Table of Contents
- Abstract
- 1.0 Introduction
- 1.1 Types of allomorphs
- 1.1.1 Zero Allomorph [-Ø]
- 1.1.2 Replacive Allomorphs
- 1.1.3 Suppletive allomorphs.
- 1.1.4 Additive Allomorphs
- 1.2 The Fulve
- 1.3 Fulfulde Nouns
- 1.4 Derivation
- 1.5 Morphological Process
- 2.0 Discussion
- 2.1 Ve Personal plural class allomorphs
- 2.2 Xi Plural class marker morpheme
- 2.3 Xe Non personal Plural class
- Conclusion
- References
Allomorphic Variations of Fulfulde Plural Suffix
Morphemes
Umar Hussaini Ph.D
Department of Languages
and Linguistics
University of Maiduguri
, Nigeria
Abstract
Fulfulde
as a language of the Fulve is widely spoken across the Fulaphones. Its grammar,
notwithstanding, has been described to an extent, including morphology, leaving
a dearth of research in the morphological manifestations. Though, Hussaini (forthcoming,)
presented an analysis of allomorphic variations of Fulfulde singular suffix morphemes.
In view of this, we attempt to undertake this research with the hope to fill the
existing gap between singular and plural suffix variations. Therefore, paper looks
at the allomorphic variations of Fulfulde plural suffix morphemes by the way of
suffixation method. The data are mainly drawn from Mohammed (2015) and other from
native
speakers intuition. The study reveals that among the six plural suffix morphemes
namely; Ve, Xe,
Xi, Kon, Ko, and Koy the first three (Ve, Xe and Xi) preserve
allomorph suffix variations while the last three are not characterized with any
allomorphs. The paper uncovered that Ve, Xe, and Xi took regular allomorph variants
contrary to Mohammed (2015) study who claimed that they are plural forms independently.
Therefore, the paper maintained that /-en/suffix is an allomorph of ve plural class,
/-e/, /-le/, /-je/ are allomorphs of Xe plural class whereas /-i/, /-li/ and /-ji/
are allomorphs of Xi plural class form respectively, all which are in complimentary
distributions.
Keywords:
Morpheme, allomorph, derivation affixation, suffixation, suffixes
1.0 Introduction
Moreover, in English
for example, when we find a group of different morphs, all versions of one morpheme,
we can use the prefix allo- and describe
them as allomorphs of that morpheme. If we take “plural” [s],
note that it can be attached to a number of lexical morphemes
to produce structures like cat+ plural, bus + plural, sheep + plural and man +plural.
In each of these examples, the actual forms of the morphs that result from other
different morpheme ‘plural’ are different. Yet they are all allomorphs of the same
morpheme. So, in addition to /s/and /
Ə
z/ another allomorph of “plural” in English seems to be zero
morph, because the plural of sheep is
actually ‘sheep + Ø. When we look at ‘man + Pl.’ we have a
vowel alternation as the morph that produces irregular plural form ‘men’ c.f Fromkin and et als (2018:218-220),
and Yule (2010).
Again, English past
tense marker is another morpheme that has multiple morphs and is thus an allomorph.
When you form past tense, you add the sound /t/, /d/, and /
Ə
e/ to free morphemes
to put them in the past tense, such as in talked, grabbed, and wanted respectively.
Therefore, allomorphs of morpheme are in complementary distribution. This implies
that they cannot substitute for each other. Hence, we cannot replace one allomorph
of that morpheme and change the meaning c.f Katamba (1989, 2010).
Allomorphs are also
viewed as different forms of the same morpheme or basic unit of meaning. This can
be different pronunciation, or different spellings. This happens when the same meaning
unit like [past] for past tense or [pl] for plural has more than one sound form
for example:
(Past) morpheme [-d],
have three variant allomorphs namely: /-d/, /t/ and
Ə
d/. Equally, (Plural)
morpheme [-s] have three variant allomorphs i.e : /-iz/, /-s/ and /-z/, c.f. Prasad
(2019), Bamisaye, (1989: 73-74), Katamba (1993 :28-29) .
