Browsing by Author "Zelealem Leyew"
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Item Assessment on the Standards and Uses of Tigriny a Dictionaries(Addis Ababa University, 2009-06) Tsegay Muhur ; Zelealem LeyewDictionaries are very essential in our everyday professional life. They provide us with valuable lexical information and are crucial reference/resource materials across all disciplines. Thus, upholding of their standard/quality and use appears to be paramount important in order to suit the needs of intended users. However, little or no empirical research has been done so far about the qualities and uses of Tigrinya dictionaries. The main purpose of this study is then to assess and describe the standard and uses of some selected Tigrinya dictionaries in the light of current theories and principles of lexicography. The total sample subjects are six Tigrinya dictionaries, three compilers, and hundred five Tigrinya-major students and ten Tigrinya teachers, from Addis Ababa and Mekelle Universities. Convenience sampling technique was used to select the dictionaries and the compilers, and systematic sampling technique to select the students, teachers, and the main entries from the dictionaries. For an overall look at some aspects of the dictionaries, purposive technique was also applied. Regarding data collection instrument, questionnaire (for the students and teachers), an interview (for the compilers), and a document/content analysis (for evaluation of the dictionaries) were used. The data obtained through these instruments were analyzed and interpreted in qualitative (in tables, graphs and descriptions) and quantitative (frequency distribution) methods as necessary. The overall result of the study shows the selected dictionaries lack principles and methods of lexicography. They are perceived nonstandard and are underutilized. The compilers of these dictionaries lack adequate experience and training on dictionary compilation. The study, therefore, implies Tigrinya dictionaries have to maintain the required properties/qualities of a standard dictionary. Compilers of such dictionaries need to attain necessary knowledge and skills of dictionary compilation, and training is required to users and the authorsItem Codeswitching in Tigrinya: The Case of Two FM Radio Programs(Addis Ababa University, 2011-06) Bahire Araya ; Zelealem LeyewThis study deals with Codeswitching in Tigrinya: The Case of Two FM Radio Programs broadcasting in and around Mekelle. The rationales, which triggered the researcher to conduct such a research, are the fact that there are very few studies in Ethiopia, no research in Tigray and the researcher was experienced with switched Tigrinya in the Tigrinya FM radio programs (TFRPs). It is tried to address the why, when, how and how often codeswitching incidents are appeared on the TFRPs, and the perception of codemixing by bilinguals and monolinguals. It also attempts to describe what linguistic features of codeswitching are identified and which universal constraints are attested valid in Tigrinya-English or Amharic codeswitching phenomenon. The study aims mainly at exploring the social aspects of codeswitching activities, and describing the linguistic features of codeswitching on the Tigrinya FM radio services (TFRSs) vis-à-vis some earlier studied models and findings. To address the problems and achieve the objectives, both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed for gathering bits of information from the selected sites and FM radio listeners in focus. Questionnaires, interviews, and audio recordings were used as basic tools to collect genuine information. The bits of information were collected from both monolingual and bilingual TFRPs clients and the newscasters. The social and linguistic data of codeswitching on the TFRPs are exhibited viewed from different perspectives. There are bulks of codeswitching occurrences on TFRPs more frequently from English and Amharic constituents.Tigrean codeswitchers were engaging in codeswitching incidences motivated by the social attractions. However, monolinguals have remarkably negative attitudes towards codeswitching by overwhelming the bilinguals. Besides, the Trilingual Tigreans are switching multiple constituents intrasententially via Amharic and English. In the Amharic or English switched Tigrinya, the equivalence constraint and free morpheme constraint operational, whereas the size of the constituent constraint is not appropriate.Item Cultural and Linguistic Westernization: The Case of Dressing, Hair style and Language Use among AAU Students(Addis Ababa University, 2014-03) Mulusew Tariku ; Zelealem LeyewThe main objective of this study is to examine the extent of cultural and linguistic westernization in Addis Ababa University among 6 kilo campus students and analyze its effect on indigenous languages and cultures. To achieve this objective data were gathered from 213 students using questionnaire and 20 students were interviewed using semi-structured interview technique. 