GEERAL LIGUISTIC COURSES
(2 units each)
100 LEVEL
LIN 101LIN 102LIN 103LIN 104LIN 105LIN 106LIN 107LIN 108LIN 109LIN 110LIN 111LIN 112-
Introduction to Linguistics*
Introduction to General Phonetics*
Introduction to Phonology*
Introduction to Grammar*
Introduction to Nigerian Languages*
Practical Phonetics
Introduction to Sociolinguistics
Communication Systems
Phonological Processes
Introduction to Orthography
Traditional Grammar
Introduction to Lexicology
200 LEVEL
LIN 201LIN 202LIN 203LIN 204LIN 205LIN 206LIN 207LIN 208LIN 209LIN 210LIN 211LIN 212-
Elements of Phonetics*
Suprasegmental Phonology*
Introduction to Morphology*
Introduction to Syntax*
The Language Families of Africa*
Language as a semiotic system
Introduction to Bilingualism and Multilingualism
Pidginization and Creolization
The Structure of African Languages
Practical Orthography
Introduction to Linguistic Analysis
Linguistics and Language Learning
300 Level
LIN 301LIN 302LIN 303LIN 304LIN 305LIN 306LIN 307LIN 308LIN 309LIN 310LIN 311LIN 312400 Level
Basic Generative Phonology*
Introduction to Structural Grammar*
Introduction to Semantics*
Variation in Language*
Language Policy and Planning*
Contrastive Analysis
Tone Systems
Elements of Applied Linguistics
Field Methods and Linguistics Analysis
Transformational Grammar
Linguistics and Book Publishing
Research Methods in Linguistics
LIN 401
LIN 402
LIN 403LIN 404-
Semantic Theories*
Introduction to Lexicography*
Topics in Sociolinguistics*
Studies in Dialectology*
LIN 405LIN 406LIN 407LIN 408LIN 409LIN 410LIN 411LIN 412LIN 414-
Discourse Analysis*
Grammatical Features of African Languages
Post Generative Phonology
Psycholinguistics
Language in Education
Further Syntax
Alternative Linguistics Theories
Linguistics and Translation
Long Essay
*Courses already approved by Senate and which our students take as Minor and Elective for the B.A.
Linguistics/Igbo and B.A. Linguistics/Yoruba degrees.
COURSE DESCRIPTIOS
100 LEVEL
LI 101
LI 102
LI 103
ITRODUCTIO TO LIGUISTICS
An introduction to the study of language from the point of view of linguistics
highlighting the characteristics and functions of human language. Aims and
processes of studying modern linguistics – historical, descriptive, diachronic, etc.
Levels of linguistic analysis – micro and macro dimensions.
ITRODUCTIO TO GEERAL PHOETICS
An introduction to the subject matter of phonetics. Aspects of the study of phonetics
– Articulatory, Auditory and Acoustic. Organs of Speech and Airstream mechanisms,
Classification and description of sounds with exemplification from Nigerian and
some other world Languages.
ITRODUCTIO TO PHOOLOGY
The course traces the relationship between Phonetics and Phonology. It discusses the
subject matter of Phonology and the notion of the phoneme with emphasis on the
principle of contrastiveness.
LI 104
ITRODUCTIO TO GRAMMAR
An introduction to the basic ideas of grammar; its division into syntax and
morphology; lexical categories (word classes – nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs,
conjunctions etc) and grammatical categories (tense, aspect, mood, gender, case,
number, etc).
LI 105
ITRODUCTIO TO IGERIA LAGUAGES
A survey of Nigerian languages with reference to their geographical distribution,
genetic relationships, status and roles; characteristics of some Nigerian languages.
LI 106
PRACTICAL PHOETICS
A practical course in ear-training, performance and transcription. Compulsory for all
LIN majors.
LI 107
LAGUAGE AD SOCIETY
The scope of sociolinguistics, the social context of speech, language attitudes and
language norms, language and social change, language and social class, language and
social interaction; sociological factors in language acquisition and language use with
emphasis on African contexts.
LI 108
COMMUICATIO SYSTEMS
A comparative study of human language and animal communication; consideration
of different language –based systems of communication such as sign language,
Braille codes etc
LI 109
PHOOLOGICAL PROCESS
The course provides a description of the different processes in speech production.
