Prosody And Morphosyntax In Bura: An Analysis Of Sentences And Compound Words

Abstract

This study investigates the intricate relationship between prosody and morphosyntax in the construction of sentences and compound words in the northeastern Nigerian Bura languages. Compound word construction in large languages like English has been studied in great detail, while prosody in less studied languages like Bura has not received as much attention. This study fills this vacuum by examining the ways in which prosodic characteristics like stress, rhythm, and intonation impact morphosyntactic patterns in Bura languages. The study employs Prosodic Phonology as its theoretical framework, emphasizing the integral role of prosodic elements in shaping both the structure and meaning of compound words. A qualitative approach is used, with data collected through fieldwork, including audio recordings to capture the prosodic nuances of Bura compounds. The findings reveal that prosodic features are not merely adjuncts but are central to the grammatical and semantic integrity of compound words in Bura languages. This study contributes to linguistic theory by providing insights into the typological diversity of morphosyntactic and prosodic interactions in language formation, particularly in lesser-known languages like Bura.