COMPARATIVE PHONOLOGY OF EPÌNMÌ AND ÌSÙÀ

The research work made an explicit Generative analysis and comparison of phonological aspect of Epìnmì and ìsùà. Every aspect of Epìnmì and ìsùà phonology was examined using the Generative Phonology theory as frame-work. In chapter one, we gave a general introduction to the work. We examine the geographical location, historical background, speech form of the two communities where the two speech forms (Epìnmì and ìsùà) is being spoken as well as the research methodology and genetic classification of the speech forms. It was discovered that Epìnmì belong to South East Edoid (according to Oshodi 2011) and ìsùà belongs to southwestern Edoid (according to Grimes 1996). We also present the questions which this research tends to answer, the scope of the study and some limitations encountered. In chapter two, conceptual review of literatures was made on the concept of phonology and Generative Phonology as one of the theories of phonology. Empirical review was also made 106 where we review past literatures, journals, articles and publications on the speech forms under investigation. Chapter three of this work examined the sound system of Epìnmì and ìsùà. The sounds were divided into three; the consonants, vowels and tones. Structural environment of each of the consonants, vowels and tones were analyzed. In the course of this research, some interesting phonological features were discovered in Ẹpìnmì and Ìṣùà. nineteen consonants were discovered in Ẹpìnmì while Ìṣùà manifests (21) distinct consonants. It was also discovered that the two speech forms have the same vowels and number of vowels; 7 oral vowels [i, e, ε, a, u, o, ɔ] and 5 nasal vowels [i, ε, a, u, ɔ] and the three tones attested by the two speech form are high [ ́ ], low [ ] ̀ and mid [ ] unmarked. High tone does not occur word-initially in Ẹpìnmì but does in Ìṣùà. Consonants in both speech forms occur word-initially and word-medially but not at word-final positions. tonal patterns and melodies, syllable structure, morpheme structure constraint. In chapter four, phonological processes in each speech form was examined. It was observable that assimilation, deletion, insertion, vowel harmony were present in the speech forms. It was also discovered in the course of the research that in the speech forms under study, nasalization which is a phonological process and neutralization are closely similar as they behave likewise