IGBO VOWEL ELISION: ADISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF OPI NSUKKA DIALECT OF ENUGU STATE

Abstract

This work pays attention to Vowel elision variation in standard Igbo and Opi dialect of Nsukka localGovernment Area of Enugu state. This was made possible through systematic participatory and noneparticipatory observation of the speakers’ use of the language and dialect in natural situations. Thespecific objective was to identify the distinctiveness of Opi vowel elision. Attention was focused on thevowel deletion in Opi dialect. In Opi dialect unlike the standard Igbo, vowel elision is highly commonand sometimes results to words without vowel which is strange to standard Igbo. It was research is setout to find the pattern of this elision variation. From the research, it was discovered that the Vowelelision variation of Opi dialect from that of the standard Igbo follows some patterns. It does not happenindiscriminately. Finally, the researcher made suggestion that more researches should be conducted inOpi dialect paying attention to social factors like age and status.