PHONOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF ANAANG COMPOUND NAMES.

This paper focuses on the phonological analyses of Anaang compound names being that many names in Anaang are in compound forms. This permits a lot of phonological processes such as consonant strengthening/weakening, gemination, vowel deletion, vowel lengthening and assimilation. The study adopts the participatory and in-depth oral interview method for data collection. Anaang compound names constitute the primary data for this paper and is analyzed within the framework of morphophonemic theory. This analysis reveals the phonological implications on Anaang compound names, which include consonant weakening, vowel deletion, vowel lengthening and assimilation. This research shows that compound names in Anaang are in different grammatical constructions such as noun+ noun, noun+ verb, verb +verb and adjective +noun. In this study, it was observed that the youths are not maintaining their native names. There is a great language shift not only in Anaang, but among the Ibibios also when it comes to naming. During data collection, the researchers discovered that little children were bearing name such as ‘Moses, Macdonald, David, diamond’ etc. Thus, hindering the flow for data collection. Our findings showed that such names are due to westernization and religious influence. We also found out that the youths are fond of changing their names from the native names their parent gave them to English equivalent such as: ‘Mfon’ to ‘Grace or Favour’, ‘Anyanime’ to ‘Endurance’, ‘Unwana’ to ‘Bright’. Some even change completely to something else such as: ‘ Favour, Constance, Helene, Patricia etc. This also make our field work difficult. This is why some people have more than one name, because their parents refuse to call them by those new names, but still maintain the indigenous name that was given them from birth. This paper shows that names as part of the grammar of the Anaang Language is a serious academic and intellectual phenomenon. However, maintaining our indigenous names is a means of preserving our culture as well as saving our language from being endangered.