Comparative Study of two Dialects of Bench: Benchnon and shenon
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Date
2010-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study is designed to deal with some linguistic features of Benchnon and Shenon dialects in
a comparative way. The objective of the study is to show variations in some phonological,
morphological, lexical items and semantic differences in the two dialects. The methods
implemented in the study are through eliciting forms from the speech of native speakers of the
two dialects, and through using published literatures as a secondary source. Both descriptive
and comparative approaches are used to find out the dialectal variation in the two dialects.
The findings of the study indicate that there are variations in phonological, morphological
lexical items and semantic differences between the two dialects. Chapter one of the study deals
with the people and language. Chapter two of the study deals with the conceptual framework of
study. Chapter three of the study deals with phonological features of the two dialects. Under
phonology variation in the two dialects is attested in the syllabic nasal, tonal distribution,
meaning change and phonological differences in some words. Chapter four of the study deals
with morphological features, and under this, the two dialects show variations in some noun
inflections, pronouns, case, verb inflections, aspect and tense, negation and ordinal numbers.
Chapter five of the study deals with lexical variations and semantic differences. Under lexical
items variation is attested in some word classes, cardinal numbers and days of the week. Under
semantic, variation is attested in some words in Benchnon and Shenon.
The language has some unique natures, such as tone and uncommon sounds when it is
compared with other Omotic languages in Ethiopia. The language is unwritten language until
the resent year and it is now on the process to be written language. This process should
consider the nature of the language, the relation and difference between the two dialects to have
clear grammar and sociolinguistic profile
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Linguistics