Phonological Analysis of Consonant Clusters in Tiv Language

The paper investigates the role of consonant clusters in the phonological structure of Tiv language focusing on their identification, contribution to the language and influence on syllable patterns. The study identifies and categorises consonant clusters present in Tiv language, explores the contribution of these consonant clusters to the phonological system of Tiv to examine their distribution and categorises how these consonant clusters influence syllables structures in the language. The descriptive design is used as the method of research analysis while qualitative approach is used for the interpretation of data. Data is collected using observation as the primary source and journals and textbooks serve as secondary sources. The researcher uses the Structuralist Theory of linguistics proposed by Ferdinard de Sanssure in 1916 as basis for analysis. The study establishes that, the language allows consonant clusters of two to four across Tiv phonological structures. Their distributional is however gradient in nature, and they contribute to giving unique phonological structure and also create complex onset, complex coda and ambisyllabic syllables in the Tiv language.