Emphasis will be on the common sounds, using different air streams. It will also
touch on sounds in contexts – syllable, assimilation, elision, tone, and intonation.
*Compulsory for all LIN majors.
LI 110
ITRODUCTIO TO ORTHOGRAPHY
The course provides a theoretical basis for a good orthography. It discusses the
phonological consideration for orthography, such as the choice of symbols for the
different segments, tones, word division etc.
LI 111
TRADITIOAL GRAMMAR
A general introduction to traditional grammar, its evolution, underlying principles
and assumptions, word classes and other grammatical units. Sentence parsing
examination of specific traditional grammars of Nigerian and other languages.
LI 112
ITRODUCTIO TO LEXICOLOGY
The concept of the lexeme, the study of the lexeme in relation to word forms in both
Nigeria and other languages, antonyms, synonyms, homonyms and hyponyms.
200 LEVEL
LI 201
ELEMETS OF PHOETICS
A detailed description/classification of sound with emphasis on both primary and
secondary articulation. The use of diacritics and transcription systems. Practical
exercises in the recording of phonetic transcription of different languages.
LI 202
SUPRASEGMETAL PHOOLOGY
The course will distinguish between segmental and suprasemental phonology. It will
also discuss the syllable, stress, pitch and accent, tone and intonation.
LI 203
ITRODUCTIO TO MORPHOLOGY
The course focuses on the morpheme, its identification and classification (types of
morphemes). Morphological processes, class maintained and classes differentiated
derivation; compounding, blending, reduplicating etc, agglutinating and inflectional
processes.
LI 204
ITRODUCTIO TO SYTAX
An examination of the principal units involved in grammatical descriptions:
morpheme, word, phrase, clause and sentence; word order. An examination of the
role of elements of the sentence: subject predicate (verb, complement, object and
adjunct).
THE LAGUAGE FAMILIES OF AFRICA
The course classifies African languages according to their types based on the
structural similarities and differences. It also reviews current genetic classification of
these languages within the family – free model; a survey of the principles on which
comparison, reconstruction and classification are based. There will be practical
exercises in internal and comparative reconstruction.
LI 205
LI 206
LAGUAGE AS A SEMIOTIC SYSTEM
Verbal and non-verbal signaling, paralinguistic phenomena, language and medium,
the design features of language, the origin of language.
LI 207
ITRODUCTIO TO BILIGUALISM AD MULTILIGUALISM
General definitions and concepts of bilingualism and multilingualism. A brief
examination of the multilingual areas of Africa.
LI 208
PIDGIISATIO AD CREOLISATIO
General theories, origin and structure of Pidgin and Creole languages; differences
between Pidgin and Creole languages; general features of Pidgin and Creole
languages.
LI 209
THE STRUCTURE OF AFRICA LAGUAGES
The course discusses the peculiarities of selected African Languages (especially
Nigerian languages). Emphasis should be on their phonological, morphological,
syntactic and semantic structures.
LI 210
PRACTICAL ORTHOGRAPHY
The course relates the theoretical considerations of orthographies to Nigerian
languages. Students will be expected to apply the principles of a good orthography
to their own languages in practical exercises.
LI 211
ITRODUCTIO TO LIGUISTIC AALYSIS
The course introduces the basic components of the analysis of language: phonology,
semantics and syntax, pointing out the relationship between them.
LI 212
LIGUISTICS AD LAGUAGE LEARIG
A detailed consideration of the application of linguistics to various aspects of
language learning (first language acquisition and second language learning).
Psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic factors in language learning; linguistic
techniques in language learning e.g. error analysis, contrastive analysis, language
testing, the linguistic foundations of language teaching methods e.g. grammar
translation, audio-lingual, cognitive code methods etc.
300 LEVEL
LI 301
BASIC GEERATIVE PHOOLOGY
A critique of taxonomic phonology; the generative phonological theory; levels of
representation, distinctive features and natural classes. Principles of rule formation,
application and problems, the power of abstraction, the processes of theory
formulation.
LI 302
ITRODUCTIO TO STRUCTURAL GRAMMAR
A general introduction to structural grammar, its evolution, immediate constituent
analysis and techniques.
