Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics

doi: 10.7392/openaccess.23050431

A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials

Benjamin I. Mmadike

ORCID 0000-0002-9673-0336, Department of Linguistics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria

Abstract

A number of studies have tried to show that the fixed linear order in irreversible binomials does not come about randomly. The choice of which word comes first and which second is claimed to be determined by phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantic and pragmatic (extra-linguistic) constraints. This study examines three Igbo gender-based irreversible binomials in which the male term usually has precedence over the female. It adopts the use of the semantic, pragmatic, morphological and syntactic constraints in determining the choice of precedence order. The study reveals that these constraints are consistent with the precedence order in the set of data used. It asserts that this preferred precedence order can be used to gain an insight into the culture of the people. It however suggests that an extensive study of irreversible binomials in Igbo be carried out to determine the universality of these constraints.

Keywords: binomials, constraints, culture, gender, irreversible, pragmatic, precedence.

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APA

Mmadike, B. I. (2013). A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials. Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics, Online(open-access), e23050431. doi:10.7392/openaccess.23050431

MLA

Mmadike, Benjamin I. “A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials.” Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics Online.open-access (2013): e23050431.

Chicago

Mmadike, Benjamin I. “A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials.” Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics Online, no. open-access (October 05, 2013): e23050431. doi:10.7392/openaccess.23050431.

Harvard

Mmadike, B.I., 2013. A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials. Open Science Repository Language and Linguistics, Online(open-access), p.e23050431.

Science

1. B. I. Mmadike, A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials, Open Sci. Repos. Lang. Linguist. Online, e23050431 (2013).

Nature

1. Mmadike, B. I. A Study of Igbo Gender-Based Irreversible Binomials. Open Sci. Repos. Lang. Linguist. Online, e23050431 (2013).

doi

Research registered in the DOI resolution system as: 10.7392/openaccess.23050431.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

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