In addition to the above, Katamba (1993:25) professed that sometimes different morphs may represent the same morpheme. For instance the past tense regular verbs in English which is spelled –ed, is realized in speech by /Id/,/-d/or /–t/. He further claimed that, the phonological properties of the last segment of the verb to which it is attached determine the choice. It is therefore realized as /Id/if the verb ends in /d/or /t/ for example.
|
Phonetic Transcription |
Orthographic Transcription |
a |
/mend/ |
mend |
b |
/mendId/ |
Mended |
c |
/peInt |
paint’ |
d |
peIntId / |
Painted |
Again, it is also realized
as /d/after a verb ending in any voiced sound except /d/ for example:
|
Phonetic Transcription |
Orthographic Transcription |
a |
/kiI:n/ |
clean |
b |
/kiI:nd/ |
Cleaned |
c |
/weI/ |
weigh |
D |
/-weId/ |
Weighed |
Similarly, it is realized
as /t/ after a verb ending in any voiceless consonant other than /t/ e.g.
|
Phonetic Transcription |
Orthographic Transcription |
a |
/pa:k/ |
park |
b |
/pakt/
|
Parked |
c |
/ mIs/ |
miss |
d |
/mIst/ |
Missed |
Considering the above examples Katamba (1993:27), continued that /Id/, /d/ ant /t/ are English morphs, and equally all of the three morphs are allomorphs of the past tense morpheme. He stated that the central technique used in the identification of morphs is based on the notion of distribution, i.e the total set of context in which a particular linguistic form occurs. Therefore, set of morphs are classified as allomorphs of the same morpheme if they are in complimentary distribution. Again, Katamba (op. cit) indicated that morphs are said to be in complimentary distribution if (i) they represent the same meaning or serve as the same grammatical function and (ii) they are never found in identical contexts. Thus, these three morphs /-Id/, /d/ and/t/ which represent the English regular past tense morpheme /ed / are in complimentary distribution.
1.1 Types of allomorphs
Hunar (2019) identified
four types of allomorphs; (i) Zero allomorph (ii) replacive allomorphs, allomorph
iii) suppletive allomorphs and iv) additive allomorphs as shown below.
1.1.1 Zero Allomorph [-Ø]
This is the easiest
one to identify because there is no change in both verb and plural form. Zero allomorph
deal with the situation where there is no change of shape a word though, some difference
in meaning is identified, for example;
Irregular verb plural form
Hurt/hurt-Ø (past tense) sheep + s (=Ø) sheep
Fish/ fish-Ø (plural) deer + s (=Ø)
deer etc
Moose/moose-Ø
1.1.2 Replacive Allomorphs
Hunar op cit. stated
that this type of allomorphs has an infix or internal change of word. The examples
are obtained from irregular verbs and plural form e.g
Irregular verbs plural form
Drink – drank - drunk tooth - teeth
Sing –sang – sung man- men etc
1.1.3 Suppletive allomorphs.
Suppletion is the use
of two or more phonetically distinct roots for different forms of the same word,
such as the adjective “bad and its supplative comparative form “worse”, or other
form of adjective like “Better – best”
1.1.4 Additive Allomorphs
The allomorphs in this group consists of three sub-categories.
The first set include /t/, /d/and /ed/ which attached to verbs to indicate “past
time”. The second sub-category consist of /s/, /z/and /ez/ which attached to nouns
making the “plural, possessive”.e.g.
/t/ as in kissed
/d/ as in killed
/ed/ as in battled
The last sub=group of allomorphs under this category include
the following examples:
Like/s/,/z/,and ez/ when attached to nouns making their
plural, possessive e.g
-Witches (followed by a vowel hence uses/ez/)
-Dogs (followed by a voiced sound‘s’ hence uses /z/)
Cats (followed by a voiceless sound‘t’ hence uses /s/ c.f Hunar (2019).
1.2 The Fulve
The Fulve or Fulani are the cattle owners’ tribe in West
Africa. They are made up of three categories according to their modes of living;
there are pastoral (nomadic), semi sedentary and settled urban Ful
ɓ
e. Majority of them live in northern part of Nigeria. As
from 1970-1978 a considerable number of the pastoral Ful
ɓ
e in the North have moved South into tropical forest to
accommodate their big herds of cattle and flocks of sheep (
Arnott, 1970:1 and
Azarya, 1978:15).
