Plural Formation Processes in the Wapan Dialect of Jukun

Abstract

This work treats plural formation processes in Wapan. Wapan is a dialect of the Jukun language spoken in Wukari local government area of Taraba State. The study identifies the means of forming plurality in the Wapan dialect of Jukun language. The methodology adopted for this study is the descriptive method and the data for this research were elicited from some selected Wapan native speakers in Avyi, Assa, Chonku, and Wukari II districts who are knowledgeable and acquainted with the rudiments of the dialect. The research used the leipzing glossing rules for the organization and coding of data for easy understanding of the meaning of individual words used. From the findings, the study holds that new words in Wapan dialect can be formed by plural formation. The study also revealed that although plural markers exist in the Wapan dialect, they vary. While “Hora and zhen” are plural markers in Wapan, “hora” is suffix and “zhen” is prefix. “Hora” and “zhen” can only be used as a plural marker as seen in “zhen-fyi” (rat-s) and “abuken-hora” (Shirt-s). The study simply identified prefixation and suffixation as processes used to derive plurals. It also provides linguistic information and guide for further description of morphology and phonological processes in Wapan. The paper revealed word formation rules of the dialect in relation to prefixation and suffixation as plural formation processes in Wapan dialect of Jukun language.