Genealogical reconstruction of the proto -luluhyia language

Abstract

A genealogical reconstruction of any language is geared towards the formulation of a protolanguage. The reconstruction of a target language is largely dependent on the current use of its presumed varieties or dialects. In this case, the genealogical reconstruction of the ProtoLuluhyia language was possible through consideration of its dialects. The existing literature shows that genealogical reconstruction of a proto-language for all Luluhyia dialects had not been done. It was, therefore, necessary for a study to be undertaken to genealogically reconstruct Proto-Luluhyia language for all dialects under it. The study was guided by three objectives: establish the genealogical relatedness of the Luluhyia dialects, genealogically reconstruct Proto-Luluhyia language and determine phonological, semantic and morphological variations of Luluhyia dialects. The study was guided by the genetic hypothesis theory. The study employed qualitative method in which ethnography design was applicable. The researcher collected open-ended, emerging data with the primary intent of developing themes from the data. Sample in this study was selected from the native speakers of the Luluhyia dialects who formed the target population. The sample size of 170 respondents was used with each of the 17 Luluhyia dialects represented by 10 subjects. All the 17 Luluhyia dialects were purposively involved in the study for the purpose of reconstructing an all-inclusive Proto-Luluhyia language. Purposive sampling technique was also used in the selection of subjects from each dialect. The main instrument of data collection in this study was interview. The comparative method was involved in data analysis, especially in the reconstruction of the Proto-Luluhyia language after transcription being done. The study contributes new knowledge in the fields of Sociolinguistics and Historical Linguistics. The study established that the Luluhyia dialects are genealogically related. It was shown through resemblance of cognate forms cutting across the dialects in the vocabulary areas involving naming systems, days of the week, human body parts, domestic animals and historical origin that the Luluhyia dialects are genealogically related. Generally, orthographically, the Luluhyia dialects appear the same to the ears of non-native speakers. However, to a linguist certain variations are noticeable. These variations are though limited and do not entirely cut across the Luluhyia dialects. Reconstruction of the Proto-Luluhyia language was genealogically done based on the current use of the Luluhyia dialects in the vocabulary areas mention above. Phonological similarities of the cognate forms played a key role in the identification of the sounds to be reconstructed and subsequent reconstruction of the lexical items of the Proto-Luluhyia language.