The people are scattered
all over West Africa from Senegambia in the West up to Nile in the East. They constitute
the most widespread people in West Africa having various degrees of concentration
in many countries. The Ful
ɓ
e in Northern Nigeria
comprise of three major dialects. They are Sokoto, Central Northern Nigeria and
Adamawa dialects (Arnott, 1970:3). Moreover, among these dialects, there are also
family lineages formed by clans which are mutually intelligible. The Central Northern
Nigeria dialect consists of several sub- dialects spoken by both rural and urban
Ful
ɓ
e.
The Fulani call themselves
Ful
ɓ
e (sing. Pullo), their
language is Fulfulde, and it means much more than the spoken language. It includes
among other things highly valued and respected cultural values, identity and solidarity.
Their language is Fulfulde and their original culture is Pulaaku. They are known
to other people by various names. The British and Hausa call them Fulani, in Bornu,
they are called Fulata, in Senegal they are referred to as Pular, whereas in Mali
and Guinea they are called Fula and the French call them Peuls (Mohammadou, 2003:1).
Their greatest concentration is Northern Nigeria where millions of them live. Azarya
(1978:15) observes that the other Ful
ɓ
e concentrations are
found in Senegambia (300,000), in the Futa Djallon area in Guinea (800,000), Massina
area in Mali (500,000), and northern Cameroon (400,000).
With regard to the
origin of the Fulve, some scholars presented different opinions. Dellafosse (1955)
claimed that Fulfulde is an arbitrarily invented children language. However, Meinhof
(1912) opines that Fulfulde was a Hamitic language, a proposition accepted by Taylor
(1953), who says “the generally accepted theory is that Fulani is one of the Hamitic
tongues” (see Daudu, 2005:12). Meanwhile, Sultan Mohammed Bello in his book Infaa-kul mausir ascertains Fulve origin
to an Arab, Ukba bn Nafi who has been sent on a mission to Africa to spread the
Islamic religion. According to this tradition, Ukba bn Nafi married a Malinke Princess
called Bajjo Mango at Fuuta Djallon and their descendants were said to be the Fulve
who later spread into Africa.
It was in the midst
of these historical and linguistic controversies (Bendor-Samuel, 1989), reclassifies
Fulfulde and placed the language under the North group of Atlantic languages within
Niger–Congo sub family as against Greenberg’s (1963) West-Atlantic (Daudu, 2005).
The language compares
closely with Seerer lexically and grammatically. Specifically, Fulfulde, Wolof,
Seerer and Joola are classified in the West Atlantic languages of the Niger Congo
family by Greenberg (1963).In addition, recent studies have indicated that Fulfulde
is an African language belonging to the Atlantic group of the Atlantic-Congo sub
family in the Niger Congo family of the Niger Kordofanian phylum (Bendor-Samuel,
1989). Equally, with regards to Fulve physical appearance, they mostly differ from
other Negro Africans to some extent even with their racial adulteration in many
parts of Nigeria especially among the settled Fulve category. In view of this, Barth
quoted in Johnson (1967), points out that those Fulani physical characteristics
and their undoubted talents have given rise to all kinds of notions about their
origin. The classic Fulve features include having a tall lean body, light skin,
curly hair, thin noses and lips. Koelle’s Polyglotta of 1854, states that Fulfulde
has a close linguistic affinity with those languages that formed the West Atlantic
subdivision within the Niger Congo groups
1.3 Fulfulde Nouns
Nouns are categorized
into gender in some languages, but in Fulfulde they are made up of classes. However,
that does not mean Fulfulde has no gender because gender and sex are always compatible
(Mukoshy 1997). Furthermore, Mukoshy (1977:2) described Fulfulde nouns as forms
that are either primary forms or secondary forms. According to him, the primary
forms are conventional, non-derived forms denoting a concept; though, the secondary
forms are derived from the primary noun forms, or from verbal roots, by affixation
process such as njaudi > njaudi-ri, and yi > yi-tere
respectively. Again, primary nouns are not as complex as secondary nouns. it is
possible, from their form to postulate that the reason is that the primary nouns
consist of fewer sememes morphemes than secondary ones. In this regard, he present
an example as hoodeas the stem of the primary noun hoode-re ‘star’ has no sememic
realization; whereas the extended stem of njaudd-i of trhe noun njaudi-ri
‘ram’ means ‘wealth’. Therefore, he held that primary nouns in Fulfulde are the
simplest of the nominal forms; they consist only of a stem and a class marker suffix.
