Blending in Etulo compound words

Abstract

In most languages of the world, compounding is a word formation process that is frequently employed in forming new lexemes. This study attempts to investigate this word formation process in Etulo. It is basically concerned with finding out the noun-noun compounds in the language as well as ascertaining the applicability of the conceptual blending theory to the analysis of the compound words. The data for the study were elicited from Etulo native speakers resident in Adi, Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State. A number of the Etulo noun-noun compounds are analyzed based on the tenets of the conceptual blending theory to show how two different concepts are integrated into one in the language. Our findings show that blending theory can account for the Etulo noun-noun compound words. Furthermore, there is the existence of vital relations such as property, analogy, similarity and uniqueness between the mental spaces and in the blended space. In addition, the principle of integration and the relevance principle are satisfied by the blend. Finally the noun-noun compounds examined trigger the double scope integration network.