The Igala Language Resources: A Study of its Lexical Form Mahmud Mohammed Momoh Abstract Up to the current time, language learning has been a problematic exercise, not just because of the resources they deploy but more as a result of the nature of these resources as it regards to how they are coded, which poses assimilation challenges to learners; particularly new learners. The problem of alphabetic codes used (both vowel and consonants), also create challenges regarding spellings and pronunciations not only for the new learners but including the more astute ones. In this writing therefore, we have tried to provide new keys and codes (alphabetical and phonetically), for writing and speaking in the Igala Language. Thus, a broadsheet of words based on a symmetrical system of arrangement of these words alphabetically is provided. Grammatical words including their functions plus their morphological and synthetic contexts were provided. Examples regarding phrasal and sentence formation of the language were provided. The study found out that the English letters, Q, V, S?, X, and Z are discarded consonants while the letter C is used only in combination with H to produce words such as “U“ch”ona” or “uchona” (somebody’s name meaning) the creator, as one would have with English words as “ch”icken and kit“ch”en. else, the letter C is not used in writing “k” sounding words written with the letter C such as “can”, neither can it be used in writing a sound “s” bearing word such as “c”eiling, this would have been “sihlin”? within our Igala lexical system. Similarly, rather than write the word “q”uantity” with the letter Q, in our own Igala lexicon the spelling would appear as “kw”ontity”. The study discovered a predominance of the “kw”, “gb”, “gw”, and”ndj” consonant cluster in most words. To arrive at the long vowel, the letter H was added to vowel sounds implying stressed pronunciation. The study tried to simplify lexical and phonological codes used through the use of the; “ai”, “eu”, “iu”, “ue” sounds and other phonetic vowels and consonants as alphabets for lexical applications. The previous codes gave room for alphabetic use in words to have varying degree of alphebo-phonetic anomalies, a factor which posed a big challenge for language users.

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Mahmud Momoh

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Mahmud Momoh

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Mahmud Momoh