He With regards to word formation, McIntosh (1984) says Fulfulde is a language with
highly inflectional morphology. There is no word in Fulfulde that can stand on its
own without an affix. Therefore, nominal stems necessarily inflect for nominal class
suffix and verbal roots necessarily inflect for voice, aspect and polarity (VAP).
There is no any Fulfulde dialect that has
less than 24 nominal classes. As mentioned earlier, Fulfulde is a class language;
the basis nominal class system is the pattern of agreement, or concord which operates
between nominal or verbo nominals having the same referent. Nominal stems inflect
for nominal class, in other words, they must be accompanied by a nominal class suffix.
McIntosh (1984:56) shows that VAP suffix may also inflect for other categories too,
e.g. tense, mood, completive/ in completive aspect
Some languages use
‘gender’ or ‘classes in order to distinguish between feminine and masculine, as
the case in Arabic and Hausa languages that have gender distinction. Gender distinction
is a feature of many languages, moreover, in addition to masculine and feminine
and neuter as the case in English and German languages. Fulfulde and Bantu languages
go beyond that (Mukoshy, (1984).The nominal classes serve as demonstratives, anaphoric
pronouns, as well as definite articles in Fulfulde. Equally, these nominal classes
exhibit agreement between the nominal and noun related grammatical features like
demonstrative and independent pronouns and third person and subject (Arnott, 1970,
Klingenheben, 1963, and Stennis, 1967 in Girei 2009:25).
1.4 Derivation
The process of forming
new word by adding affixes to word base or stem is known as derivation. The affixes
added to words when derivation takes place are called derivational affixes. The
derivational affixes are divided into prefix and suffixes. In other words, derivational
process is concerned with how words are formed by transformation of an existing
one in a language (c.f Matthews, 1974, Spencer, 1991and Katamba, 1993). In addition,
Tomori, (1977:34) states that “derived word is one that consists of one root and
a number of bound or free morphemes”. However, in this essence, affixation process
is the productive means for the analysis of Fulfulde plural suffix forms allomorph
variations.
1.5 Morphological Process
Morphology is a branch
of linguistics that deals with words. Their internal structures, and how they are
formed. Aronoff and Fudeman (2005:1-2), The addition of independent formative and
an internal change involving one or more morphemes can be described collectively
as morphological process (Matthews 1993:130). A morphological process is any of
the formal process or operations by which the forms of words are derived from stems/roots
Matthews (1993:232). In this regard, morpheme is central in word formation, a morpheme
is a unit of grammar smaller than word is added to a stem. A stem is a form from which a word or series of words is derived
by the addition of more affixes is a process known as affixation.
1.5.1 Affixation
Affixation is a morphological
process in by which bound morphemes are attached to roots or stems to mark changes
in meaning, part of speech, or grammatical relationship. Affixes take on different
forms and serve different functions in different languages. In English for example,
many words are formed by the addition of affixation that is by addition of affixes
(prefixes and suffixes) to existing words which are referred to base or stems. Two
types of affixation are, therefore used in the formation of words in English language.
They are Prefixation, which refers to adding of a morpheme (free or bound) at word
initial position in order to derive new word and suffixation where a morpheme is
added word finally see Abubakar (2001:1).
Morphologically, Fulfulde
is characterized with nominal class system as the case with Bantu languages. A word
in Fulfulde is made up of nominal stem plus nominal class suffix, or verbal root
plus appendage morphemes that inflect for voice, aspect and polarity. Furthermore,
McIntosh (1984:193) categorized Fulfulde voice, aspect and polarity suffix morphemes
into completive category, in completive aspect, negative and vague continuative
imperative. All the categories are characterized by basic and modified affixes in
the active, middle and passive voice categorical paradigm. Arnott (1970) identifies
twenty five nominal classes that cover not only nouns but also pronouns, and pronominal
elements of various types of adjectives, demonstratives, interrogatives and even
numerals. These undergo various morphological changes according to the class of
the noun to which they refer. Therefore, in Fulfulde there are no words that are
indivisible.
