Nominalization in ÙHÀNMÌ

Previous studies have shown that nominalization is realized through different strategies. However, the strategies provided in various studies are not exhaustive in covering the construction of nominal expressions in languages of the world. This study investigates nominalization in Ùhànmì, an understudied Edoid language spoken in Ìṣùà-Àkókó of Òǹdó State. It presents a descriptive account of nominal derivatives in the language. The study explores the existing strategies and other plausible strategies for forming them, the morphological structure of words, and some linguistic characteristics of the nominal expressions. Data for this study were sourced from native speakers of the language. In this paper, it is established that Ùhànmì employs different strategies for forming nominal constructions. It avers that nominal constructions in the language are derived and expressed through prefixation, reduplication, compounding, interfixation, desententialization and clipping. These methods are found to be productive in the formation of nominal expressions in Ùhànmì. The Research is motivated by the gap in the literature, as there is no study on nominalization in the language. The study provides ample data and explanation that adds to our existing linguistic knowledge on nominalization.