Lexical Morphology In Yoruba Language Engineering

ABSTRACT

This study is concerned with the identification, description and analysis of the lexical items that are enriching the Yorùbá language in its continuous attempt to capture new and emerging ideas and notions, consequent upon challenges posed by advancement in the areas of education, science, technology, politics and public administration in the modern times.

The study reveals that the new words are generated by certain categories of speakers in the society. They are grouped into (a) scholars and (b) non-scholars. The former category is divided into (ai.) linguists and (ii.) non-linguists. The latter category is classified into (bi.) literates bii.) semi-literates and (biii.) non-literates. It is discovered that the scholars generate the modern words purposefully and deliberately. Except for those from the media, words generated by this group are documented and in some cases, they are published. Non-scholars are observed to engage in the generation of new words intuitively and spontaneously. They respond to communicative needs when they encounter new experiences and concepts which, as native speakers of the Yoruba language, they must express in Yorubá. It is also discovered that speakers of the Yoruba language possess innate linguistic knowledge which empowers them to generate the native words as well as the modern words. This knowledge is referred to as resources. Every new word is therefore generated to improve/develop the language. The innate knowledge is explained with the known linguistic levels of phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.