FIELDWORK ON THE
PHONOLOGICAL PROCESSES IN
ESAN LANGUAGE
PRACTICUM PROJECT
LST 328
DR MRS OSEWA
NAMES OF GROUP MEMBERS
1. Odunuga Oluwaseun Moyinoluwa ART 2100806
2. Joseph Precious Mfonobong ART 2100784
3. Usino Peace Temidayo ART 2100852
4. Ejiogu Omasirichi Chidiebube ART 2100753
INTRODUCTION
This fieldwork is on the description of phonological processes in the
Esan language. Phonological process is defined as changes that occurs
during the production of speech in a language. There are two phonological
processes which are; Assimilatory and Non-Assimilatory. Assimilatory process
is defined as a process whereby a sound affects the production of a
neighboring sound in which the assimilation may be partial or complete.
Under the assimilatory process we have Nasalization as a sub-category.
Non-Assimilatory process is defined as processes which has
their own rules. Each of these process listed under this category are bound
by their own rules which makes them all different from each other. In this
category we have; Vowel elision, Consonant deletion, Glide formation,
Palatalization and Labialization.
BRIEF INSIGHTS ON THE ESAN LANGUAGE
The Esan Language is spoken by the Esan people in Edo State,
Nigeria. It belongs to the Edoid group of the Niger-Congo language family.
The Esan language has most of their words similar to the Edo (Bini)
language. This language incorporates several dialects in there are variations
among these dialects. There are about twenty- seven dialects in the Esan
language among which some are listed; Ekpoma, Ewatto, Uromi, Igueben,
Emu, Ohordua, Amahor e.t.c.
The Esan language is a tonal language which means that the tone
or pitch can affect the meaning of words. It typically adopts the three tone
system which are high, mid and low. Although in some cases there is the use
of the falling tone (^). It has it’s alphabet system just like many other
languages to accommodate the intricacies of their language. It has twenty-
eight consonant sounds, seven oral vowels and five nasal vowels.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
The aim of this fieldwork is to gather, identify and describe the
various phonological processes in the Esan language. The objectives are;
To examine phrases and structure where phonological processes are
evident in Esan language.
To identify the phonological processes in the Esan language.
To describe the phonological processes in the Esan language.
METHODOLOGY
Two informants from Esan were able to provide the necessary
informations needed for this fieldwork of which they were of different
dialects. Our first informant introduced herself as Mrs Gladys Iyore Emuze of
which her dialect is Ekpoma. Our second informant is Mr Cletus Ebuka
Ebikade of the dialect of Ewatto.
The collection of data from these two informants was based on the
usage of the Ibadan 400 wordlist, Swedish wordlist and a number of phrases
to be able to capture the phonological processes present in the Language.
For more effective collection of data there was the use of recorders to
accurately capture the tonal marks of the language.
DATA REPRESENTATION AND DESCRIPTION
Through the translation of our wordlist we were able to identify
some phonological processes present in the Esan Language. Here are them
below;
1. NASALIZATION
This is a sub-category of assimilation. Assimilation can be
defined as when sound segments are sequentially strung together they have
influence on adjacent segments; Thus sounds with stronger features tend to
influence those with weaker features (Omozuwa, 2010). Assimilation can also
be defined as a phonological process whereby a sound affects the production
of a neighboring sound; it can be either partial or complete.
Nasalization involves the spread of nasal features of inherent
nasal segments on a following or preceding oral segment (Omozuwa, 2010).
It is also the process by which nasal sound gives some or all of its nasal
features to a neighboring sound. Nasalization is also defined as the process
in which a nasal sound influences the production of another sound in close
proximity to it. Nasalization can either be progressive or regressive.
/orɔamεn/ - [orɔamɛ̃n] 'rainy season'
/εkεnɔɣɔ/ - [εkεnɔ̃ɣɔ] 'egg'
/εmu/ - [εmũ] 'ashes'
/anuɔn/ - [anuɔ̃n] 'pound'
/mɪεn/ - [mɪɛ̃n] 'give'
/erεnrεn/ - [erɛ̃nrɛ̃n] 'eight'
From these data is it seen that due to the presence of a nasal
sound being in close proximity to a vowel; the vowel sound receives
some of the nasal features of the nasal sound.
2. VOWEL ELISION
This is defined as a phonological process whereby a vowel
sound is being omitted; it is a process that occurs when two vowels appear
together at word boundaries. In the Esan language, the first vowel of the
sequence is usually omitted in the formation of new words. It therefore
makes it usually progressive.
