Evaluating Meaning Relations of Izon (Sagbama Dialect) Words and Sentences with English Language

Abstract

The study evaluates meaning relations in the Izon language (Sagbama dialect) in relation to English language words and sentences. The work explores how meaning is assigned to words and sentences. Data for the study were collected from competent speakers of the Izon language of the Sagbama dialect through observation, recording and transcription. A total of 50 words and sentences were randomly picked from different native speakers and secondary methods derived from books of the Izon language as well as the Izon dictionary. The theoretical framework for this study is the Contrastive Analysis. Findings of the study show the use of hyponymy, antonym polysemy and synonymy in Izon language. Of the words that were used as data for the study, 40% was polysemous, 10% shows the use of hyponymy and 50% shows the use of antonyms. The study reveals that only one word shows absolute synonym (sele/okubo-money). This reveals lack of synonymous words in the Izon language. The study shows that Izon nouns can be used as verbs as in the English language but verbs cannot be used as nouns, unlike the English language. This work shows that meaning exhibits rich morpho-syntactic and phono-semantic process for grammaticality in Izon language.