Description:
The concern of this study was to analyze the Noun suffixation process in Iraqw language.
The study was guided by three research specific objectives; that is, to classify the Noun
suffixes in Iraqw language, to examine the interaction between morphological and
phonological processes in noun suffixation process, and to scrutinize the function of the
Noun suffixes in Iraqw language.
The theory used to derive the study is called the Lexical Morphology model. The methods
employed in the data collection include the documentary review in Iraqw language written
by different scholars particularly English Iraqw Dictionary, Iraqw text, Iraqw Grammar.
Moreover, the use of lexical questionnaires was applied, directed to six respondents who are
native speakers of the language. The data was finally analyzed by the descriptive method,
and tabulation approach.
The findings of the study revealed that the noun suffixes in Iraqw language are classified in
to different types which include, number suffixes, demonstrative suffixes, possessive
suffixes, and case suffixes. It was then revealed that the noun suffixes have the function of
indicating number, demonstrativeness, possessiveness, and case.
Another aspect of the findings is that Iraqw language is a tonal language. In its noun
morphological process, there are two processes employed which are the morphological
process and phonological process on the other hand. The morphological process deals with
building words by using segments called morphemes, while the way on how those words are
pronounced is the role of the phonological process. It is revealed that most of the noun
suffixes especially those which indicate demonstrativeness, possessiveness, and case trigger
a high tone on the derived word.