LI 303
ITRODUCTIO TO SEMATICS
An introduction to Semantics; a distinction between meaning and meaningfulness,
reference and use (application); theories of meaning, concepts in lexical semantics
(e.g. synonymy, polysemy, antonym, hyponymy etc) and concepts in sentence
semantics.(e.g. presupposition, implication, tautology), lexical and structural
meaning, relationship between syntax and semantics.
LI 304
VARIATIO I LAGUAGE
The course treats language as a heterogeneous dynamic system. It also deals with
variation as a feature of language and highlights the sources and levels of variation
and the different models for the explanation of variation: regional, social, stylistic
and discoursal variations.
LAGUAGE POLICY AD PLAIG
The course reviews the linguistic and social contexts that give rise to language policy
and planning. It also deals with the different types of language policies and the basic
LI 305
techniques of language planning. Such techniques include cost benefit analysis,
orthography, codification, standardization, implementation and evaluation.
LI 306
COTRASTIVE AALYSIS
This course compares some aspects of selected languages. It compares the different
linguistic components – phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics
LI 307
TOE SYSTEMS
Types of tone systems with special emphasis on discrete and terrace systems.
Considerable attention is to be given to the down-drift and the down step. There will
be a case study of a system in respect of one of the types of systems introduced.
Practical exercises in tone perception and notation in transcription, as well as in tone
language data analysis.
LI 308
ELEMETS OF APPLIED LIGUISTICS
An introductory survey of the practical application of Linguistics to
telecommunication, translation, language planning, speech pathology and therapy,
stylistics, language materials development, etc. with emphasis on the role of
linguistic principles and techniques in each discipline.
LI 309
FIELD METHODS AD LIGUISTIC AALYSIS
Field methods in Linguistics with special reference to data collection - using word
lists; supervised application of techniques of data collection and techniques of
phonological, morphological, tonemic and syntactic analysis to some African
Languages.
LI 310
TRASFORMATIOAL GRAMMAR
An account of the main principles of the Transformational Generative Theory of
Grammar. Current developments in the field will be highlighted.
LI 311
LIGUISTICS AD BOOK-PUBLISHIG
Publishing houses, types of publishing, types of editors: creative editor, procurement
editor, and copy editor, requisite training, differences between written and spoken
languages, compensatory devices built into written languages; factors aiding or
inhibiting publishing in different types of languages, application of syntax, semantics
and phonology in editing and proof-reading, practical exercises.
LI 312
RESEARCH METHODS I LIGUISTICS
A consideration of the current methods of collecting data in linguistic studies,
methods of documenting and reporting research findings.
400 LEVEL
LI 401
LI 402
SEMATIC THEORIES
The course will focus on the traditional, behavioural, structural and generative
theories as they apply to the study of semantics. It will also highlight the basic
concepts and the exponents associated with the different theories.
ITRODUCTIO TO LEXICOGRAPHY
A survey of the history of lexicography; dictionaries, thesauri and encyclopedias.
Types of dictionaries: scholastic, specialized, general purpose, dictionaries of
synonyms, etc. monolingual and bilingual dictionaries. Linguistic and non-linguistic
dictionaries, size of dictionaries, user practices in constructing dictionary entries.
LI 403
TOPICS I SOCIOLIGUISTICS
The focus will be on an indepth analysis of some aspects of Sociolinguistics. It will
also focus on detailed application of both theoretical concepts and practical aspects
of sociolinguistics methodology.
LI 404
STUDIES I DIALECTOLOGY
The course is meant to show the differences and relationships between languages and
dialects. It also looks at the different ways of studying dialectology and discusses
some dialectal studies in Africa and other parts of the world. It will discuss the
issues of linguistic change in both real and apparent time.
LI 405
DISCOURSE AALYSIS
The course reviews the general principles of discourse analysis in relation to English
and selected Nigerian languages. It deals with variation in language use, the
ethnography of speaking, speech events, speech acts and speech functions. It also
analyses the notion of discourse in speech and writing and highlights such concepts
as cohesion, coherence, reference, etc. It shows the place of discourse analysis in
language teaching.
LI 406
GRAMMATICAL FEATURES OF AFRICA LAGUAGES
A detailed study of the morphological and syntactic characteristics of African
Languages.