213 students were selected from 12 departments. Multistage sampling was employed to get participants’ response to the questions in the questionnaire. Results indicate that most of the students studied were under western influence in terms of dressing, hair style and language use. Several factors have caused this which includeː globalization, to be viewed as “modern”, to be viewed highly educated, lack of confidence and so on. Female students were more influenced by western dressing and hair style than males, while students from urban areas appeared to be more influenced than students from rural areas in linguistic westernization.Item The Description of Complement Relations in Xtmt'aija: Based on Functional-Typological Approach(Addis Ababa University, 2010-06) Andualem Adal ; Zelealem LeyewItem An Ethnobotanical Study of Plants among the Sidaama with Special Reference to Medicinal Plants(Addis Ababa Universiy, 2015-05) Henok Yizengaw ; Zelealem LeyewThe main focus of this study is to document, describe and show the relationship between medicinal plants with their vernacular names. This study attempts to display traditional medicinal plants and their links with some ethnolinguistic issues by taking the Sidaama zone as a case study which is located in the South Eastern Ethiopia. This work is carried on in the Sidaama Zone Aletawendo, Aletachuko and Shebedino districts between March 10,2014 to June 12,2014. The data were collected from 60 people (40 males and 20 females). Except some key informants, other informants were selected randomly. The data were gathered through semi structured interviews, focus group discussion and guided field observation. The ethnomedicinal use of 75 plants which are used as cure in the study area was documented. Plants were collected from both wild and home garden. But most of the medicinal plants were collected from the wild. Parts of plants like leaves, stems, barks, and roots were the most frequently used plants for medicinal purpose. Medical treatments usually can be taken via different mechanisms. In addition to this, in this study plants' names, types, structures, meanings, and their utilities other than medicinal values are also discussed. People who live in rural areas and those under privileged urban communities practice traditional medical treatments. In this particular study what the researcher attempted to show the linguistic properties of medicinal plants names among the Sidaama community. The inquiry may aid other researchers to iii I Page understand the mutually beneficial nature of the disciplines and the value of preserving the environment. Moreover, researches conducted by the triangulation of linguistic / language, culture, medicine and environmental science may help us in better understanding of the contemporary global ecological crisis.Item A Grammar of Kulazngi(Addis Ababa University, 2016-09) Yaregal Allene ; Zelealem LeyewThis dissertation presents an all-embracing grammatical description of Kulazngi, a dialect of Awngi, one of the Central Cushitic languages. It is spoken in the south west of Ethiopia mainly in Jawi woreda in Awi zone in Amhara Regional State and in some kebeles in Dangur Woreda in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State. Kulazngi has 28 consonant (out of which five are labialized) and 6 vowel phonemes. Common morphophonemic processes attested in the language include assimilation, labialization, palatalization, vowel/glide insertion, and vowel elision. A consolidated syllable structure rule is (C)V(C) (C) from which can be drawn six syllable structures as V CV VC CVC VCC CVCC. Kulazngi is a tone language: tone has both lexical and grammatical distinction. Three level (high, mid, low) and one contour (falling), tones are identified in the language. While high and low tones have no positional restriction, mid tone never occurs word initially in polysyllabic words; it does not occur sequentially (as M.M) either. A falling (HL) contour tone occurs as a result of diachronic and synchronic processes. Downdrift and contour formation are among the common tonal processes attested in the language.Nouns appear as masculine or feminine in Kulazngi, or there is no a form representing gender neuter. Thus, there is no a citation form per se. What assumes the citation form is the masculine. All feminine nouns end in a vowel a, while masculine nouns end in vowels i, u, or rarely in e, or in a (labialized) consonant. Whereas the common plural suffix is -ka, Kulazngi shows heterogeneity in plural formation. Derivational and inflectional noun affixes are all suffixes. This study also describes nominal and verbal modifiers. While adjectives are both lexical and derivational, the majority of adverbs are derived from other word classes, mainly from temporal and locative nouns. Kulazngi adjectives show characteristic features of nouns morphologically. Like nouns, they are intrinsically gender marked and are also pluralized in concord with head nouns or, in NPs where head nouns do not