Aspects Of Kono Verb Phrase
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Aspects Of Kono Verb Phrase
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
General Background
This study project investigates the verb-phrase of the Kono language, with a focus on the language’s verb phrase structure according to GB theory. The Kono language is spoken in Kauru Local Government, Kaduna State.
This chapter focusses mostly on the historical background of the Kono people, the geographical location of its speakers, the socio-cultural profile, and the genetic categorisation of the language.
1.1 Historical Background
Kono is a language spoken in Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The Kono language is spoken by a limited number of people in Kauru; native Kono speakers are known as “Jawuzura” by Hausa speakers, while Hausa speakers call them Konu or Kwono.
According to oral history, Kono speakers originated in a dense forest in the northern section of Kaduna. The place is surrounded by many rocks, and the people of Kono feel that they are comfortable until the arrival of the British Colonial master
who brought Christian religion through a female missionary. The arrival of this missionary caused many changes to the Kono speech community. This covers school, culture, attire, and Christianity.
1.2 Social – Cultural Profiles
The Kono speaking community has a rich cultural heritage, including marriage, attire, occupation, religion, festivals, and naming ceremonies.
1.2.1 Occupation of Kono People
The Kono speech community consists primarily of farmers and hunters. Kono people are subsistence farmers who mostly grow sugarcane, but also grow yam, millet, maize, cassava, and other food crops. The Kono people are also blessed with a yam known as “Morongo,” which grows on its own and does not require any human intervention.
Kono people also engage in hunting and trading, but these activities are less important than agriculture.
1.2.2 Marriage.
Marriage in the Kono speech community is done according to their culture; they believe that a lazy man cannot marry their daughter even in the same community. Before a man can marry their daughter after their proposal, the man must provide a wood crave and axe to the girl he wishes to marry, indicating that she will bring firewood home from the farm for cooking.
In addition, the man who intends to marry their daughter must farm for his wife’s family both before and after their marriage throughout the rainy season.
1.2.3 RELIGION
Christian missionaries were the first religious campaigners to encounter the Kono speech community. For this reason, Kono speakers are predominantly Christians; prior to the arrival of Christian missionaries, the Kono speaking community practiced traditional religion.
1.2.4 FESTIVALS.
The Kono speaking community celebrates a celebration named “Burkana,” which means “King/Creator.” As a Christian community, Christmas is a unique celebration to the Kono people, during which all members of the Kono community from around the country gather to celebrate.
1.3 Geographical Location
The Kono language is spoken in Kauru Local Government Area, Kaduna State. This language Kono is spoken between the Padan-Kono and Gbure speech communities in Kauru Local Government, Kaduna North.
1.4 Genetic classification of KONO
According to Ruhlen (1987:1), genetic classification is based on the assumption that a collection of languages that share certain systematic resemblances inherited those characteristics from a common origin.
Genetic classification could be represented by a tree diagram that depicts the genesis of a language and its genetic relationships to other languages. The Kono language is classified as Kainji in the Benue-Congo group of the Niger-Congo language family. Here it is as shown in the diagram below:
1.5 Scope of the Study
The goal of this research is to thoroughly investigate the verb phrase component of Kono language. The researcher will discuss what a verb phrase is and the many types of verbs that are attested in Kono language. In addition, an insight was provided into the phrase structure rule that can capture all potential verb phrases in this language.
The main focus of this research is the analysis and exemplification of verb phrases as well as probable phrase structure rules in Kono language.
1.6 Organisation of the Study
This study project will have five chapters. The first chapter is an introduction that focusses on the Kono people’s historical history, socio-cultural characteristics, and genetic tree diagram. It also includes data analysis, data collecting, the study’s scope and organisation, the theoretical framework, and a brief assessment of the chosen framework.
Chapter two will cover basic syntactic ideas, while Chapter three will focus on the verb, its nature, and the various forms of verb phrases found in Kono language. The fourth chapter will look at the Transformational Process of Syntax, such as Focussing and Pasivization.
The final chapter, Chapter 5, will be reviewed in terms of summary, conclusion, and suggestions.
1.7 Theoretical Frameworks
The Government and Binding Theory (GB Theory) will serve as the theoretical basis for this research endeavour. This is meant to replace the previously existing theory known as Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG).
1.8 Data Collection
The data used in this research endeavour were acquired using the informant method, commonly known as the contact method. Data elicitation was conducted through direct interviews with language helpers, with audio cassettes recorded; the frame approach was also used during data gathering.
The informants (language assistants) used in this study work are listed below:
Informant 1: Mrs. Asabe Luka.
Occupation: Businesswoman
Age: 58 years.
Religion: Christianity.
Number of years living in the village: 25.
Other languages spoken include Hausa and English.
Informant 2: Miss Martha Luka.
occupation: student
Age: 25 years.
Religion: Christianity.
Number of years lived in the village: 10 years.
Other languages spoken include Hausa and English.
Informant 3: Miss Sarah Luka
occupation: student
Age: 21 years.
Religion: Christianity.
I have lived in the village for six years.
Other languages spoken include Hausa and English.
1.9 Data Analysis
The Ibadan 400 word list includes a list of terms in English that have comparable meanings in Kono language as provided by an informant.
The frame approach is also employed in this project. It is the construction of sentences in English language in which the informant provides the meaning in Kono language.
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