SUPRAFIXATION IN YORUBA

Abstract

Abstract

Suprafix is one of the suprasegmental features in a language which is capable of changing the meaning of lexical items with the same sounds in a language. Yoruba as a tone language attests to suprafixation due to the lexical function which tone is performing in the language. This study aims to analyze the cases of suprafixation and its operations in Yoruba. The objectives of this study are to list out the cases of suprafixation in the language and analyze these different contexts autosegmentally. The data for this study were gathered through the introspection of the researcher due to her native competence in the language. Of course, data were validated by other native speakers. Autosegmental framework is used for the analysis of this study. This study found out that all the cases of suprafixation in Yoruba surfaced in underived words in the language. The study concludes that suprafixation surfaced in monosyllabic and bi-syllabic words of Yoruba. Also, it is more productive in Yoruba nouns than Yoruba verbs.