See Arnott (1970) and Mcintosh
(1984) A word in Fulfulde therefore, consists of a nominal stem, or verbal root
which inflects for nominal class and also for voice aspect and polarity. This is
the features of all inflectional languages. No Fulfulde word can therefore stand
on its own without an affix except in case of ideophones adverbials, particles or
pronominals.
1.5.2 Suffixation
Suffixation is a morphological
process that involve the addition of a bound morpheme at the end of a word stem.
The morpheme added at the end of the stem is known as suffix. Suffixation is one
of word formation processes found in many languages. It is achieved by the attachment
of a bound morphemes to word stems/roots. In Fulfulde, Plural forms are formed by
attachment of plural class morpheme to word stem as the same with the formation
of singular forms also. There are six plural class forms
namely:
ɓ
e, kon,,ko,
ɗ
e,
ɗ
i
and koy.
i. Ve. This is a personal
plural class. It is used to derive plural of human beings.
ii. Kon. The diminutive
plural class used in the formation of certain plural forms.
iii. Ko. The augmentative
plural class used in forming certain plural forms.
iv. Xe. This is plural
class of many lexical items.
vi. Xi. This is a plural
class which contains various collective nouns.
iv. Koy. This is a
plural class form for many diminutive and affectionate plural formations.
The plural class forms are free morpheme affixes
attached to nominal stems or verbal roots to derive plurality derivatives. They
also serve as demonstratives, pronominals and determiners depending on the context
they appear. Mohammed (2015) presents a morphophonological study of Fulfulde noun
plurals. According to him, /en/,/?e/, /je/,
/le/, /?i/, ji/ and /li/ affixes are
noun plural forms. His assumption cannot be accounted and justified as plural class
suffix morphemes because these plural forms cannot be accounted in the syntax and
grammar because they cannot take the NP position. Again, morphologically they cannot
be presented as free morphemes as the remaining plural suffixes can be analyzed
as determiners or pronominal morphemes. In view of this, this paper analyzes these
plural suffix forms as allomorphs because they are different realization of plural
suffix class morphemes and they are in complimentary distribution.
1.6 Scope of the Paper
This paper is confined
to the central northern Nigerian Fulfulde dialect spoken in the entire northwest
and some parts of the north east. It is concerned with the allomorphic variations
of Fulfulde plural class forms namely:
ɓ
e,
ɗ
e,
and
ɗ
i.
only. The remaining ko,
kon and koy do not have allomorph suffix variants according to our observations.
2.0 Discussion
There are
six plural forms identified so far, however in this section, we are concerned with
three only. These are Ve,
Xe and Xi. According to our observations, these plural forms are characterized
with allomorph suffix variants, while the remaining three i.e Kon, Ko
and Koy do not possess any allomorph
suffix variations. The allomorphs are in complimentary distribution and cannot be
regarded as free morphemes because they cannot be accounted in the syntax and grammar
as independent class markers.
2.1 Ve Personal plural class allomorphs
This is a personal
plural class suffix morpheme, however, this paper observed that it comprise of /-en/
allomorph plural suffix variant as discussed below.
2.1.1 /-en/ plural suffix allomorph
This is an allomorph
element of ve plural class morpheme attached
to noun stems in the derivation of plural form denoting two individuals or more
group of human beings. It is attached noun stems having CVCCV, CVVCV, CVCCV or CVCV,
CVCVCV syllable pattern. The /-en/ allomorph is used in deriving lexical items denoting
people. Here are few examples.
|
Noun |
Gloss |
a |
Ndotti”en |
aged men |
b |
Koole”en |
Kanuri people |
c |
Kilba”en |
Kilba people |
d |
Kori”en |
Young men |
e |
Sooji’en |
Soldiers |
f |
Mbororo’en |
Bororo people |
Considering the data
given above, we claimed that /-en/, suffix is an allomorph of -ve personal plural class morpheme
2.2 Xi Plural class marker morpheme
This is a plural class
that consists of various collective nouns. Xi is used in the derivation of certain
nouns and verbo-nominals from simple verb root base. However, Xi plural form have
the following allomorphs /‘i/, /li/ and /ji/.
