Non-arbitrariness in the Tiv grammar: An appraisal of onomatopoeias and sound symbolism

Abstract

The study entitled ‘Non-arbitrariness in the Tiv grammar: An appraisal of onomatopoeias and sound symbolisms’ has debunked a long acclaimed notion that there is no co-relationship between sounds and meanings; that objects or things are called not because of the resemblance. This study substantiates that Tiv grammar has cornucopious instances of onomatopoeias and sound symbolisms which are non-arbitrary in nature. The objectives of this paper are (i) prove that there is a presence of non-arbitrariness in the Tiv grammar; (ii) classify the concept of non-arbitrariness; (iii) establish that it is easy to comprehend words or expressions that are non-arbitrarily used. Peirce’s (1985) theory of sign has been used in this study to establish a convergence between sounds and meanings. This study used observation method and the data were selected using deliberate sampling. It has been found out that language is beyond arbitrariness as established by scholars. Though existed in minute instances, non-arbitrariness in language usage draws attention to such a word hence its sound aids in memorability and attention-grabbing. It has been discovered that onomatopoeias and sound symbolisms are sources of word-formation in Tiv. Non-arbitrary use of language is responsible for capturing sounding, feeling, looking, tasting or smelling of objects. This study has debunked a hackneyed dictum that human languages are solely arbitrary. This study is recommended to grammarians, linguists, lecturers, students, scholars who may want to establish a nexus between phonology and semantics (phonosemantics), discuss the iconicity in human languages and explore the efficacy of onomatopoeias and sound symbolisms as sources of word formation.