A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PHRASE STRUCTURE OF SOME NIGERIAN LANGUAGES

Abstract

This paper examined the phrase structure of some Nigerian languages with a view to provide linguistic templates in language pedagogy to secure minority languages. The study makes use of the contrastive analysis theory to investigate the sameness of their verb heads and complements in contrast with the English Language. Domiciled in the domain of syntax, the descriptive research design was used to collate data from relevant sources on which twenty three structures were tested by descriptive analysis, out of which all Nigerian indigenous languages make use of verb initial structure with intermittent omission of definite articles, prepositions and the change of indefinite article in the English structure to number for convergence in the Nigerian indigenous languages. The findings show that although numerous typological classifications such as OSV design, OVS design, SVO design, SOV design, VSO design, VOS design and subject-only restriction design exist in parts of the world, this study has identified the Verb-Adjective-Object (VAO), Verb-Object-Determiner (VOD) and the Verb-Determiner-Object (VDO) in the internal structures of Nigerian indigenous languages; thereby introducing SVAO, SVOD and SVDO in modern language typology. The position of this paper is that the understanding of the existing language sameness and differences will help in sustaining the design of minority languages in order to reduce or possibly avert the extinction of indigenous languages in Nigeria and in West Africa.