Aspects Of Bura Phonology
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Aspects Of Bura Phonology
Chapter one
GENERAL INTRODUCTIONS
1.0 Introduction
As an introductory chapter, we will discuss Bura’s historical history, sociolinguistic profile, and genetic classification of the language. Other subheadings in this chapter include the study’s scope and organisation, theoretical framework, data collecting, data analysis, and a brief overview of the chosen framework.
1.1 Genetic Background of the Language
Bura is a language spoken in two contiguous states in Nigeria’s northeast. Bura native speakers can be found in southern Borno and northern Adamawa. Native speakers can be found in the Gwoza and Damboa districts of Borno state, and in Madagalik, Gulak, Duhu, and Isge districts of Adamawa.
The SIL website ethnologue reports a total of 250,000 ‘Bura’ speakers.
1.2 The Historical Background of Bura Speakers
As previously indicated, Bura native speakers can be found in the southern portion of Borno and the northern part of Adamawa. Native speakers may be found in Borno’s Gwoza and Damba districts, while in Adamawa, they live in Madagalik, Gulak, Duhu, and Isgel.
The people of Duhu in Adamawa State moved from Sukur Mountain. Sukur Mountain is located in the Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The movement was driven by population growth and a need for farmland.
Quite a few Bura speakers are literate. This is the result of early contact with Church of Brethen (CBM) Missionaries, who provided education and medical care to the Bura people.
1.3 Sociolinguistic Profile of the Bura Language
The Bura people, like many Africans, have an extremely diverse sociolinguistic profile. These include their system of government, which is headed by the king. The monarch is assisted by leaders of various units like as farming and the army, known as ‘Lawans’.
Bura people practise three religions: Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religion (ATR). A rough estimation of the religious percentages is given below: Muslim 78%, Christians 20%, and traditionalists 2%.
Bura people traditionally dress in Hausa attire and carry sticks (particularly on mountains). The women are shown wearing skirts and wrappers that they tie on one side above their shoulders. Their hair is always chopped short and worn with a calabash.
Bura Agriculture’s Economic System. In fact, agriculture is the Bura’s major occupation. Among their holidays are the’maize harvest’ festival, which takes place before new corn can be consumed, and the’mbal’ festival, which is held for both men and women who are eligible for marriage.
1.4 Genetic Classification
Bura, Comrie (1987: 706) and Newman (1977), as quoted in Meritt (1991: 92), belong to the Bura group of the Biu-Mandara branch of the Chadic sub-family of the Afro-Asiatic Phylum. This is illustrated in the family tree below.
AFRICA
Niger-Kodorfania Afro-Asiatic Nilo-Saharan Khoisan
Egyptian – Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic, Berber, and Chadic
West Chadic Biu Mandara; East Chadic Masa.
Tera Kotoko: Bura Higi, Mandara Matakam, Sukur, and Daba Bata
Group, Group, Group, Group, Group, Group
Kilba: Chibak, Bura (Pabir), Margi, and Puta
1.4.1 Genetic Classification of Bura
1.4.2: A Map of Bura
1.5 Scope and Organisation.
This lengthy essay is organised into five chapters. The first chapter is an introductory chapter that will include a general introduction to the research, the speakers’ historical background, a sociolinguistic profile of the Bura people, genetic classification of the language, data collection and analysis, and the theoretical framework used.
Chapter two discusses fundamental phonological concepts such as sound inventory, tone inventory, syllable inventory, and sound distribution. The chapter concludes with a taxonomy of characteristic sounds in the language.
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