Vowel Laxing as a Technique of Adaptation in Hausa Words Loaned Into Kanuri

Citation: Musa Grema (2017). Vowel Laxing as a Technique of Adaptation in Hausa Words Loaned Into Kanuri. Yobe Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (YOJOLLAC), Vol. 5. Department of African Languages and Linguistics, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria. ISSN 2449-0660

VOWEL LAXING AS A TECHNIQUE OF ADAPTATION IN HAUSA WORDS LOANED INTO KANURI

By

Musa Grema

Abstract

This paper makes an attempt to study those linguistic items borrowed from Hausa to Kanuri with special attentions to those with long vowels.  The paper focuses attention on laxing as phonological device used by Kanuri, the borrowing language, to fully incorporate the Hausa loan words. This phonological modification purely involves vowel sounds. Through the research, it is established that loan words undergo laxing process in order to be fully integrated into the target language. The research employs two techniques as a source for data collection. These techniques are primary and secondary sources. The primary source include unobtrusive observation and listening to Kanuri programmes broadcast by Yobe Broadcasting Corporation (YBC) while the secondary sources include written records. It also employs the Generative Phonology Model as a theoretical framework which is accredited to Noam Chomsky and Morris Halle.  The paper establishes that all Hausa words loaned into Kanuri with tense vowels become lax before they are fully incorporated. This is necessary in order to be in conformity with the phonological constraint of the recipient language (Kanuri).  It concludes that Kanuri language borrowed some lexical items from Hausa language.  

INTRODUCTION

Borrowing is a term used in both comparative and historical linguistics to refer to a situation where a linguistic form(s) is taken over by a language or dialect from another language. This phenomenon is usually linked to loan words. It is also seen as any attempt of reproducing a linguistic item(s) found in one language or dialect into another language. The act of borrowing among languages is as old as the social, political, administrative and economic contacts among people of different linguistic communities. As far as contact is established between two or more different linguistic communities there is tendency for linguistic borrowing to take place. Therefore, despite the fact that the two languages (Hausa and Kanuri) under study belong to different language phyla, there exists linguistic borrowing between them. Hausa and Kanuri people are neibours for decades and there exist mutual understanding between them. These languages have some common features and they are all influenced by Arabic language and culture to the extent of helping in spreading the religion of Islam in some regions of West Africa.  There are certainly various compelling reasons for one language or dialect to borrow from another language or dialect. (Ibrahim 1978, Sa’id 1981, Zarruk 1986, Yalwa 1992, Baldi 2001 and Crystal 2008).

According to Bulakarima (1999), the borrowed item (s) might be adapted in order to fit into phonological and morphological systems of the target language. The borrowed item (s) may or may not retain the meaning of the original language (source language).

Greenberg (1963) classifies Hausa as a member of Chadic languages which belongs to the Afro-Asiatic phylum, while Kanuri is one of the African languages classified as a member of the Saharan branch in the Nilo-Saharan phylum. In view of that, despite the fact that Hausa and Kanuri belong to different language phyla there exist borrowings of linguistic item(s) among them.

Interestingly both Hausa and Kanuri languages are identified as tone languages. According to Sani (2005:53-56) Hausa is characterized with three noticeable tones namely; high, low and falling tones. On the other hand, Bulakarima and Shettima (2012:46) affirm that Kanuri has high and low tones which are considered to be underlying tones. There is also falling, rising tones and in rare cases, the language has a mid tone. Thus, Kanuri has five phonetic realizations of the tones. Base on this, in discussions and analysis of data in this paper high and falling tones are marked, while low tones are left unmarked. Similarly, long vowel is shown through doubling of the vowel concern.   