overtly appear, alone. However, they are not inflected for case in NPs where they do not assume the head except the accusative case. Pronouns, demonstratives, quantifiers and conjunctions are also described with ample and pertinent illustrative data. III Kulazngi verbs do not stand as a phonological word at root level. They are realized only in discourse suffixing mood, aspect and agreement markers. While consonant-ending verbs at root level constitute the majority, there also exist a number of u-ending and i-ending verbs. Except five verbs which also attach prefixes, all Kulazngi verbs are suffix taking. The majority of Kulazngi verbs are lexical; there also exist a number of verbs derived from nouns and adjectives with transitive derivational morpheme -ts or the intransitive one -t. Kulazngi verbs show complex conjugational pattern based on which they are classified as prefix group, meaning prefix taking (PG), I-group (IG), and T_group (TG) verbs. IGVs mark 2 and 3F with i and TGVs with t. IGV, and TGV are further subdivided, thus IGV as IGV1, IGV2, and IGV3 and TGV as TGV1, and TGV2. Conjugational complexity of verbs is more exhibited on relativized transitive verbal forms whose direct object is a shared argument in a matrix clause: these verbs, besides aspect markers, appear laden with both subject and object agreement affixes. Kulazngi verbs have valence adjusting mechanisms. Thus the causative and the passive are obtained via derivational morphemes -ts and -(ɨ)st respectively. Middle verbs are either lexical or derived by -t, and reciprocal verbs are formed by derivational morpheme -ŋ. The syntactic description examines the structures and functions of phrasal and clausal constructions. In Kulazngi, phrases are generally head-final. Adjectives in NPs with no overt head nouns assume the head of the NPs. The word order in the language is subject-object-verb (SOV). As the subject is referenced on the verb, a single verbal word may constitute a sentence in sentential constructions with intransitive verb headed VPs.Item Grammatical Description and Documentation of Bayso(Addis Ababa University, 2018-07) Lemmi Kebebew ; Zelealem LeyewThis dissertation deals with the documentation and grammatical description of Bayso/Giddicho, a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. Bayso is an endangered language due to th e strong pressure of the dominant languages spoken in the area, urbanization and population reduction. The documentat ion palt covers video and audio annotation of texts, bilingual word list (Bayso- English) and th e grammatical description. The grammatical description examines Bayso phonology, morphology and syntax based on the primary data that was obta ined via series of fie ldworks and through elicitation, interviews, observation and discussion methods. Therefore, the qualitative research methodology was employed in this disseltation. Bayso, whi ch belongs to Lowland East Cushitic, Omo-Tana subgroup, has 28 consonant phonemes and five vowels with contrastive long vowels. Bayso employs diverse system of noun plural isation which includes suffixa tion, reduplication and final vowel elision. Bayso also marks paucal and singulative on nouns by using di fferent suffixes. Theoretically, a language that marks paucal should also mark dual. However, Bayso is one of few languages that mark paucal without marking dual. Gender polarity is also one of the marked features of Bayso which was one ofthe foc uses ofthis disseltat ion. In Bayso, gender is not marked on nouns. It is refl ected th rough agreement on other word categories such as verb, adjective and demonstrative. The grammatical cases, nominative and accusative, are not morphologically marked. However, the sematic cases such as genitive, dati ve and instrumental are marked with various strategies. In Bayso, noun derivation is not as productive as other related languages. Yet, new nouns can be derived from the existing ones by us ing vari ous suffixes. In Bayso, both verb inflection and deri vation mainly invo lve suffixation. A verb is inflected for tense, person and number to show concord. Verb stems such as causatives, passIves, frequentat ives and inchoati ves are derived by using different derivational suffixes. Word order in Bayso is fl exible. That is modifiers may precede or follow the ir head. However, subordi nate clause always occurs preceding the matrix clause. Bayso employs various mechanisms of sentence chaining, that is, to form coordination, subordinat ion and co nverbs.Item Grammatical Description and Documentation of Bayso(Addis Ababa University, 2018-07) Lemmi Kebebew ; Zelealem LeyewThis dissertation deals with the documentation and grammatical description of Bayso/Giddicho, a Lowland East Cushitic language spoken in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia. Bayso is an endangered language due to the strong pressure of the dominant languages spoken in the area, urbanization and population reduction. The documentation part covers video and audio annotation