MORPHOPHONEMICS OF AFO

This study investigates the morphophonemic processes in the Afo dialect, spoken in Ondo state, a south western country in Nigeria. The research aims to identify and describe the phonological changes that occur at morpheme boundaries and to determine the underlying rules governing these alternations. Data for the study were obtained through oral interviews with native speakers and analyzed using a descriptive linguistic framework supported by aspects of generative phonology. Findings reveal that the Afo dialect exhibits several morphophonemic processes, including vowel harmony, vowel elision, nasal assimilation, and consonant alternation. These processes play crucial roles in maintaining phonotactic balance and morphological cohesion within word structures. The study further shows that morphophonemic alternations in Afo are both phonologically and morphologically conditioned, reflecting the dialect’s effort to preserve syllable structure and ease of articulation. The analysis contributes to the broader understanding of Nupoid morphophonemics and provides a foundation for comparative studies with other related dialects in the Niger-Congo family.