2.0 AIM

This paper is aimed at identifying those linguistic item(s) borrowed into Kanuri from Hausa that undergone vowel laxing process before they are fully incorporated into Kanuri. It will therefore, expected to be a major contribution in the area of linguistic borrowing.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 

The theoretical framework employed in this paper is Generative Phonology which is accredited to the work of Chomsky and Halle (1968). Generative phonology is considered as the sub field of general study of language known as Generative Grammar which is a blanket term for grammar model. Generative phonology considers distinctive features of universal character to provide phonological descriptions. According to Baba (1998:4) generative phonological framework is capable for describing any aspect of human language. This makes it possible for, many scholars to adopt this framework in analyzing many aspects of human language. Therefore, this paper will not be an exception; an attempt will be made to provide a phonological rule to account for any phenomenon that is considered as example of vowel laxing in Hausa loan words in Kanuri

4.0 METHODOLOGY

Two sources of data collection are employed for the purpose of this research work. These sources are primary and secondary respectively.

4.1 PRIMARY SOURCE OF DATA

Unobtrusive observation is adopted as one of the sources for data collection in this research. The researcher listen attentively when a discourse is taken place in Kanuri without interfering.  This makes it possible for the researcher to identify those Hausa words loaned into Kanuri without much intricacy. Another primary source of data for the purpose of this research is listening to various Kanuri programmes aired by the Yobe Broadcasting Corporation (YBC), Damaturu. When the programmes are being broadcast, the researcher identifies and picks those lexical items borrowed from Hausa to Kanuri. This also paved a way for the researcher to gather Hausa loan words in Kanuri. 

4.2 SECONDARY SOURCE OF DATA   

This is the second source of data employed by the researcher in order to gather more data and also ascertain those data gathered through the primary source. It comprises of various written records which consist of Kanuri dictionaries where the etymology of the words are clearly stated. Other written records used are journals, textbooks, dissertations and thesis. However, it is important to mention that, the use of these written records depend on the availability of the materials at the time of conducting this research.

ANALYSIS

In this sub section of the paper we will discuss and analyse the phenomenon of vowel laxing as an adaptation technique employed by Kanuri language in incorporating the Hausa loan words. For easier understanding the sub section will be categorize into different parts.

5.1 ADAPTATION BY VOWEL LAXING

Kanuri is not characterized by long vowel as clearly established in the phonemic inventory of the language. Bulakarima and Shettima (2012:42) state that “… at glance, vowel length and diphthongization appears to be phonemic in Kanuri, is not true." However, it is important to state that, the language has a form of weakening through consonant deletion, as a result two identical or not identical vowels appears. In the process, a consonant is deleted between vowels as a result of which lengthening takes place e.g likita > liita (doctor), karaka > karaga > karáa (bush), féféto > féfédo > féédo (wing) etc (cf. Bulakarima and Shettima, 2012:42). Therefore, all Hausa words loaned into Kanuri with long vowels undergo vowel reduction process.

LAXING OF HIGH VOWEL

It is observed that in all Hausa words loaned into Kanuri high tense vowels becomes lax. This phenomenon occurs in all environments. Consider the following example:

Example 1

jjjjjjjj	Hausa	Kanuri	Gloss
a.	farántii	faránti	plate
a.	timbíi	timbí	abdomen, belly
b.	aníiní	aníní	button
c.	máyáafíi	máyáfí	bed sheet/veil
d.	yáajii	yáji	spice
e.	gúnkíi	gúnkí	an idol
f.	ríibaa	ríwa	profit
g.	kwáalíi	kwálí	packet/container
h.	boorii	bori	devil-possession
i.	táakii	táki	manure/fertilizer
j.	ƙúusaa	kúsa	nail
k.	gúntúu	gúntú	short one
l.	zungurúu	zungurú	type of long gourd
m.	lúnguu	lúngu	nook, corner
n.	dámbúu	dámbú	type of steamed food

From the above examples (1a – o) it is established that, the high tense front vowel and the high tense back vowel in the source language (Hausa) becomes lax in the target language (Kanuri). This became necessary for the model in order to conform to the phonological constrains of the target language. Now let us formulate phonological rule to account for the phenomenon in example 1 above.

