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)[1] 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)[1]. 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 | |||||||