LI 407
POST-GEERATIVE PHOOLOGY
A study of the goals procedures and claims of major current phonological theories
such as auto segmental phonology, lexical phonology, metrical phonology, etc.
LI 408
PSYCHOLIGUISTICS
Mechanism of communication and first language acquisition: Behaviourist and Mentalist
theories of language acquisition. A comparison of human and non-human communication,
language and cognitive development, physiological and psychological aspects of speech
production and perception, language cognition and thought, outline study of research
concerns in various areas of psychometrics, psycholinguistics, ability tests, and psychology of
language. Also to be examined are the linguistic approach to learning language and
information theory approach to language behaviour.
LI 409
LAGUAGE I EDUCATIO
Theoretical considerations of the roles of foreign and indigenous (including the minor)
languages at different levels of education. Case studies of the background, planning,
execution and evaluation of Ife University Experiment in Six year Primary Education in the
Yoruba medium and the Rivers State Readers’ Project.
LI 410
FURTHER SYTAX
A study of the developments in the TG theory of grammar to date. Emphasis will be on the
minimalist programme.
LI 411
ALTERATIVE LIGUISTIC THEORIES
An examination of some of the syntactic theories such as systemic, relational grammar,
functional grammer, etc.
LI 412
LIGUISTICS THEORIES AD TRASLATIO
Linguistic theories of translation, translation and interpretation concept formation and
technical translation including machine translation. The different types of translation. The
role of meaning in translation - referential and connotative meanings. The functions of
translation and interpreters in a multilingual setting.
LI 413
LOG ESSAY
Supervised independent research on a linguistic topic of the student’s choice, presented in the
form of a typewritten and professionally bound research paper. Topics are to be selected by
students for approval by the Department at the end of the student’s 300 level.
IGBO COURSES
100 LEVEL
IGB 101:
Basic Components of Written Igbo: (2 units)
A preliminary study of the Igbo tone,
and such special uses of such form words as: na, ga, ka, ma,
kwa,tupu,maka and the impersonal pronoun. (B)
IGB 102:
Introduction to Continuous Writing and Comprehension: (2 units)
Elementary written composition using the official orthography: types and
style of composition; principles of essay writing, punctuation exercises,
comprehension and elementary exercises. (B)
IGB 103:
Continuous Writing and Comprehensive I (2 units)
A more advanced writing of Igbo in the official orthography:
a more advanced study of punctuation, types, styles and principles of
composition; advanced exercises in comprehension. (A & B)
IGB 104:
Continuous Writing & Comprehension II: (2 units)
Writing Igbo in the official orthography; types and style of composition;
qualities of good essay/principles of essay writing comprehension skills;
exercises on essays and comprehension. (A & B)
IGB 105:
Use of Igbo: (2units)
Introduction to the use of Igbo proverbs, idioms,
figures of speech, word registers; dialects of Igbo the use of some
common words: na, ga, ka, ma, kwa, etc. (A)
IGB 106:
Introduction to Igbo Phonetics and Phonology: (2 units)
A general introduction to phonetics; basic principles of acoustic and
articulatory phonetics; the organs of speech; classification of Igbo
sounds – consonants and vowels; phonetic transcription of Igbo words.