Rule 1: Laxing Rule for High Vowels

Rule 1 above states that, the high front unrounded tense vowel changes to non-tense word-finally or before a consonant as in examples 1 (a - j). It also converts the high back rounded tense vowel into non-tense in between two consonants or word-finally, as in examples 1 (k – o).

LAXING OF MID VOWEL

Now, in this sub section, we are going to discuss the laxing of mid front unrounded and mid back rounded vowels. In Hausa loan words in Kanuri, both the mid front tense unrounded and the mid back tense rounded vowels become lax before they are fully incorporated into Kanuri language. This phenomenon occurs in between two consonant whether identical or not identical and at the end of the word. The followings are examples of such cases:

Example 2

SN lAMBAR	Hausa	Kanuri	Gloss
a.	aládee	aláde	pig
b.	áurée	áuré	type of mango
c.	gárée	gáré	wheel
d.	keeké	keké	bicycle
e.	aléewa	aléwa	type of sweet
f.	tsíirée	céré	kebab
g.	zaavée	zawé	election
h.	áládee	áláde	pig
i.	agóogó	agógó	watch/clock
j.	dóole	dóle	compulsory
k.	góoro	góro	kola nut
l.	gúrdoo	gúrdo	retail
m.	ƙóoƙóo	kókó	type of small calabash
n.	ƙóosái	kósái	bean cake
o.	kwandóo	kondó	basket

In example 2 (a – h) the research established that the mid front tense vowel in the source language becomes lax in the target language. In the same vein, example 2 (i – o) confirmed the laxing of mid back tense vowels in Hausa words loaned into Kanuri.  Let us formulate a rule to account for the phenomenon discuss above.

 Rule 2: Laxing Rule for Mid Vowels

Rule 2 affirms that a mid tense front vowel becomes lax at word boundary or before a consonant as can be seen in example 2 (a –h).  It also indicates that a mid tense back vowel chances to lax at the end of a word or before a consonant.

LAXING OF LOW VOWEL

Reduction of low vowel is the next laxing process to be discussed in this paper. The research divulges that the mid tense vowels in Hausa words loaned into Kanuri chances to lax before they are fully rendered into Kanuri. These can be seen in the examples that follow:  

Example 3

SN lAMBAR	Hausa	Kanuri	Gloss
a.	adaashí	adashé	a form of group money saving
b.	bandáa	bandá	smoked meat or fish
c.	bángaa	bánga	voluntary security outfit
d.	bíyaa	bíya	payment
e.	daalá	dalá	pyramid
f.	dálmaa	dálma	lead (mineral)
g.	damfáraa	damfára	duping
h.	gádaa	gáda	bridge
i.	kújeeráa	kújerá	chair
j.	waináa	wainá	type of food
k.	qanqáráa	kankárá	ice block
l.	addáa	addá	matchet
m.	láayaa	láya	talisman
n.	fatákaa	fatáka	twenty-five kobo coin
o.	áafu	áfu	half of three pence

The above examples (3a – o) authenticate that a mid tense vowel in the source language (Hausa) become lax in the target language (Kanuri). This is necessary because loan words must be in conformity with the phonological constraint of the receiving language. The following is a phonological rule to account for the phenomenon discussed above. 

Rule 3 Laxing Rule for Low Vowel:

The above rule asserts that, a low tense vowel changes to lax before a consonant or at word boundary as seen in example 3 (a – o). 

CONCLUSION  

It is clear from the discussions above, that Kanuri a Nilo-Saharan language borrowed a number of linguistic items from Hausa a Chadic language. It is also established that in the process of domesticating the Hausa words loaned into Kanuri a segmental modifications takes place, in order to make the loan word look like the Kanuri native words. This segmental modification involves both consonant and vowel sounds. However, in the case of this paper they largely involve vowel sounds since the paper purely dwells on vowel laxing process as technique of adaptation by Kanuri language. In each of the examples provided a phonological rule is formulated to account for the process using distinctive feature values. Therefore, this research is a contribution to the body of existing knowledge in linguistics at large.

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