1.1 Introduction
Koro Morphology is the branch of linguistics that studies the compatibility of such combinations and proposes the rules for their formation of koro language. Morphology deals with the structure of words. Look at the words: knowing, knowingly, unknowingly. The last two words can be subdivided as knowing and –ly, and unknowing and –ly. Here un-, knowing, and –ly are called morphemes. A morpheme can be defined as the minimal meaningful unit that cannot be further subdivided. The study of morphemes is called Morphology. The structuralized were interested in defining a unit of language that did bear meaning; so they proposed the concept of a morpheme. In the metal compartment where all possible, meaningful and acceptable words are formed, there are certain rules that must be followed or certain conditions met before any word can be viewed as acceptable in any language.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
According to the story of the origin of Koros narrated to us by Sariki Muhammed Yawa, the present village head and 14th chief of Ija-Koro village, he said a group of Koro left Zaria area on a hunting expedition to old Abuja emirate, years before the Hausa Zazzau came to Abuja (Suleja) under the leadership of ‘Shiwoyi’ who later became the first chief of Ija-Koro.
They later discovered that the land was blessed with thick foliage and more game, the Koros decided to settle very close to the Gbagyi people who they met there and who also welcome them without any bitterness or rancour. There are many version of the origins of the Koro. Some primary and secondary sources of oral tradition, assumed monolithic origin for the Koros. However, all these contradictory versions reflect migrations and inter relations.
After living with the Gbagyi for many decades they left their former abode to where they presently occupy in Tafa local government area of Niger state. They later divided into two villages, Gbaraku and Ija-Koro with Ija-koro as the senior of the two. Today Ija-koro is made up of ten wards which include, Kacha, Kachago, Kachadato, Kugawa, Kugu, Adidipu, Gbaraku, Adiotolafu, Adesa and Tungan and Ladan. Ija-Koro is one of the ten villages under Bwarri district until the creation of federal capital territory Abuja.
Also according to Na’ibi and Hassan in their book ‘a chronicle of Abuja’ the Koro of Ija came from Jaban-Kogo in southern Zaria under the leadership of Idrisu who left Jaban-Kogo because of chieftaincy dispute. He traveled with his people through Jere and Garam and then settled on.
Another popular legend of the Koros claimed that they were evidently influenced by the attempt to link their origin to the universal perspective and centers of old civilization. This legend claimed that one koro and his younger brother ‘Jukun’ were born east of Mecca and settled in “Apa” which became the capital of Kwararafa Kingdom. He was blessed with four children named Igala, Nupe and two daughters. Igala in turn begot Alago and Idoma. One of the daughter of Jukun begot Bachama, while the second daughter begot Ankwe (Gojeh, Jatau and Mamman, 1998:9) from linguistic evidence, the legend of Koro and his brother Jukun were not from Mecca. Infact, some Koro, Kanuri, Jukun and Arab do not belong to the same linguistic group as evidenced in the recent linguistic classification of Gordon (2005).
The above legend contradicts the oral accounts narrated by Sarki Muhammed Yawa. Linguistic consideration strongly point to the fact that all Koros couldn’t have one origin nor came together into central Nigeria, as they do not speak same language. In fact the difference in dialect from one Koro group to another further point to the fact that they have different origin.
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Aspects of Koro Morphology.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that there is information insufficiency of the aspects of koro morphology. This is not to say, however, that traditional analogy is not without some problems. As has frequently been pointed out, it often seems unconstrained, and there is an element of unpredictability with it.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Aspects of Koro Morphology. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the morphological processes attested by the Koro language structure;
- To examine the Koro language and expose its morphological aspects.
- To ascertain the functions of morphemes in Koro language structure; and
- To determine the various steps, theories and methods would be used and considered in the analysis and exemplification of the morphemes and their processes.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- What are the morphological processes attested by the Koro language structure?
- What are the functions of morphemes in Koro language structure?
- What are the morphological aspects of Koro language?
- What are the various steps, theories and methods would be used and considered in the analysis and exemplification of the morphemes and their processes?
1.6 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.7 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the examination of the Aspects of Koro Morphology.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection.