An introduction to the scope of phonology; a preliminary treatment
of Igbo speech sounds – vowels and consonants; Igbo syllable structure
vowel harmony, vowel assimilation and elision, introduction to Igbo
tone(A&B)
IGB 107:
Introduction to Igbo Grammar: (2 units)
An introductory study of Igbo Grammar; the Igbo word classes and
their characteristics; the Igbo phrase, clause and sentence; elements of
the simple sentence; subject, verb, object, complement and
adjunct; the use of Igbo enclitics – na, kwa, etc. (A & B)
IGB 108
IGB 109:
Introduction to oral Igbo Literature: (2 units)
An introductory study of the nature and scope of oral Igbo
literature; its oral and transcribed forms, classification of oral Igbo
Literature; poetry, prose, drama; a preliminary study of each class. (A)
Introduction to Written Igbo Literature: (2 units)
A preliminary study of the genres of written Igbo Literature: poetry
Prose and drama exemplified by selected works. (A & B)
IGB 110:
Introduction to Igbo Customs & Institutions (2 units)
An introduction study of the customs and institutions of the Igbo:
breaking of kola, marriage, market outing (Izu ahia), preparing maidens
for marriage, mourning, title-taking, New Yam Festival, expressions of
goodwill (itu nzu), kingship, age grade, recreation, worship etc. (A & B)
IGB 111:
Introduction to Principles & Practice of Translation (2 units)
An introduction to the basic concepts of translation: source and
target languages; types of translation, basic considerations and limits of
translation, copious translation exercises. (A & B)
IGB 112:
Introduction to the History of the Igbo: (2 units)
A general introduction to the history of the Igbo: the different people that
make up the Igbo; locations, where the Igbo inhabit, the relationship
between the Igbo and their neighbours. (A & B)
IGB 113:
Introduction to Igbo Religion and World-view: (2 units)
An introduction to the cosmology of the Igbo; the concept of wisdom,
morality, life and death among the Igbo; the practice of religions among
the Igbo; the supernatural world; the relationship between the
supernatural and man; the belief system of the Igbo. (A & B)
200 LEVEL
IGB 201:
Elements of Igbo Phonetics (2 units)
A detailed study of speech mechanism – articulation, phonation,
air-stream mechanisms; articulatory, acoustic and auditory nature
Igbo speech sounds, secondary articulation of vowels and consonants;
nasalization palatalization, glottalization, etc. (A & B)
IGB 202:
Igbo Phonology (2 units)
A detailed study of the phoneme in Igbo: process of phoneme
Identification – complementary distribution, minimal pairs, variation;
a detailed study of phonological processes in Igbo, elision, contraction,
assimilation etc. (A & B)
IGB 203:
Practical Orthography (2 units)
The meaning of orthography; qualities of a good orthography and their
application to Igbo; the Igbo orthography – historical development; tonemarking, lexical and grammatical. (A & B)
IGB 204:
Varieties of the Igbo Prose ( 2 units)
A study of the Igbo prose based on thematic and structural characteristics;
myth, legends, folktales anecdotes; novels and novelettes,
short stories, memoirs etc. (A & B )
IGB 205
Prescribed Texts of Igbo Traditional Prose aratives. (2 units)
A study of prescribed texts of Igbo traditional prose narratives based
on theme, setting, plot, style, characterization and techniques,
performance, the narrator and the audience, (A).
IGB 206:
Varieties of Oral Igbo Poetry (2 units)
A detailed study of the forms of oral Igbo poetry – their structure,
content and functions – divinatory, incanatory, praise, hunting
sacrificial, elegiac, masquerade poems and songs, proverbs, riddles
and tongue twisters (A & B)
IGB 207:
Prescribed Texts of Oral Igbo Poetry (2 units)
A detailed study of selected texts of oral Igbo poetry from the
following: divinatory, incantatory, praise, hunting, sacrificial, elegiac,
and masquerade poems and songs. (A & B)
IGB 208:
A Survey of Written Igbo Poetry (2 units)
A general survey of written Igbo poetry, historical development and
problems; authors, themes and styles. (A & B)
IGB 209:
Structure and Semantics of Igbo ames (2 units)
A study of Igbo names – their structures and meaning: cultural and
emotional implications of Igbo names. (A & B)
IGB 210:
Socio-Cultural Background to Igbo Literature (2 units)
A description of the totality of the socio-cultural background to Igbo
Literature with emphasis on the artists, their training, their instruments,
their audience, etc as applicable to oral and written literature. (A & B)
IGB 211:
Further Prose Composition (2 units)
A comprehensive treatment of the techniques of literary composition
emphasizing the types, styles, and principles; frequent, representative
exercises on written composition. (B)
IGB 212:
Basic Literary Appreciation (2 units)
An introductory study of the principles of literary appreciation in
respect of poetry and prose illustrated with excerpts from oral and
written Igbo texts. (B)
300 LEVEL
IGB 301
Igbo Morphology (2 units)
The nature of the Igbo morpheme – its identification, characteristics and
classification; morphological process – class maintained and class
differentiated; the processes of compounding, blending, reduplication,
agglutinating, inflectional processes.
