A Lexicostatistic Comparison of Mbaise Dialect with other Neighbouring Dialects: A Historical Linguistic Evidence

Abstract

This paper is a lexicostatistics survey of dialects under the East Central Group of Dialects according to Nwaozuzu (2008,2017). Lexicostatistics normally refers to the statistical manipulation of lexical materials for historical inferences that abstract away from exact dates. The study explores some instances of how the lexical items of the Mbaise dialect and three neighbouring dialects (Obowo, Ehime Mbano, Owere) are operational in the East Central Group of Dialects and are used with the aim of determining their similarities and differences. The researcher randomly selected a total number of 100 basic vocabularies or lexical items for this study. The data for the study were collected through structured interview from the informants. It was analysed using lexicostatistic method and descriptive method. These informants are natives of these towns under study between the age of 60 and above and who have lived a greater part of their lives in these areas. From the study, it was found out that some of the phonemes that make up these words or lexical items do not really constitute differences. This makes the dialects highly mutually intelligible by all speakers of the four dialects. it could also be deduced that Mbaise and the other dialects around it has much more defined similarities than differences, though relative in some areas. This work has thrown more light to further support the linguistic situation in the East Central Group of dialect identified by Nwaozuzu (2008,2017) as regards the four dialects under study. The similarities in the dialects are due to language contact and geographical location and ethnographic information as in where they meet in markets, rivers etc in the cause of development and movement. This work is an addition to dialectology. It will also serve as a resource to Igbo lexicography project and boost the lexicon.