for this studywere drawn from these literature texts Chi Ewere Ehihie Jie, Emecheta and Nká»lị by J.U.T Nzeako,Dimkpa Taa Akụ, Ebubedike and Ụwaezuoke by F. C Ogbalu, Ofunna, A Chá»wa Isi Ọchụ and OnyeChi ya Akwatughị by C. E Ọfá»mata. Furthermore, the data for this study were also drawn from daily conversations and discourses. The findings of the study reveal that grammaticalization of the verb sị'say' is language internal phenomenon and it can undergo grammaticalization as a result of its varied semantic meaning changes and the different grammatical roles it plays in the syntactic structures asevidenced in the study. The study has demonstrated that sị is gradually ripping off its lexical featuresto perform different grammatical function such as complementizer and pronoun. Phonological change is also observed in the tone of sị. It also has an agentive subject and a recipient as its subcategorization requirements. It obeys the ATR rule that operates in the language. The tonemarking convention adopted in this work is Green and Igwe (1963).The present study serves as a reference point in an attempt to further expand the frontier of research in grammaticalization as wellas in Igbo language scholarship in general.