Derivations in Ọni̩cha Igbo

Abstract

The paper examined derivation as one of the word formation processes in the Ọnịcha variety of Igbo. Derivation is defined in the literature as one of the productive processes of word formation. It is achieved in Ọnịcha mainly through the process of affixation. This paper studied derivation in the dialect through the processes of affixation. Starting with preliminary statements on the dialect and its locality, the paper proceeded to discuss with examples the various processes of derivation in the dialect. The study revealed that prefixation is very productive in the derivation of words in the dialect. It also disclosed that tone plays a vital role in distinguishing grammatical constructions in the Igbo language.

Keywords: derivation, prefixation, affixation, interfixation, O̩ni̩cha