2.2.1 /-’i/ plural suffix allomorph
This is an allomorph
suffix attached to noun stems having CV, CVC, and CVV C syllable structure. Used
in deriving names of animals and other nouns. The derivatives in this category are
disyllabic and carry open syllable takes pattern as shown in the following examples.
|
Noun |
Gloss |
a |
Ga’i |
Bulls |
b |
Na’i |
Cows |
c |
Be’i |
Goats |
d |
Bani |
Buffalos |
e |
Loosi |
Lashes |
2.2.2 /-li/plural suffix allomorph
This is the third allomorph
of xi plural class marker suffix. /it is used in deriving names of some birds, animals,
abstract nouns and other items. The noun stems of other derived lexical items have
CVC, and CVV syllable pattern while that of the derived verbonominals is CVCVV,
CVVCV; and CVCCVV syllable pattern as presented below;
|
Noun |
Gloss |
a |
Colli |
Birds |
b |
Baali |
Sheep |
c |
Koobi |
Antelopes |
d |
Faavi |
Frogs |
e |
Fooli |
Doves |
f |
Kooli |
Fingers |
g |
Moli |
Young Donkeys |
h |
Ooli |
Brown Cows |
i |
Vulli |
Wells |
2.2.2.1 Derived Verbonominals
Arnott (1970:371) described
verbonominals as lexical forms having some nominal and some verbal features. Verbonominal
forms, therefore, consist of a verbal stem or root plus a nominal class suffix morpheme.
Morphologically, verbonominals are made up of a root plus a nominal class suffix
and they enter into agreement with nominal of other types. In addition, verbonominals
are found to follow the nominal pattern of initial consonant alternation. Again,
Arnott (1970:65) states that verbonominals are characterized with final glottality
and salient initial syllable. Furthermore, a verbonominal stem can be related to
the verbal system of voices and tenses, the radical can be simple, complex or extended
structure. The derived verbonominal forms in this category are trisyllabic in nature,
the verb roots having CVVCVV, CVCVV, and CVCCVV syllable structure. Here are some
examples;
|
Verbonominal Items |
Gloss |
a |
Duudaali |
Flutes |
b |
Ciiveeli |
Water Shrinks |
c |
Guleeli |
Hot Summer pl. |
d |
Kacceeli |
Stinks |
e |
Diggaali |
Thunder Sounds |
f |
Ombilli |
Covering Instruments |
g |
Choo
ɗ
aali |
White Bulls |
h |
Kalleeli |
Evils |
i |
Kalali |
Reserved Bulls |
j |
Tamali |
Bambara Nuts |
2.2.3 /ji/ Plural allomorph
This is the third allomorph
of xi plural class marker. The derived
lexical items under this category are disyllabic and trisyllabic pattern. The noun
stem is characterized with CVV, CVCVV, CVVCVV, CVVCVC, CVCVV syllable structure.
Consider the following examples.
|
Nouns |
Gloss |
a |
Baaji |
Ropes |
b |
Fogooji |
Valleys |
c |
Saarooji |
Neighbors |
d |
Ƴ
i
ƴ
amji |
Blood pl. |
e |
Laahooji |
Dogs |
f |
Xereeji |
Papers |
g |
Fa
ɗ
eeji |
Foot wears |
h |
Jowiiji |
Fifth pl. |
i |
Weebooji |
Dark spotted cattle |
j |
Baabaaji |
Fathers |
k |
Haalaaji |
talks |
l |
Biriiji |
Groundnuts |
Again, - ji allomorph is also used in reference to the Fulve (Fulani) clan groups based on the type of cattle they possess c.f Lukas (1985:102) in Ahmed (2015:145). Here are some examples.
