A Comparative Analysis of Nominal Qualifiers in Ebira and Igede Dialects

Student: Oluwafunmilayo Morenikeji Babalola (Project, 2025)
Department of Linguistics and Nigeria Language
Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State

Abstract

This study investigates nominal qualifiers in the Ebira and Igede languages. It examines the types and functions of qualifiers within the nominal phrase, including determiners, adjectives, numerals, and pronouns. The study finds that both languages primarily exhibit post-nominal modification, where qualifiers typically follow the head noun. This research employs a descriptive analytical approach, analyzing the grammatical structure and functions of nominal qualifiers in the two languages. This study is grounded in Government and Binding (GB) Theory, which provides a framework for understanding the syntactic relationships between different components of a sentence, including the relationship between the head noun and its modifiers within the nominal phrase. The study reveals similarities in the syntactic behavior of nominal qualifiers in both Ebira and Igede. Both languages predominantly exhibit post-nominal modification, where qualifiers such as adjectives, numerals, and possessive pronouns follow the head noun. The study also examines the positioning of determiner phrases within the sentence structure, analyzing their function as subjects, objects, and objects of prepositions.

Keywords
comparative analysis nominal qualifiers ebira igede dialects
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