FREE VARIATION IN AGỤATA DIALECT OF IGBO

Abstract

This research is on free variation in Agụata dialect of Igbo. The researcher intends to find out the free variants in different communities in Agụata dialect, and free variants common to all the communities of Agụata dialect. It is a survey type of research. The researcher adopted variation theory as the theoretical framework for the study. The result shows that the following variants vary in some communities in Agụata dialect and do not vary in others. They are /s/ and /tʃ/, /ɲ/ and /j/, /ɣ/ and /ɦ/, /s/ and /ʃ/, /ɪ/ and /ʊ/. Besides, the following variants are common to all the communities of the dialect; they are /ɦ/ and /l/, /l/ and /r/, /l/ and /n/, /f/ and /ɦ/, and /r/ and /j/. At the end of the research, the researcher was able to accomplish the aim of embarking on the research. The study, recommends for further studies to be carried out in the following areas: The influence of geographical factors on free variation in Agụata dialect of Igbo, and free variation in Orumba dialect of Igbo.