[ɪgbé # eváh] – [ɪgbéváh]
ten two twelve
[uwa # nɔ # ɔkwà] – [uwanɔkwà]
House a big a big house
[uwa # okhere] – [uwakhere]
house small small house
The vowel elision occurs only at word boundary and it is seen that
due to a vowel sound being at word boundary and another one
beginning a word; when these two words are combined to form new
words one of these vowels is being elided.
3. CONSONANT DELETION
This is a phonological process whereby a consonant sound is
being deleted from a word. It is a process that usually happens for the
simplification of the pronunciation of words.
/eramhε/ - [erãmε] 'animal'
/ugwanhɪm/ - [ugwãnɪm] 'swimming'
/ɔdumhɪre/ - [ɔdumɪre]'stealing'
Based on the example, most times the voiceless glottal fricative is
usually deleted in rapid speech.
4. GLIDE FORMATION
This is phonological process which occurs when two vowel
segments are placed one after the other in a word; when this happens
one of the vowels becomes a glide. It mostly occur in rapid speech but
when a speaker does not speak hurriedly it does not happen.
In glide formation, a high or mid vowel segment
becomes a corresponding glide. In this case the close (front and back)
vowels /i,u/ becomes the glide sounds /j,w/ respectively.
Observe this data;
/ɪkpεgua/ - [ɪkpεgwa] 'beans'
/ohiε/ - [ohjε] 'leg'
/osalobua/ - [osalobwa] 'God'
The first example, it is evident that due to these two vowels
being placed together the sound [u] changes to the sound [w] when
the word is being pronounced in a hurry.
CONCLUSION
The Esan Language is one that is rich in the phonological process;
nasalization. Through the analysis, we were able to discover four
phonological processes from the data we have gathered.
Most of the nasalization processes found are mostly progressive
rather than regressive which then leads us to conclude that the Esan
language deals more with progressive nasalization.
Based on the Ewatto and Ekpoma dialect of the Esan language
we discovered that some of the letters in their words though may be present
orthographically but when pronounced they are rather omitted.
In conclusion, based on the data collected we were found the
following phonological processes which are; Nasalization, Consonant
deletion, Vowel elision and Glide formation.
REFERENCE
Yuka, C. and Ikoyo-Eweto, E. (2013) 'An Introduction to Esan Grammar'.
Omozuwa, V. (2010) 'Phonetics and Phonology'.
DATA COLLECTED FOR THE EKPOMA DIALECT
WORDS ESAN PHONEMIC PHONETIC
(EKPOMA) TRANSCRIPTI TRANSCRIPTI
ON ON
1. Head Úronmò /urɔmɔ/ [urɔmɔ]
2. Hair Ètò /eto/ [eto]
3. Eye Arò /aro/ [aro]
4. Ear Erhò /ehɔ/ [ehɔ]
5. Nose Íhuè /ɪhwε/ [ɪhwε]
6. Mouth Unu /unu/ [unu]
7. Tongue Ákòn /akɔn/ [akɔn]
8. Neck Úrú /uru/ [uru]
9. Big Okpónò /ɔpɔnɔ/ [ɔpɔnɔ]
10 Long Tan /tan/ [tãn]
.
11 Cold Ófòfò /ɔfɔfɔ/ [ɔfɔfɔ]
.
12 Hot Òtúè /ɔtuε/ [ɔtuε]
.
13 Dry Okàkà /ɔkaka/ [ɔkaka]
.
14 Right Emùátà /εmuata/ [εmuata]
.
15 Freeze Ozèzè /ɔzεzε/ [ɔzεzε]
.
16 Star Órònwèn /ɔrɔnwεn/ [ɔrɔ̃nwεn]
.
17 Moon Úkì /ukɪ/ [ukɪ]
.
18 Ashes Émù /emu/ [emu]
.
19 Ice Amènozèzè /amεɔzεzε/ [amɛ̃nɔzεzε]
.
20 Smoke Íghòghò /ɪɣoɣo/ [ɪɣoɣo]
.
21 Small Ókhèrè /oxere/ [oxere]
.
22 Rice Ízè /ɪzε/ [ɪzε]
.
23 Watch Ghi /ɣɪ/ [ɣɪ]
.
24 Weep Vie /vɪε/ [vɪε]
.
25 Call Tiéh /tɪe/ [tɪe]
.
