DIALECTAL VARIATION OF IGALA LANGUAGE

ABSTRACT This study investigates dialectal variation of Igala language, focusing on five major dialects Idah, Dekina, Ankpa, Ogugu, and Ibaji. Employing a descriptive and comparative linguistic approach, the research identifies phonological, lexical, morphological, and syntactic differences among these dialects using a structured wordlist and interviews. The study further explored language attitudes, revealing a bias toward the Idah dialect in formal settings, which raised questions about standardization and inclusiveness in language policy. Findings reveal significant intra-language variations influenced by geography, contact with neighboring languages, and sociolinguistic factors. Notably, the central dialects (Idah, Dekina, Ankpa) shared more linguistic features, while the peripheral dialects (Ogugu and Ibaji) exhibit divergence, especially in phonetics and vocabulary. Despite these differences, mutual intelligibility remained high among most dialects. Recommendations include dialect-inclusive educational practices and further research into dialect preservation and language planning. This research contributed to Nigerian dialectology, sociolinguistics, and the preservation of minority languages, particularly within the Benue-Congo family.