Nominalization

Nominalization

The three nomanalizers are ‘é’, ‘á’ and ‘à’.

Introduction to Nominalization

Nominalizations appear to be a rather important element of Igala grammar. As seen in sentences like the following, a nominalized form must follow the particle tʃē (most often used as a copula or focus/emphasis marker).

(1)

Otʃa̋lā	tʃē	é	mâ
O᷄tʃálā	tʃē	é	mà
Ochala	do	NMLZ	know
‘Ochala knew.’

Nominalizaing ‘é’

Though ‘é’ has thus far been the most common nominalizer, Ejeba (2016) points out that there are a variety of different nominalizers, all of which are vowels which are prefixed before the verb.

The first nominalizer ‘é’ creates a nominalized form resembling something of a verbal noun, or an infinitive in usage.

(2)

Ɔ́mē	é	bí
ɔ́mā	é	bí
child	NMLZ	bear
To bear children

As in 2) ‘ɔ́mā é bí’, the object of the verb can be fronted before the nominalizer.

Though the ‘é’ is often dropped in fluent speech due to Igala resistance to hiatus, it can be perceived by the contour tones it leaves on the previous syllable (2).

Nominalizaing ‘á’

The nominalizer ‘á’ is more like as Ejeba (2016). says an ‘agent’ nominalizer, functioning similarly to the -er suffix in English.

(3)

A̋	ka̋	dūfù	lɛ́
á	kà	dūfù	lɛ́
-er	say	out	DIST
The announcer

(4)

Á	bí	ɔ́mā
Á	bí	ɔ́mā
-er	bear	child
The bearer of children

Comparison between 'e' and 'a'

These two nominalizers are phonologically interesting because it appears that they spread their tones forwards to the next TBU of the verb that it nominalizes.

When there is only one TBU (tone bearing unit this creates a contour tone, however if there are more TBUs, the high tone pushes the other tones as in becomes a mid tone from tonal sandhi from the underlying low tone.

Particularly in the case of the ‘á’ nominalizer it is imperative to recognize this tone spreading phenomenon because it is the only phonological way to distinguish this ‘á’ from the imperfective ‘á’ which does not spread.

Compare

(5)

O24tʃa̋lā	á	mà
O᷄chálā	á	mà
Ochala	IPFV	know
‘Ochala will know’/Ochala is knowing

(6)

i̋mɔ̄tɔ́	ɔ́nɛ̄kɛ̀lɛ̄	lɛ̋	li̋	a̋	ma̋	lɛ́
ímɔ̄tɔ̄	ɔ́nɛ̄kɛ̀lɛ̄	lɛ́	lí	á	mà	lɛ́
Child	man	DIST	see	-er	know DET.DIST
‘The boy saw the one who knows.’

(Here the low tone from ma is pushed on to the distill demonstrative lɛ́ creating a mid tone)

Compare

(7a)

i̋mɔ̄tɔ́	ɔ́nɛ̄kɛ̀lɛ̄	lɛ̋	li̋	a̋	ka̋	dūfù	lɛ́
Ímɔ̄tɔ́	ɔ́nɛ̄kɛ̀lɛ̄	lɛ́	lí	á	kà	dūfù	lɛ́
Child	man	DET	see	-er	say	out	DET
The boy saw (*sees) the announcer

(7b)

i̋mɔ̄tɔ́	ɔ́nɛ̄kɛ̀lɛ̄	lɛ̋	mā	ā	kà	dūfù	lɛ́
Ímɔ̄tɔ́	ɔ́nɛ̄kɛ̀lɛ̄	lɛ́	mà	á	kà	dūfù	lɛ́
Child	man	DET	know	-er	say	out	DET
The boy knows (*knew) the announcer