IGB 302
Igbo Lexical Categories (2 units)
An examination of the various critieria for the classification of Igbo
words; the advantages and limitations of each criterion , a detailed study
of the Igbo nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions,
prepositions etc.
IGB 303
Igbo Grammatical Categories (2 units)
A detailed study of the following grammatical categories in Igbo –
number, gender, case, tense, aspect, mood and degree.
IGB 304
Igbo Major Sentence Types (2 units)
A study of the major sentence types in Igbo: simple, complex,
compound, declarative, interrogative, imperative, negative,
affirmative, conditional sentences etc.
IGB 305
Igbo Stylistics I (2 units)
A theoretical study of stylistics in Igbo; relationship between
stylistics and linguistics; the application of stylistics to literary
devices in Igbo.
IGB 306
The Igbo ovel: Development (2 units)
A study of the development of the Igbo novel – sources, themes,
styles and plots of the early novels, various traditions of Igbo novels –
fantastic, realistic, detective, etc.
IGB 307
The Early Igbo ovels (2 units)
A critical study of prescribed pre-war Igbo novels; characteristics
of the early Igbo novels, problems of early Igbo novelists.
IGB 308
Prescribed Texts of Early Written Igbo Poetry (2 units)
A critical study of selected texts of early written Igbo poetry, themes,
functions, structure and styles.
IGB 309
Igbo Traditional Drama (2 units)
A critical study of Igbo traditional drama: the Mmonwu drama, etc,
emphasis on the origin, functions, structure, performance and styles.
IGB 310
Introduction to Research Methods (2 units)
A consideration of the current methods of collecting data in linguistic,
literary and cultural studies; methods of documentation and reporting
research findings.
400 LEVEL
IGB 401
Igbo Major Dialects (2 units)
A survey of Igbo dialects; and examination of the phonological, lexical
and grammatical relationships and differences between central Igbo and
different dialects.
IGB 402
Igbo Transformational Grammar (2 units)
A brief review of transformational syntax: the Igbo phrase structure;
underlying and surface structures in Igbo – Question formation, negation,
topicalization, pronominalization, relativization, co-ordination, etc.
IGB 403
Elements of Igbo Sociolinguistics (2 units)
A review of the scope of sociolinguistics; a study of the principal speech
communities; class and Igbo languages, sex and the Igbo language, age
and the Igbo language, occupation and the Igbo language, Igbo language
in contact with other languages and the effects.
IGB 404
Igbo Stylistics II (2 units)
A detailed study of the stylistic features of prose, poetry and drama
- both oral and written, practical application of the knowledge of
stylistics of Igbo literary composition.
IGB 405
Igbo Literary Criticism (2 units)
A study of the principles of literary criticism; a review of the
various approaches to Igbo literary criticism; practical exercises in
Igbo literary criticism.
IGB 406
Prescribed Texts of Igbo Traditional Prose arratives (2 units)
A critical study of selected texts of Igbo traditional prose narratives
- folktales anecdotes, allegories, lends, myths, parables etc, emphasis
on themes, functions, structure, style and performance.
IGB 407
Prescribed Texts of Contemporary Written Poetry (2 units)
A critical study of contemporary Igbo poetry – themes, functions,
styles and structure.
IGB 408
Igbo Contemporary Drama (2 units)
A critical study of selected texts of contemporary Igbo plays
emphasis will be placed on their themes, structure, narrative
techniques, characterization, styles and functions.
IGB 410
Introduction to Igbo Traditional Music (2 units)
An introductory study of the forms, functions and qualities of
Igbo Traditional Music.
IGB 411
Contrastive Studies: Igbo and Other Languages (2 units)
A systematic examination of the structure of the Igbo language contrasted
with those of English and one other Nigerian language. Emphasis will be
in area of differences and their implications for Teaching Igbo as L2.
IGB 412
Igbo Social and Material Culture (2 units)
A detailed description and analysis of the social and material
aspects of the Igbo culture – marriage, child care, home training,
funeral, inheritance; traditional dresses, building and building
materials, traditional occupations, arts and crafts.
IGB 414
Original Essay (4 units)
An independent supervised research on a linguistic, literary or
cultural aspect of Igbo. The essay will be written in Igbo language
using the official orthography.