JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE STUDIES AND ARTS

This paper explores verbal-to-nominal derivation patterns in the Tiv language. The aim of the study is to investigate the processes involved in the derivation of nouns from verbs in the Tiv language, with a particular emphasis on the morphological patterns and rules that govern such changes. This study used a descriptive research design to analyse noun derivation in Tiv. Primary data were collected through structured interviews with 15 purposively sampled native Tiv speakers in Makurdi. The researcher’s intuition as a native speaker was also used to gather data. Secondary data were collected from a review of existing linguistic materials, including journals, published and unpublished texts, and online sources. The analysis of the data was guided by Hockett’s Item-and-Process (I.P.) theory. Grounded in Hockett’s Item-and-Process (I.P.) theory, the paper identifies core derivational strategies su ch as prefixation, tonal modification, and morphological shifts. A prominent example includes the addition of the prefix {m-}, which converts the verb tsaha (punish) into the noun mtsaha (punishment). Similarly, tonal alternation plays a significant role in semantic differentiation, as illustrated by the transformation of àmb? (suck) into ámbé (crocodile). These examples demonstrate that noun derivation in Tiv extends beyond mere affixation to include intricate tonal and semantic modifications. The findings show that there is structural and semantic complexity inherent in Tiv’s morphological system. Derivational mechanisms such as prefixation, infixation, suffixation, and tonal shifts are not only central to word formation but also vital to understanding the syntactic behaviour of derived nouns within the language. This complexity highlights the dynamic and rule-governed nature of Tiv morphology. The study concludes that a deeper exploration of these derivational processes is essential for appreciating the linguistic richness of the Tiv language. The study recommends a further study of other derivations such as verbs, adjectives and other morphological domains, such as verb conjugation and sentence construction, in order to develop a more holistic understanding of Tiv grammatical structure and its broader linguistic implications;

Open Full Text (PDF)