of texts, bilingual word list (Bayso- English) and the grammatical description. The grammatical description examines Bayso phonology, morphology and syntax based on the primary data that was obtained via series of fieldworks and through elicitation, interviews, observation and discussion methods. Therefore, the qualitative research methodology was employed in this dissertation. Bayso, which belongs to Lowland East Cushitic, Omo-Tana subgroup, has 28 consonant phonemes and five vowels with contrastive long vowels. Bayso employs diverse system of noun pluralisation which includes suffixation, reduplication and final vowel elision. Bayso also marks paucal and singulative on nouns by using different suffixes. Theoretically, a language that marks paucal should also mark dual. However, Bayso is one of few languages that mark paucal without marking dual. Gender polarity is also one of the marked features of Bayso which was one of the focuses of this dissertation. In Bayso, gender is not marked on nouns. It is reflected through agreement on other word categories such as verb, adjective and demonstrative. The grammatical cases, nominative and accusative, are not morphologically marked. However, the sematic cases such as genitive, dative and instrumental are marked with various strategies. In Bayso, noun derivation is not as productive as other related languages. Yet, new nouns can be derived from the existing ones by using various suffixes. In Bayso, both verb inflection and derivation mainly involve suffixation. A verb is inflected for tense, person and number to show concord. Verb stems such as causatives, passives, frequentatives and inchoatives are derived by using different derivational suffixes. Word order in Bayso is flexible. That is modifiers may precede or follow their head. However, subordinate clause always occurs preceding the matrix clause. Bayso employs various mechanisms of sentence chaining, that is, to form coordination, subordination and converbs.Item The Kemantney Language: A Sociolinguistic and Grammatical Study of Language Replacement(Addis Ababa University, 2000-10) Zelealem Leyew ; Baye YimamThis study is about the sociolinguistic and grammatical description of Kemantney, an endangered Ethiopian language on the verge of extinction. To describe the replacement process of Kemantney by Amharic, three vantage points are discussed in some detail. These are: the sociolinguistic analysis of the speech behaviour of the last generation of speakers, the historical analysis of the external setting and, finally the grammatical description of the structural consequences. The sociolinguistic analysis reveals the high functional reduction of Kemantney. It is used only in rituals and secret talks. Amharic is used for other purposes. Kemantney speakers have a native command of in and a positive attitude towards Amharic, the replacing language, for practical reasons. Their proficiency in Kemantney is bound to age, place of birth and residence, and religious affiliation. The young generation has developed a negative attitude towards Kemantney. The denial of knowledge of Kemantney and of their identity as Kemant is commonly observed among adults. In general, there is a shift of linguistic identity accompanied by a shift of social identity. The historical analysis of the external setting reveals the political, economic and cultural factors which have contributed to the obsolescence of Kemantney. Among these, the geographical location, the long-standing history of contact and peaceful co-existence with the Amhara, the derogatory implication of the name Kemant, intermarriage, and the speared of schools and administrative structures, are the major causes. The immediate cause is, however, the mass conversion of the Kemant people to Orthodox Christianity. Diachronically, the language has gone through both radical and gradual death processes and has ended up with a bottom-to-top type of obsolescence. The lexical and grammatical description of Kemantney reveals that the language has still maintained its Agew - Cushitic features. And yet, striking reductions and simplifications are exhibited in its structure which is attributable to either contact-induced change or language decay. There is a good deal of lexical transfer from Amharic to Kemantney through borrowing. Stem borrowing is common in verbs. The hierarchy of borrowing is: Nouns - Adjectives - Verbs - Adverbs - and finally Postpositions. Frequently occurring and structurally less complex words are more remembered. There is a tendency of replacing sounds typical to Kemantney by related sounds from Amharic. Morphemic borrowing and the borrowing of discourse elements are found. The proficiency continuum ranges from fully competent speakers to rememberers of words and isolated phrases.Item Language Use in the African Union Iau): A Sociolinguistic Study(Addis Ababa University, 2007-03) Eyasu Hailu ; Zelealem LeyewThis research is a sociolingui stic study of language use in the African Union (A U). It