A Phonemic Analysis of Imilike-Igbo Consonants

Abstract

This paper studies the consonants of Imilike dialect, a variety of Northern Igbo dialect. The main goal of the study is to identify the consonants that make up the dialect and establish their phonemic status. The theoretical framework adopted for the analysis is generative phonology. Data for the study were collected through oral interview and observation. The study identifies forty phonetic consonant sounds in the dialect. Twelve out of the forty consonants result from secondary articulations such as palatalisation and labialisation. Twenty nine out of the forty phonetic consonant \1 , nts identified in the dialect were assigned phonemic status while others were regarded 11\ allophones of someother segments. The study reveals the presence of the voiced post alveolar fricative [3] which is absent in the standard Igbo and the absence of the voiced velar fricative / y/ which is present in the standard Igbo. It points to the unique phonological features of the dialect that distinguish it from the standard variety.