26 Sell Sìén /sɪεn/ [sɪɛ̃n]
.
27 Steal Dòríe /dorɪe/ [dorɪe]
.
28 Take Mhie /mɪε/ [mɪε]
.
29 Catch Mue /muε/ [muε]
.
30 Hold Dóeyì /dɔjɪ/ [dɔjɪ]
.
31 Matchet Ókpìa /ɔkpɪa/ [ɔkpɪa]
.
32 Thread Oru /oru/ [oru]
.
33 House Úwà /uwa/ [uwa]
.
34 Room Ekowà /εkɔwa/ [εkɔwa]
.
35 Market Ékì /εkɪ/ [εkɪ]
.
36 Farm Úgbòh /ugbo/ [ugbo]
.
37 Days Ípèdè /ɪpεdε] [ɪpεdε]
.
38 God Òsè /osε/ [osε]
.
39 Urinate Áfìn /afɪn/ [afĩn]
.
40 Thief Ojì /ojɪ/ [ojɪ]
.
41 Day Édè /εdε/ [εdε]
.
42 Money Íghò /ɪɣo/ [ɪɣo]
.
43 Water Amèn /amε/ [amɛ̃]
.
DATA COLLECTED FOR THE EWATTO DIALECT
WORDS ESAN PHONEMIC PHONETIC
(EWATTO) TRANSCRIPTI TRANSCRIPTI
ON ON
1. Beans Ìkpéguà /ɪkpεgwa/ [ɪkpεgwa]
2. Plantain Ogede /ɔgεdε/ [ɔgεdε]
3. Cassava Gàrrí /gari/ [gari]
4. Orange Alomi /alomi/ [alomi]
5. Knife Ògha /ɔɣa/ [ɔɣa]
6. Road Ukpode /ukpodε/ [ukodε]
7. Stone Òbhìodò /oβɪdo/ [oβɪdo]
8. War Okhòn /oxɔ/ [oxɔ̃]
9. Fear Offèn /ofε/ [ofɛ̃]
10. Hunger Ohamhèn /ohamε/ [ohamɛ̃]
11. Story Ídòh /ɪdo/ [ɪdo]
12. Dry season Okà /oka/ [oka]
13. Rainy season Oro-amen /orɔamεn/ [orɔamɛ̃n]
14. Animal Éramhàn /eramε/ [erãmɛ̃]
15. Goat Ebhè /εwɪ/ [εwɪ]
16. He-goat Ebhè okpìa /εwɪokpa/ [εwɪokpa]
17. She-goat Ebhè okhuò /εwɪoxu/ [εwɪoxu]
18. Sheep Oghóghò /oɣoɣ/ [oɣoɣ]
19. Cow Èlámà /elama/ [elamã]
20. Horse Ésìn /εsɪ/ [εsĩ]
21. Dog Awàh /awa/ [awa]
22. Cat Obhiókhuè /Oβɪοxe/ [oβɪoxε]
23. Rat Ofèn /ofε/ [ofɛ̃]
24. Abomination Awaàh /awa/ [awa]
25. Chicken Ohookho /ɔxɔxɔ/ [ɔxɔxɔ]
26. Trap Ugbàgbè /ugbagbe/ [ugbagbe]
27. Rope Írì /ɪrɪ/ [ɪrĩ]
28. Egg Ekenogho /εkεnɔɣɔ/ [εkɛ̃nɔɣɔ]
29. Man Okpìa [okpɪa/ [okpɪa]
30. Woman Ohuo /oxo/ [oxo]
31. Boy Írirúèn /ɪrɪruεn/ [ɪrɪruɛ̃n]
32. Son Ómòukpìa /ɔmokpɪa/ [ɔmokpɪa]
33. Daughter Ómòukhúo /ɔmoxuo/ [ɔmoxuo]
34. Girl Omamhen /ɔmamε/ [ɔmãmɛ̃]
35. New Emiógbòn /emɪɔgbɔ/ [emĩɔgbɔ̃]
36. Old Wi /wɪ/ [wɪ]
37. Groundnut Isàwè /ɪsawε/ [ɪsawε]
38. Mother Íyinmhèn /ɪjɪnmε/ [ɪjĩnmɛ̃]
39. Father Írimhèn /ɪrɪmε/ [ɪrĩmɛ̃]
40. One Okpia /ɔkpa/ [ɔkpa]
41. Two Eváh /eva/ [eva]
42. Three Eyáh /eja/ [eja]
43. Four Enén /enε/ [enɛ̃]
44. Five Isén /ɪsε/ [ɪsɛ̃]
