Morphophonological Interaction in Igikuria Borrowed Nouns and Verbs from English

This study examined the morphophonological structure of Igikuria borrowed nouns and verbs from English. The focus was on the derivational and inflectional processes observed in these nouns and verbs. Morphophonological processes play a crucial role in forming and modifying nouns and verbs in a language. Several studies only focus on either phonological or morphological aspects of lexical words in language. However, little research exists concerning morphophonological processes, particularly in the context of the Igikuria borrowed nouns and verbs from English. Therefore, this study analyzed the interaction between morphological structure and phonological rules in the Igikuria borrowed nouns and verbs. The analytical tool used was Lexical Phonology and Morphology (LPM) Theory by Kiparsky (1985). Data was collected and analyzed using qualitative descriptive research design. Unstructured interviews and focus group discussion techniques assisted the collection of data using an interview schedule and discussion guide with tape recorder as research instruments. The study was conducted at Kehancha Chini in Kuria West Sub County, Migori County by targeting native Igikuira speakers. A purposive sampling procedure was used to settle down on 24 informants who provided 24 borrowed nouns and verbs. From the data set, five borrowed nouns and five borrowed verbs were analyzed and used for discussion. The findings of this study were intended to contribute to the understanding of the intricate morphophonological structure of Igikuria borrowed nouns and verbs. The study therefore offers valuable insights into the broader fields of morphophonology in Bantu linguistics, while also providing practical implications for language preservation and documentation efforts in Igikuria-speaking communities.