is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, an attempt i3 made to briefly discuss the profile of African and fore ign languages in the Union. Here, it is shown that African languages have been at a great disadvantage from becoming the media of continental affairs while fore ign languages are enj oying their linguistic expansion. In the past, slave trade, colonial occupation, neo-colonial int'"rference and now globalization have all played against the d eve lop~1ent of African languages an-d cultures . Furthermore, deci sion makers considered the issue of language use in the AU as a 'soft issue'. Due to this fact there could exist language attitudinal probl ems (';:1 the African languages by governmental bodies. In order to create awareness among pol icy makers and language planners, this study attempts to survey the opinions of AU worker s, personnel of Afri can Embassies and African intellectuals. In chapter two, an attempt is made to observe the language use situation of the AU hi storicall y. Though the question of language use has become ce ntral after the establishment of OAU, it was not of course satisfactorily recognized and answered . Current ly, AU seems to be in a position to upgrade the status of African languages. To perform these activities, an institution called ACALAN was established and has been given the responsibility for the activation oft]'e process. In chapter three, data anal ysis and discussion are presented. The data is interpreted based on the attitudes of three groups of people: African Uni!"l offic iHls and workers, Embassy personnel of African countries in Addis Ababa and African intell ectuals. The interpretation of the data is based on the current situation of language use and suggeststhe potential working languages in the Union in the future. Finall y, the conclusion, the summary of maj or findin~s and recommendations are represented in chapter four.Item Language use in the criminal justice process: The Case of Raya Alamata Woreda in Tigray Region(Addis Ababa University, 2012-06) Gessesse Nigusse ; Zelealem LeyewThe main purpose of this study was to describe and analyze language use and to assess language related problems in the criminal justice process in Raya Alamata Woreda. To ensure this, qualitative and quantitative methods were used. All the legal officers were taken and one hundred clients were included through quota sampling. Questionnaire was distributed for legal officers and clients. Interview was made with legal officers and clients. Observation was made during courtroom interactions and police interrogations. An attempt was made to describe and analyze language use in the criminal justice. The study revealed that people use direct and indirect speech acts to convey intended messages in the criminal justice. The police use mainly eight WH questions as a tool for criminal investigation. Lawyers use the system of presupposition and entailment to draw question to examine witnesses with the intention of triangulating the linguistic evidences. Accused and complainants use language mainly to convince the judges in favor of their respected clients by destroying the arguments of their opponent parts. Lawyers use code mixing for technical use of terms, habitual use of language, and professional adaptation of terms. They also use code switching for better comprehension of language. Parties and witnesses use code mixing for elaboration of terms, as a matter of habit, and due to mother tongue interference. They also use code switching for better comprehension and secrete use of language. New words are introduced into the legal language mainly through borrowing, compounding, semantic extension, loan translation, derivation and abbreviations. The difficulty of legal jargons, the complexity of legal language, linguistic and non linguistic barriers, and the asymmetrical distribution of speech acts between lawyers and parties are found to be problems in language use. To alleviate the problems, lawyers should make their language as simple as possible to be understood easily by clients. Awareness should be created on meanings of legal terms for clients or else use common terms during interactions. Legal officers should accept clients’ language choice, provide legal awareness for the people and provide translation services.Item Major Challenges of Learning English Among Wangi Native Speakers: The Case of Grade Eight Students of Four Selected Primary Schools in Awl Zone(Addis Ababa University, 2013-06) Senay Tarekegn ; Zelealem LeyewThe aim of this study is to investigate the challenges of learning English as foreign language in selected primary schools of Awi Zone. To achieve the goal, primary and secondary data were collected using questionnaire, interviews, test, and reference materials. Based on the earlier works, the unseen part of other researchers of related topics were touched by this research. The research tried to assess the problems related to learning English in schools and classroom settings. The researcher