Analysis of Ngizim Loanwords Borrowed from Hausa Language

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze Ngizim loanwords borrowed from Hausa. In particular, loan phonology i.e. lexical items as well as suggestions of how to improve the situation. Thirty respondents from among the Ngizim bilingual and monolingual speakers in Potiskum metropolis were chosen as the target population for the study, while the theories of language borrowing especially the influence of L2 over L1 were used as analytical models for the study.. On the other hand, the Ngizim language has increased its vocabulary with lexical items for language preservation. The finding of this study revealed the existence of linguistic influence. Similarly, the Ngizim borrowed via sister language Nilo Sahara i.e. Kanuri such lexical items includes jí¢kuwa, ‘cap', dí¢bi ‘hoe', kí¢rgůn ‘medicine' etc. Additionally, the paper found some sound(s) which appeared in neither word initial, medial nor word-final position but are not incorporated into Ngizim sounds. Among them include /mb/, /ng/, /ny/, /kw/, /au/.