CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL BACKGROUND
1.1 Introduction
This research is aimed at describing aspects of negation in Koenoem language. Koenoem language is a language spoken in Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State of Nigeria.
In this chapter, we discussed the general background and socio – cultural profile of the Koenoem people. The genetic classification of Koenoem language as well as the aim and objectives of the research is discussed. We also included the scope and organization of the study.
1.2 Historical Background of Koenoem People
A popular legend of the Koenoem claimed that they were influenced by the attempt to link their origin to the universal respective and centers of old civilization. This legend claimed that they migrated from France to their present location for economic reason.
Koenoem means “to refuse”, the reason why this utterance was rendered by the Koenoem speaking people was that there was a river dividing them with their neighbouring village, and the river belonged to them i.e. the Koenoem. Inspite of that their neighbouring villages were claming ownership because of the immense benefit from the river.
The Koenoem people because of this mess said they would not fold their arms and watched them; they presented all their problems to their ancestors to fight for them. As a result of this new born babies immediately after given birth to, will be strike to death by thunder from no where. When the villagers got to realized that all the happenings was as a result of their selfish interest, they call a meeting and resolve the issue immediately and handed over the land to the Koenoem people and that is why in both Shendam and Mikang land, today don’t take this Koenoem for granted.
1.3 Geographical Location of Koenoem People
Koenoem people are located in northern part of Shendam Local Government Areas of Plateau State and Eastern part of Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State. The Koenoem village was formally a ward under shendam province and later relocated to Mikang Local Government Area. The major towns around Koenoem are: Doka, Zomo and Piapun.
1.4 Socio – Cultural Profile of Koenoem People
Cultural is defined as a total way of life of a group of people in a geographical setting. Keonoem people have their district cultural and traditional beliefs which are expressed in their mode of dressing, occupation, religion, festivals and marriage system.
Marriage System in Koenoem
The Koenoem people have their culture, norms, and values. When it comes to marriage the person who wants to marry pay a specific amount of money and some traditional items for the kinsmen before contacting the father of the girl for bride price. The amount paid for bride price is not always much that is why they marry many wives.
The first step to marriage is to pay some certain amount of money and some items, other material things such as rappers shingginda, millet for local brint beer to the elders of the family. The second step is the bride going to the groom’s farm to check his capability whether is capable of taking care of the wife he intends to marry. If the groom is capable they move to the third step which is the introduction of the two families to each other and after that the proper marriage.
In Koenoem land divorce does not take much time, they believe if a woman leaves a man the more he brings in another one to replace her. Some divorce are made in the court of law through the chief judge pronouncement and others in a traditional way, where the two families come together and settle amicably by paying back what they collected from the grooms family.
Occupation of Koenoem People
The major occupation of Koenoem people is farming. Majority of the people are subsistence farmers though commercial farming is also practiced. They cultivate crops like maize, millet, guinea com, groundnut and rice as well. After harvesting all these crops, buyers come from urban centre and buy at the cheapest price and take it to the city.
Religion of Koenoem People
In Koenoem land the three (3) religions are observed i.e. Christianity, Traditional and Islamic religions. Christianity dominates followed by traditional religion then Islamic religion. Most of the people practicing Islamic religion are indigenes of the land. The general language use in the place of worship is Hausa except the traditional worshipers who used the local dialect to make their incantation.
Festivals of Koenoem Language
Festivals are organized to unite their kinsmen from far and near. The chief priest is regarded as the ruler of the tribe only, but without defined territory. There is a particular festival celebrated to commemorate the death of their heroes who had fought tirelessly to emancipate them from the shackles of invaders and other form of oppressions. Their annual festival is celebrated on the 12th December, for this festival an Antelope must be casted to appease the gods.
Educational Background of Koenoem people
The Level of Education in Koeneom village is very low, because most of them believe that farming is the best way to make money.
Education as defined by one philosopher popularly known as Plato who said education is the production of sound mind to a sand body. In this definition we are made to understand that the Koenoem people were not aware of the positive impact of education, but now they have realize the positive impact of education and they now send their children to school, so as to take active part in politics.
Administration in Koenoem Land
Koenoem people’s administration is more or less a traditional system of administration. The people of Koenoem take orders from their chiefs. The chief is the administrative and ceremonial leader in the village.
There, chief who is called long Koenoem dictate some certain things for them, and any other information which is to be relay to the people must past through the chief before disseminating it to the masses.
After the chief the second in command is referred to as angwa meaning halmet, he takes directives from the chief to the people.
1.5 Genetic Classification of Koenoem Language
Source: www.Ethnologue.com
{Accessed November 2010}
AFRICAN LANGUAGE
Afro Asiatic Niger Kordofanian Nilo Sahara Khoisan
Niger Congo
West Atlantic Mande Atlantic Congo
Atlantic Ijoid Volta Congo
Ewe Edo Benue Congo Plateau
Northern Jos Western Jos Eastern Jos
Zomo Doka Koenoem Piapun
1.6 Statement of the Research Problem
The target of this research is to analyze Negative sentences in Koenoem language. Therefore, these work primarily focus on Negation in Koenoem language and our aim is to identify the various negative construction and negation markers in the language, their position in the language.
1.7 Aims and Objective
The purpose of this work is to carry out a syntactic analysis of Koenoem language with focus on the syntactic process known as negation. Our aims and objectives in this research work include.
i To explain what negation is
ii To discuss how negation is used in Koenoem
iii To identify the various negations
iv To also discuss the transformational processes used in deriving negative constructions in the language.
1.8 Scope and Organization of The Study
This work is limited to negation in Koenoem language and it is divided into five chapters. Chapter one deals with the introductory part of the work, which includes general introduction the historical background and socio-cultural profile of Koenoem language, genetic classification, aims and objectives, scope and organization of the study.
Chapter two deals with literature review here we shall review the chosen frame work that is the government and binding theory of syntax and explain its relevance to this work. Chapter three shall focus on negation as a syntactic process in Koenoem language showing among others the various positions negation markers can occupy in Koenoem language chapter four shall deal with transformational processes in Koenoem such as focus construction and relativization in relation to negation. Chapter five will summarize and conclude the work.
1.9 Data Collection
The method used in this research work for our data collection is direct translation method from English Language based on the Ibadan 400 word list. Data elicitation was carried out by direct interview of language helpers with the proceedings recorded on audio cassette. The frame technique was also employed during data collection.
Informants Data
Informant Name: MR. GWAITIL TITUS
Occupation: Military
Age: 28
Religion: Christianity
Language spoken apart from Koenoem: English, Piapun, Hausa, Tal.
Number of years spent in Koenoem: 20 years
1.10 Data Analysis
To ensure an efficient data analysis is this research, all the data collected were carefully transcribed. The morphemes that make up the phrases and sentences were also carefully glossed. The data collected were used according to how the native speakers used them without imposing and extraneous rules or norm.
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