Analysis of Tiv clitics

Abstract

Tiv language has both major and minor word-formation processes, and cliticization belongs to the minor process. This study debunks an erroneous assertion by researchers of Tiv extraction that Tiv morphology is devoid of clitics. The non-inclusion of cliticization as a word-formation in Tiv is long overdue. Though clitics are infinitesimally small in the Tiv grammar, their minuteness should not be ignored. This paper argues that the Tiv language has enclitic m, which is added after its hosts, usually verbs, it performs pronominal functions. This paper classifies Tiv clitics, discusses the formation of clitics in Tiv, and states the functions of Tiv clitics. The researcher made use of observation as a primary source of data elicitation, and documentary sources were equally used in the review. It has been discovered that researchers on the Tiv language have not given any attention to clitics in the language. It has been found out that nam (give me) and wuhem (my co-wife) were considered as objects in the previous studies. Researchers mistook clitics for affixes. Finally, the Tiv language only has enclitics.