|
Clan Name |
Gloss |
a |
Gayaaji |
Cattle of Gaya origin |
b |
Kargiiji |
Cattle of Kargi origin |
c |
Fiikaaji |
Cattle of Fika origin |
d |
Koofaaji |
Cattle of Kofa origin |
Moreover, Girei (2003:12)
analyses /-ji/ suffix as affectionate
morph for the derivation of Fulve names from proper name base as shown in the following
examples.
|
Proper Name Base |
Gloss |
a |
Daada |
Daadaaji |
b |
Goggo |
Goggooji |
c |
Yaaya |
Yaayaaji |
d |
Mamma |
Mammaaji |
From the examples given
above, we state that /-i/, /-li/ and /-ji/ suffix elements served as allomorph variants of
xi
plural class morpheme from the morphological stand point and are in complimentary
distribution.
2.3 Xe Non personal Plural class
This is a non-personal
plural class suffix morpheme attached to nominal stem or verb root to derive nouns
or verbonominals. However, xe plural class
suffix is found to have these allomorph variants namely. /e/, le/ and /je/.
2.3.1 /?e/ Suffix Allomorph
This is an allomorph
used in the derivation o certain plurals that are disyllabic. The noun stems of
the derivatives contain CVV, CVC, CVVC and CVCC syllable structure. Here are some
few examples.
|
Nouns |
Gloss |
a |
Nyii’e |
Teeth |
b |
Gite |
Eyes |
c |
Koode |
Stars |
d |
Boje |
Hares |
e |
Lexxe |
Woods |
f |
Kine |
Noses |
g |
Lave |
Knifes |
2.3.2 /le/ Plural Allomorph
This is the second
allomorph of /xe/ non-personal plural
class suffix.it is used in deriving various noun plurals. The derived items are
also disyllabic and the noun stem base have CVC syllable pattern. Here are some
examples.
|
Nouns |
Gloss |
a |
Folle |
Kind of vegetables |
b |
Molle |
Molds |
c |
Kolle |
Knees |
d |
Bolle |
Talks |
e |
Gelle |
Bush fowls |
f |
Bille |
deserted compounds |
g |
Cille |
Urine (pl.) |
2.3.3. /je/ plural allomorph
This is the third allomorph
of xe plural form. It is used in the derivation
of certain lexical items comprising nouns and verbonominals. The derivatives are
trisyllabic having CVV CVV, CV CVV syllable pattern. Consider these examples.
|
Nouns |
Gloss |
a |
Dukuuje |
Kind of wild fruit |
b |
Kaafaaje |
Swords |
c |
Jigaaje |
Vultures |
d |
Tefaaje |
Plain rocks |
e |
Kaareeje |
Shea nut Trees |
f |
Nareeje |
locust bean cake trees |
g |
Coomooje |
negative nicknames |
h |
Kooseeje |
Mountains |
i |
Daneeje |
White Items |
J |
Bo
ɗ
eeje |
Red materials |
k |
Haakooje |
Green materials |
l |
Nareeriije |
Yellow materials |
m |
Leydiije |
Clay pots |
n |
Fiirooje |
Aero planes |
o |
Maafiije |
Hawks |
p |
Hufneeje |
Caps |
From the examples given
above, this paper show that /e/and /le/ allomorphs are is constrained to nouns
that are disyllabic in nature, while the last allomorph /je/ is regulated to lexical items that are trisyllabic or polysyllabic
in nature. Lastly, the paper uphold that they are allomorphs of
xe
plural class morpheme which are all in complimentary distribution.
Conclusion
We have so far examined allomorphic variations of the three Fulfulde
plural suffix forms i.e ve, xe and xi plural morphemes. The other two three
ko, kon and koy do not have any allomorph variations. The presentation provide a
hint and clear picture of the allomorphs of the plural forms contrary to the earlier
claim by Mohammed (2015) who analyzed them amongst plural forms independently even
though, they cannot be accounted in the syntax because they cannot occupy NP position
anywhere in Fulfulde grammar. While, /e/,/je/,and /le/ are allomorphs variants of
xe, /i/, /li/ and /ji/ are allomorph variants of xi plural suffix morpheme which
are all in complimentary distribution.
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