45. Six Éhàn /ehan/ [ehãn]
46. Seven Ìkhíòn /ɪxɪɔn/ [ɪxɪɔ̃n]
47. Eight Èrénrèn /erεnrεn/ [erɛ̃nrɛ̃n]
48 Nine Isínhi /ɪsɪnhɪ/ [ɪsĩnhɪ]
49. Ten Igbé /ɪgbe/ [ɪgbe]
50. Eleven Ùgbólòr /ugbolɔr/ [ugbolɔr]
51. Twelve Igbé eváh /ɪgbeva/ [ɪgbeva]
52. Thirteen Éyàyànigbé /ejajanɪgbe/ [ejajãnɪgbe]
53. Fourteen Enèníonyanigbé /enεnɪɔjanɪgbe/ [enɛ̃nɪɔjãnɪgbe]
54. Fifteen Isénnoyanigbé /ɪsεnɔjanɪgbe/ [ɪsɛ̃nɔjãnɪgbe]
55. Sixteen Éhanyanigbé /ehanjɪgbe/ [ehãnjɪgbe]
56. Seventeen Ìkhíònyanigbé /ɪxɪɔnjanɪgbe/ [ɪxɪɔ̃njãnɪgbe]
57. Eighteen Èrénrènyaigbé /erεnrεnjaɪgbe/ [erɛ̃nrɛ̃njaɪgbe]
58. Nineteen Isínhìnoyaigbé /ɪsɪnhɪnɔjaɪgbe/ [ɪsĩnhɪnɔjaɪgbe]
59. Twenty Ògbòr /ɔgbɔr/ [ɔgbɔr]
60. Dirty Íkù /ɪku/ [ɪku]
61. Eat Lébà /leba/ [leba]
62. Food Ébàh /eba/ [eba]
63. Seed Ikpo /ɪkpɔ/ [ɪkpɔ]
64. Urinate Afè /afe/ [afe]
65. Drink Ayòn /ajɔn/ [ajɔ̃n]
66. Stink Eminóyà /emɪnɔja/ [emĩnɔja]
67. Scent Eminnoueínhìu /emɪnɔuɪhɪ/ [emĩnɔuɪhɪ]
68. Ashes Emu /εmu/ [εmũ]
69. Star Áyàn /ajan/ [ajãn]
70. Moon Ùkì /ukɪ/ [ukɪ]
71. Red Jàn /ʤan/ [ʤãn]
72. Black Obhíhì /oβɪhɪ/ [oβɪhɪ]
73. Yellow Iyellow /ɪjεlo/ [ɪjεlo]
74. Jaw Ítúagbòn /ɪtuagbɔn/ [ɪtuagbɔ̃n]
75. Tongue Úkpóràmhàn /ukporamhan/ [ukporãmhãn]
76. White Ofián /ɔfɪan/ [ɔfɪãn]
77. Blue Òbùlé /obule/ [obule]
78. Swimming Ugwannhìm /ugwanhɪm/ [uguãnhĩm]
79. Float Edeòlèh /εdεɔlε/ [εdεɔlε]
80. Enter Labhor /laβɔr/ [laβɔr]
81. Remember Yereh /jereh/ [jereh]
82. Walk Iwénnàn /ɪwεnan/ [ɪwεnãn]
83. See Nàrèdaghé /narεdaɣe/ [narεdaɣe]
84. Hear Narèhón /narεhɔn/ [narεhɔ̃n]
85. Axe Uzè /uze/ [uze]
86. Turn around Fíegbèwenégbè /fɪgbewεnegbe/ [fɪgbewɛ̃negbe]
87. Turn Dèlégbè /delegbe/ [delegbe]
88. Touch Róbòrsúè /robɔrsuε/ [robɔrsuε]
89. Hand Óbòr /obɔr/ [obɔr]
90. Leg Ohie /ohjε/ [ohjε]
91. Shirt Èhú /εhu/ [εhu]
92. Forget Yeah /jɪah/ [jɪah]
93. Think Rìáh /rɪah/ [rɪah]
94. To learn Nánrèluór /nanrεluɔr/ [nãnrεluɔr]
95. Year Ùkpè /ukpe/ [ukpe]
96. Watch Ighòhogbè /ɪɣogbe/ [ɪɣogbe]
97. Weep Èvié /evɪε/ [evɪε]
98. Call Tíòrre /tɪɔre/ [tɪɔre]
99. Selling Ikhiemhìn /ɪxɪmhɪn/ [ɪxĩmhĩn]
100 Stealing Odúmhiré /ɔdumɪre/ [ɔdũmɪre]
.
