NOUN PHRASE STRUCTURES IN MANDARIN CHINESE AND IGBO: A CONTRASTIVE STUDY

Abstract

This study conducts a contrastive study of noun phrase structures in Mandarin Chinese and Igbo. Utilizing Contrastive Analysis Theory as its theoretical framework and a descriptive approach, the research identifies and compares the noun phrases in both languages, highlighting their similarities and differences in syntax. It also explores the implications of these differences for Chinese learners of Igbo and Igbo learners of Chinese. Data were sourced from secondary materials, including published works on grammar, linguistics, and comparative analysis, as well as unpublished lecture notes and internet-based resources. The analysis focuses on Standard Mandarin and Standard Igbo and is qualitative in nature. A key finding reveals the use of the particle ? (de) in Mandarin to form noun phrases from adjectives, a feature which is absent in Igbo. This study contributes to the broader field of comparative linguistics, offering valuable insights into how different languages structure the fundamental unit of meaning: the noun phrase.