Author:Nneka Chinenye Lawrence-Akah (Njoku)
Date: 05/07/2026
Previous studies on contrastive analysis have not adequately examined stress placement and intonation patterns in major Nigerian languages. This study contrastively analyzed the use of stress and intonation in the spoken English of Igbo-English and Ibibio-English bilinguals. The aim was to identify the similarities and differences in their placement of word stress and to determine the extent of their international intelligibility. The study adopted both qualitative and quantitative approaches using a descriptive survey design. The theoretical frameworks employed were the Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis (CAH) and Metrical Phonology Theory (MPT). The study was conducted in Igbo- and Ibibio-speaking areas of Nigeria, while the population comprised graduates from eight selected Nigerian tertiary institutions. A sample of 182 educated Igbo-English and Ibibio-English bilinguals were selected through random sampling across eight tertiary institutions. Data were elicited through recorded word lists designed by the researcher and subsequently analyzed using acoustic and metrical techniques. The findings revealed varying degrees of similarities and differences in stress placement among the respondents. These variations were attributed largely to individual exposure to native English-speaking environments and personal efforts at language development. Although the observed differences were not substantial enough to hinder mutual communication, they may affect international intelligibility. The study concludes that the differences observed in the suprasegmental features of Igbo-English and Ibibio-English do not arise from structural differences between the two indigenous languages but from individual linguistic development and exposure. The study recommends further investigation into the spoken English performance of Igbo-English and Ibibio-English bilinguals who acquired English in native-English-speaking environments and those who learned English exclusively in Nigeria. The study contributes to the existing literature on contrastive analysis by providing empirical evidence on stress and intonation patterns in the spoken English of Igbo-English and IbibioEnglish bilinguals. It is expected to benefit phonologists, linguists, language students, and other language users by providing useful data for further research.
Keywords: Stress, Contrastive Analysis, Bilinguals, Metrical Phonology Theory, Cross-linguistic.
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