101 Like Ikhúènmón /ɪxuεnmɔ/ [ɪxuɛ̃nmɔ̃]
.
102 Take Mhien /mɪεn/ [mĩɛ̃n]
.
103 Catch Menmuen /mεnmue/ [mɛ̃nmue]
.
104 Pound Anúòn /anuɔn/ [anuɔ̃n]
.
105 Hoe Iguwé /ɪguwε/ [ɪguwε]
.
106 Give Mhien /mɪεn/ [mĩɛ̃n]
.
107 Hold Monwhon /monwɔn/ [monwɔ̃n]
.
108 Matchet Okpía /ɔkpɪa/ [ɔkpɪa]
.
109 Thread Òlú /olu/ [olu]
.
110 Village Ébhòmà /εβoma/ [εβοma]
.
111 House Úwà /uwa/ [uwa]
.
112 Mould Amáen /aman/ [amãn]
.
113 Market Ákì /akɪ/ [akɪ]
.
114 Farm Òdiwè /odɪwε/ [odɪwε]
.
115 Days Èdèrebhe /εdεrεβe/ [εdεrεβe]
.
116 Medicine Íkhùn /ɪxun/ [ɪxũn]
.
117 Fetish Kémìkemi /kεmɪkεmɪ/ [kεmɪkεmɪ]
.
118 God Òsàlúobùa /osalobwa/ [osalobwa]
.
119 Corpse Ònìmìnì /onɪmɪnɪ/ [onĩmĩnɪ]
120 Pay Haósà /haosa/ [haosa]
.
121 Debtor Òluòsà /olusa/ [olusa]
122 Doctor Idókìtá /ɪdɔkɪta/ [ɪdɔkɪta]
123 Slim Leghéleghe /lεɣεlεɣε/ [lεɣεlεɣε]
.
124 Dry Okaka /ɔkaka/ [ɔkaka]
.
125 White Ofian /ɔfɪan/ [ɔfɪãn]
.
126 Lamb Òjiéh /oʤε/ [oʤε]
.
127 Urinate Afe /afε/ [afε]
.
DATA COLLECTED FOR EKPOMA PHRASES
Long tree - Eran nó tàn.
A big house - Uwa nókwa.
Small house - Uwakhérè.
Cooked corn - Okánalè.
Roasted corn - Olanátòn.
The father's ashes - Amuén no se ábà.
Cooked rice - Ízènalè.
Old man - Edion ma.
Watch your back - Gbelò ghíkèkè.
Long hair - Étò nó tàn.
Hold the money - Díghòjì.
Strong man - Ókpìa no wèhgbè.
DATA COLLECTED FOR EWATTO PHRASES
Cooking pot - Úwáwà.
I'm hungry - Ohamhèn.
Story book - Ebìdòh.
Rat trap - Ugbòfen.
Big head - Okpilukhuonkhuon.
Old shoe - Íbata no wí.
Long snake - Eyen nò tán tàn.
Big man - Okpìa no mhen.
Slim girl - Ohuo no leghéleghé.
Corn seed - Ikpokà.
Bad water - Amennènmhew.
Drinking water - Amen ámhòn.
Smart person - Ore mhìn.
I like this bag - Ikhúènmónenkpà.
Strong man - Okpìa no kàkà.
Give birth - Narèbié.
Twelve baskets - Okhuà igbévàh.
Untie the shoe lace - Ukpirìshú - tá - ann.
Climb the tree - Honkhuéràn.
Remember me - Yemhèré.
Bad mother - Iyonnénmèn.
Close the door - Bíodegbé.
Break the bottle - Gbornórkornìan.
Push me - Kuobòrrámhèu.
Throw stone - Fíkpòbhídò.
Heavy rain - Amen óròhkaka.
Long hair - Etò no tan tàn.
Buy some clothes - Tóhponesò.
I pound yam - Mennúémà.
Hold the money for me - Réighómhònmèn.
Follow me - Rekhánmèn.
Send me message - Giménùkhánwòn.
Cooked corn - Okanayè.
Roasted corn - Okanàtón.
