Understanding Ibibio Clause Structure From the Perspective of English Language

A universal clause structure should be bounded by agreement relations (Chomsky, 1991&1992). It is assumed that elements at [Spec, AGR-S”] and [AGR-S] must agree overtly in specific terms, and therefore hold a Spec- head agreement relation. There is also the covert agreement which holds between the Spec of AGRO and the verb complement. The present research endeavour is premised on Chomsky’s universal clause structure, Pollock’s Split-INFL Hypothesis and Baker and Willie’s postulation that every functional head in Ibibio- Aspect, Auxiliary, Mood, and Participle, as well as Tense- acts as a probe, capable of initiating an Agreement relations to propose a clause structure for the Ibibio language. This notable pattern in the analysis of the Ibibio clauses serves as the motivation for the proposed clause structure for Ibibio, a member of the Central Lower Cross subgroup of the Delta group of the New Benue-Congo language family. It is in the light of the situation explicated above that this research seeks to examine the basic linguistic elements that could lead to a better understanding of the Ibibio clause in structure specifically when studied from the perspective of English language.

Keywords: Chomsky Ibibio Clause Structure

Authors

• Susanna T. Udoka
  Department of English, Akwa Ibom State University
• Otobong Umoh
  Department of English, University of Uyo
• Jackson Etuk
  Department of English, Akwa Ibom State University