Generative phonology and dialect variation : a study of Hausa dialects
This thesis is concerned with the dialects of Hausa as spoken in Nigeria. There are five chapters and three appendices. The first chapter is composed of two parts. The initial part discusses two things, namely (i) the genitic affinity of Hausa and its status within West African languages, (ii) the various contributions made to the study of Hausa, in particular those which are either directly or indirectly connected with dialect variation. The second half of the first chapter examines different approaches to dialect study, such as the traditional approach, the structural approach and the generative approach. Of these, the generative approach is preferred, hence it is the method adopted here to account for Hausa dialect variation. Chapter two aims at presenting in an overall way the major differences that exist between the dialects. The presentation is along traditional lines. Here the dialects of Hausa have been classified into two major dialects, namely East-Hausa and West-Hausa. The criteria for this classification are the phonological and morphological isoglosses. A lexicostatistic analysis carried out during this survey supports this classification. Chapter three concerns the general phonology and phonetics
Abubakar, Abdulhamid
Linguistics
Generative phonology and dialect variation : a study of Hausa dialects. This thesis is concerned with the dialects of Hausa as spoken in Nigeria. There are five chapters and three appendices. The first chapter is composed of two parts. The initial part discusses two things, namely (i) the genitic affinity of Hausa and its status within West African languages, (ii) the various contributions made to the study of Hausa, in particular those which are either directly or indirectly connected with dialect variation. The second half of the first chapter examines different approaches to dialect study, such as the traditional approach, the structural approach and the generative approach. Of these, the generative approach is preferred, hence it is the method adopted here to account for Hausa dialect variation. Chapter two aims at presenting in an overall way the major differences that exist between the dialects. The presentation is along traditional lines. Here the dialects of Hausa have been classified into two major dialects, namely East-Hausa and West-Hausa. The criteria for this classification are the phonological and morphological isoglosses. A lexicostatistic analysis carried out during this survey supports this classification. Chapter three concerns the general phonology and phonetics
generative phonology dialect variation study hausa dialect concerned dialect hausa speak nigeria appendix first compose two_part initial part_discuss two_thing namely affinity hausa status within west_african language various contribution_make study hausa particular either_directly indirectly connect dialect variation examines different_approach dialect study traditional structural generative approach generative prefer hence method_adopt account hausa dialect variation aim_present overall way major difference exist dialect presentation along traditional line dialect hausa classify two_major dialect namely east hausa west hausa criterion classification phonological_morphological analysis_carry survey support classification concern general phonology phonetics