aimed to solve the problems of students that become an obstruction to learn English as a foreign language and as a resull lead them to failure. Second language learning research focuses on developing knowledge and use of language by children and adulls who already know at least one other language. This field of research has both theoretical and practical importance. The theoretical importance is related to our understanding of how language is represented in the mind and whether there is a dijJerence belween languages are acquired and processed and the way other kinds of information are acquired and processed. The practical importance arises j-omthe assumption that an understanding of how languages are learned will lead to more effective teaching practices.Item Medical Professional-Patient Communication in Outpatient Department of Kotebe Health Center: A Sociolinguistic and Pragmatic Study(Addis Ababa University, 2012-10) Abrham Yohannes ; Zelealem LeyewDoctor and patient communication is one of the interpersonal communications and is centre for clinical function in building a therapeutic doctor and patient relationship, which is the heart and art of medicine. Therefore, it is important in the delivery of high-quality health care. But, patients complain that doctors are not willing to listen to them, do not answer their questions or inform them properly, they are authoritative and unhelpful. Doctors, on the other hand, criticize their patients for not following their advice. Abstract The study focused on Outpatient department of Kotebe Health center, which is under Yeka sub city that provides primary health care for the general population which holds two doctors, four health officers, twenty three nurses and their patients. That is the communication between medical professional and patient from sociolinguistic and pragmatic aspects respectively. The first, contemplates the use of terminology, register, turn taking, solidarity and status, language and group membership, and code switching in language. The second, deals with the use of language in social context and emphasize the ‘functionality’ of utterances performed in medical contexts of interaction which attempts to address the speech act theory, the maxims and the paralinguistic feature of the language. The methodology used to collect the data is techniques such as interview; observations and questionnaires. The qualitative data which was found from the interactions and quantitative data found from questionnaires were analyzed and tried to inspect the two questions; those are mentioned above. Moreover, the study shows both interlocutors’ code switch from Amharic and to English and used terminologies during communication which has contribution for miscommunication and clarification. Variables such as age, gender, educational status etc. has big part in the interaction of the medical communication.Item The semantic-Pragmatic Basis in the Interpretation of Amharic Contract court cases(Addis Ababa University, 2010-06) Addisu Tarekegne ; Zelealem LeyewItem Word formation in diddessa mao(Addis Ababa University, 2007-07) Alemayehu Dumessa ; Zelealem LeyewThis thesis has attempted to investigate and describe the word formation processes in Diddessa Mao, the variety of Northern Mao of Omotic family spoken around Diddessa River Valley. Derivation, compounding and reduplication have been dealt with as the major word formation processes. The derivational processes in this variety of Mao included nominalization, verbalization, and adjectivalization. Derived nominals such as: manner nominals suffix /-ä/ to action verbs. Abstract nominals suffix/-iyä/ to adjectival and nominal bases. Action nominals suffix /-i/ to verb roots, and result nominals suffix /-e/ to verb bases. In verb derivation causatives are derived from verb roots, adjectivals and nominal bases by suffixing /-sisa/. Passives suffix /-ek’-/ to transitive verb roots. Reflexives suffix /-inke/to simple verb roots, causative verbal stems and intensive verbal stems. Statives attach the morpheme /-inke/ to adjectives. The reflexive /-inke/ is homophones with the stative /-inke/. Adjectivals are derived from nominals by suffixing the morpheme /-itä/. Compounding in this variety of Mao is formed through the combination of two or more words from the same or different word-classes. Compound nominals are formed from verbals and nominals or from two nominals. Compound adjectives are formed from two adjectivals, or nominals and adjectivals, adjectives and nominals and number with nominals. Compound adpositions are formed from two adpositions. Intensive verbal stems are formed from verb roots through complete reduplication process. Adverbials are derived from nouns that refer to time with the suffix /-at/. Some phonological, morphological, syntactic and semantic characters of the derivatives and compounds are considered in this study. For all kinds of word formation processes, word formation rules (WFRs) have been proposed and their positions are also described.