COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SOUND SYSTEM OF UMUCHU DIALECT AND STANDARD IGBO LANGUAGE
CHAPTER ONE
1.0    BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
    Generally, the study of Igbo language has received renewed interest and attention from scholars. The renewed interest has been a cheering development especially in the increasing period of demand and expectation from the Igbo community. In the advancement in information technology, linguistics studies need to move with the time and Igbo language in particular need not stay behind.
    Language is a system of communication which is used by people of a given locality. Language makes it possible for man to transfer knowledge across in space and time. It serves not only as the principal medium that Germans communicate with, but also a means of socialization it links people together and bind them with their cultures. In fact, without language, people will not be identified.
    Igbo language is one of the three recognized vernacular known as WAZOBIA, (Nwadike, 2005). Igbo language is important to an Igbo speaking individual for communication, transaction, teaching as well as learning. It is spoken in many parts of Igbo communities comprising Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and River States of Nigeria. Igbo language has the major forms, the standard and non-standard variety. The non-standard variety is known as dialect. Dialect according to Hartman and Stork (1971; 65-66) is a regional or social variety differing in pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary from the standard language which is in itself a favoured dialect. A dialect is chiefly distinguished from other dialects of the same language by features of linguistic structure. “grammar (specially morphology and syntax), vocabulary and pronunciation. Although some linguistic include phonological features such as vowels, consonants and intonation among the dimensions of the dialects. In the sound system of American English for example, some speakers pronounce ‘greasy’ with an ‘s’ sound while others pronounce it with a ‘z’ sound.
    The standard variety can be regarded as one of the dialects of a given language, though one that has attracted special prestige. Standard language arise when a certain dialect begins to be used in a written form, normally throughout a broader area than that of the dialect itself. The way in which this language is used, for example in administrative matters, literature and economic life leads to the minimization of linguistic variation. In most developed countries, the majority of the population has an active speaking, writing at least passive understanding of the standard language.
    Ikekeonwu (1980) grouped the Igbo dialects into five clusters according to both phonological and grammatical criterion. They are, Niger Igbo, Inland West Igbo, Inland East Igbo,  Wawaa Igbo/Northern Igbo and Riverian Igbo. Each clusters has up to thirty dialects.
    Therefore, this study sets to describe the sound system of Umuchu dialect of Igbo as compared to the sound system of standard Igbo.  A comparative study of this nature sets to identify the similarities and the difference in the Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo sound system with the aim of determining the relationship between them.
1.1    UMUCHU DIALECT AND ITS SPEAKERS
    Umuchu dialect is one of the dialects of Igbo. It is classified under Aguata in Ikekeonwu (1986) dialect classification. The dialect has a unique linguistic feature.
    Umuchu is a broader town between Anambra and Imo states of Nigeria. It is bounded on the south western extremely of the present Aguata local government area of Anambra state. It is bounded on the south of Arondizuogu, Umuakoma and Akokwa in Ideato south local government area of Imo state, while on the north and northwest by Achina and Enugu, Umuomaku respectively. In the West by Uga and Amesi and in the east by Umuomaku, Umunze and Agho-mule river.
    The Umuchu is made up of three major traditional village groups called Ihetenato, Amanassa, and Okpu-na-Achalla. The major  occupation of the people of Unuchu are farming and trading.
1.2    IGBO LANGUAGE AND ITS SPEAKERS
    According to Hartermann (1952) and Greenberg (1966), Igbo language is a member of the Niger-Congo family of language. Igbo language is therefore under the Kwa group of language of the Niger Congo branch of the Niger- Kordofanian language group. Igbo language belong to the rain forest culture group thereby enlisting itself as is component  of the Kwa group of language in accordance with Williamson’s classification of Nigerian languages.
    Igbo language is spoken by over a million people mainly found in the south-east geo political zones of Nigeria in states like Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo. They are also found in some parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta state. They are made of several clans which is nearly impossible and quite unnecessary too to list them all.
    Igbo language which is spoken in the own forest region occupying a vast area of land bounded by the Edold group which include Bini, Esan, Etsako and others. Eastwards towards the Cameroonian boarder by the Yako, Eka, Ibibio, Anang, Bolagi, Ejaghem and Bakwara language group. As previously explained, Igbo people are located in most of the country’s eastern states, when naming the vast area of its spread we have Anioma, Oshimili, Ukwuani in Delta state referred to as Delta Ibo. It is pertinent to note  here that this geographical spread have contributed in no small measure to determining how each dialect filtered into each other. By this it is expected that two dialects which are in close proximity than others tend to be more similar to each other than with others. A lot has been done on the Igbo language which include a standard orthography, sound systems etc. The Igbo family tree is shown below.
Niger Kordofanian
Niger – Congo                            Kordofania
1.3    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
    Language is a very vital tool in the life of every individual and the society at large. Language has different variations which are called dialects. Major attention has been on the languages, giving lesser attention to the variants of these particular languages. As a result of this, most variants or dialects has not been properly studied.
    Most speakers of a dialect cannot properly analyse the machinery  of their dialects and cannot attest the differences and similarities of their dialect and the standard form of the dialect. Most speakers assume that all dialects or variants of a language are all the same in all ramification with the standard language because there is a mutual linguistics understanding when speaking them. This points brings to limelight a very important questions, which is how one can know the difference that exist between a dialect of a language and the standard form of that dialect.
1.4    PURPOSE OF STUDY
    This study looks at the sound system analysis on the variation of Umuchu dialect of Igbo language and standard Igbo. The main goal is to identify, analyse and establish the functional sounds in the Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo. This work by no means look out for the similarities and differences identified between the Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo to discover whether they are mutually intelligible. This research in no small measure contribute to the knowledge of the sound system of the dialect and language. It is also hoped that it will give vitality to the dialect and help the present generation to develop their proficiency in reading and writing their dialect.
1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
    Every Research carried out has its benefit both to the researcher and the readers of the work. Therefore, this study will be helpful to both the scholars and readers of the study.
    It will be of great benefit to scholars who would like to go on a further research. The documentation of this work will help to preserve the Umuchu dialect and Igbo language in general.
    It will be of great help to the researcher by broadening the mind of the researchers in the understanding of the sound system of the Umuchu dialect and Igbo language at large.
    Teachers and students who will teach or study Igbo language will  find this very beneficial.
1.6    SCOPE OF STUDY
    This study on the comparative study of the sound system of the Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo captures identifiable sounds in the  dialect and language bringing out the vowel and consonant sounds, and also the tones.
    All the attested sounds captured in the language will be compared to determine the mutual intelligibility between the Umuchu dialect and the standard Igbo.
1.7    LIMITATION OF STUDY
    The greatest limitation in this study is finance. Finance needed in carrying out a standard research is not always easy for a student. One actually need lots of funds to source for credible information and data.
    Time was also a huge problem as the researcher was made to work under a given period of time.
1.8    RESEARCH QUESTIONS
    The following questions are posed to serve as a guide for the research.
What are the vowels and consonant sounds present in the Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo?
What are the tones present in the Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo?
Are there any similarities and differences between the  
Umuchu dialect and standard Igbo?
Are the Umuchu dialect and standard igbo mutually intelligible?
1.9        METHODOLOGY
    This part of the study focuses on the research methodology. The data are gotten from native speakers using the Ibadan 400 worldlest where 200 words was choosen and transcribed and also tone marked. Therefore, the phonemes of the language are identified and the vowel and consonant phonetic charts are drawn for the  dialect and language under  investigation. The sound patterning (i.e. how the sounds are combined to form words will be looked at).