ABSTRACT
The title of this work is THE NUMERAL SYSTEM OF IKA.
This language is used by the Ika people of Delta State. It’s central focus
is to find out how numerals are derived in the language and the different
morphological processes it undergoes in the modification of number
names other than the basic ones.
The motivation behind this study was the shocking and
disappointing realization of the lack of linguistic study of this aspect of
Ika. Another aim is to create a reference for further research pertaining
to this aspect of linguistic study of Ika.
The theoretical frame work used in the work is the descriptive
approach of Lehmann (1999). This framework deals with the
investigation of structure of a language through the collection of data
through interaction with native speaking consultants.
This study employed the primary source of data collection to get
the numerals data used in the analysis. This involves the acquisition of
numerals in Ika through competent native speakers. Two informants
were used in the course of this research combined with my competence
in the language too. All numerals in Ika used in this research were
transcribed phonetically, tones were marked on all items, as Ika like
most Nigerian language is a tone language.
The findings in this work is the morphological processes that
numerals in Ika undergoes during its derivation. Example of these
process found in Ika numerals include affixation, reduplication,
compounding and clipping.
The recommendation of this work is on other aspects of linguistic
study of Ika ranging from phonology to its syntax that hasn’t been worked on.
