Circumfixation: Interface of Morphology and Syntax in Igbo Derivational Morphology

Abstract

This study is an attempt to describe circumfixation in the Igbo language. Its specific objectives include determining how circumfixation applies within and across lexical boundaries in the language. It tries to identify the types of circumfix in the language. It examines the tonal changes that occur in the process of circumfixation. The approach adopted in the study is morpho-syntactic. It shows how syntactic patterns are modifed to form morphological forms. The paper found out that circumfixation, contrary to popular view, is prevalent in the language. Furthermore, quite unlike in many languages where it has been reported to be highly irregular; it is to a large extent regular in Igbo. Tone plays an important role in the formation of words through circumfixation. After circumflection, the tone pattern of the root or stem is changed though the syllable structure of Igbo is retained. The discontinuous parts of the circumfix are each a syllable, one at the beginning and the other at the end of the root word. There are two types of circumflection in the language: the obligatory complement taking and the non-obligatory complement taking circumfixation. The non-obligatory complement taking circumfixation usually forms a free form, which can stand independently as any other lexical item of the language. On the contrary, in the obligatory complement taking circumfixation, the nature of the complement determines whether the discontinuous end of the circumfix is desyllabified or otherwise. If the following complement begins in a vowel, the circumfix loses the syllable status of the discontinuous end of the circumfix. It turns into a liaison thereby making the circumfix function as a bridge between the root word and the complement. The exception to this rule is in forming negatives. In the latter situation, a compound form is created while in the former two words in associative construction are recognised.