Phonetic Differences between Esan and Selected Edoid Languages
Abstract
This study is comparative. It identifies some linguistic features which distinguish Esan, Ẹdo and the dialect cluster of Ẹra-Emai-Iuleha (Ọwan). These three languages constitute a branch of Elugbe’s (1986) Proto North Central Ẹdoid. The impetus for the work is the dearth of micro-comparative studies of the languages that comprise Proto-Ẹdoid. The study is phonetic and examined differences in sound and tonal features of these languages. Primary data comprised lexical items from the languages under focus and were gathered from L1speakers of these languages, while secondary data comprised previous relevant works on the languages under study. Data analysis comprised simple comparative methods by which the sound and tonal features of these languages were examined for relatedness. Results of analysis showed that the major phonetic differences between Esan, Edo and Ọwan lie in their tonetic structure. Specifically, while Edo and Ọwan feature an all High and a final High tonal pattern on lexical items, Esan does not. The Esan language also displays more similarities in phonetic sound inventory with Ọwan than with Ẹdo. Esan and Ọwan feature 28 consonant phones each while Edo features 27 phones. The alveolar trill [ṛ ] and the alveolar approximant [ɹ] attested in Ẹdo are peculiar to the language. This study gives an insight into micro linguistic relationships that are shown to exist between members of a language group. It would enhance similar such studies within this group and contribute to further comparative studies and the documentation of the languages under study.
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