CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The issue of focus construction has turn into an interesting research in the area of syntax which triggered researchers to get involved in the study of linguistics. This makes Aboh, Hartmann and Zimmermann (2008) to opine that:

Focus strategies in African languages contributes to the ongoing discussion of focus by investigating focus related phenomena in a range of African languages, most of which have been under represented in the theoretical literature on focus.

In the article, several theoretical `and methodological perspectives of focus strategies in Niger-Congo and Afro-Asiatic languages ranging from generative analysis to typological generalization across languages were analyzed which reveals new focus strategies and tone focus distinctions that are not discussed in the theoretical literature of focus construction. Hence, focus construction is one of the general frame works of the theory of universal grammatical principles which are found in almost all the languages in Africa, but different variations and unique parametric approaches are involved. Therefore, it is highly imperative to look into the parametric approaches involved in focus construction in Oji River dialect in the area of derivation, position, their focus markers and features.

1.1 ORJI RIVER

Oji River is a Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria to the south bordering Anambra State and Abia State. Its headquarters are in the town of Oji River. The towns within Oji River L G A are:- Inyi, Achi, Awlaw, Akpugoeze and Ugwuoba. Enugu and Ebonyi States are sometimes referred to as the ' Wawa States'

The Oji River thermal power station in Oji River in Enugu state, Nigeria, is one of the small satellite power stations built in the South-East of Nigeria before Independence of 1960 and the commissioning of the large National Hydroelectricity power station in Kainji Dam/Jebba Dam. It was built to produce 10MW Capacity of Electricity. With the aid of the river alongside the site and coal transported from Enugu Coal site on overhead cable buckets 50 km away. After the Nigeria - Biafra civil war, the thermal power station was upgraded to 30MW, supplying electricity the immediate area and also some parts of Udi, Achi area.

On the 28th January 1956: Queen Elizabeth II, on a three-week visit to Nigeria, during which she visited the leper settlement and newly built power station, at Oji river in East Nigeria. The plant reportedly last generated power in 2004. The Nigeria government has debated plans for recommissioning the plant, considering that its water level has drastically gone down such that it cannot power its turbines to generate electricity, as well as the closed coal mines at Enugu city.

Oji River town has one of the largest and oldest running leprosy rehabilitation settlements in the south-east, bordering Anambra state. It had been originally set up by English missionary churches in the 1930s in Nigeria. In 1944, the then Governor of Nigeria Sir Arthur Richards visited the Uzuakoli Leper Settlement officially. Following this visit, the Nigerian government took active interest in missionary activities to eradicate leprosy in Nigeria by taking over the Oji River Leprosy Settlement from the Church Missionary Society (CMS now Anglican). It also built a Leprosy Control Centre at Oji River. Most people from Oji River are Christians with majority either practising Catholics or Anglicans while the rest practise local believes.

Oji River town hosts one of only four sites nationally, for the Recruitment and training at police cadets in a Police College in Oji River, which also offered training to other security personnel, such as armed immigration officers. The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is designated by Section 194 of the 1979 constitution as the national police of Nigeria with exclusive jurisdiction throughout the country

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Challenges associated with linguistic inadequacy include non-standardization in the different components of the language, like the orthography, focus construction and vocabulary, and difficulties with translation. Closely related to these issues is the problem of raising the personnel and materials needed to teach these languages in schools. This aspect has for long remained a very big challenge to the growth and development of indigenous languages in the country. The younger generation of Nigerians does not think it is important to spend time, energy and resources to enroll in indigenous languages classes. It is to this regard that the researcher desired to carry out an analysis of focus construction in Oji River dialect.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OFD THE STUDY

The main aim of the research work is to analyze focus construction in Oji River dialect. The specific objectives of the study are:

1. to determine the features of focus construction in Oji River dialect
2. to examine the efficiency of focusing the object position in Oji River dialect
3. to determine the types of focus construction in Oji River dialect
4. to investigate the factors affecting focus construction in Orji River

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study came up with research questions so as to ascertain the above stated objectives of the study. The research questions for the study are:

1. What are the features of focus construction in Oji River dialect?
2. Is the focusing the object position in Oji River dialect effective?
3. What are the types of focus construction in Oji River dialect?
4. What are the factors affecting focus construction in Orji River?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on the analysis of focus construction in Oji River dialect will be of immense benefit to the English and literary studies department in Nigeria. The study will explore focus construction of Oji River dialect, identify the features of focus construction and determine the focusing the object position in Oji River dialect. The study will serve as a repository of information to other researchers that desire to carry out similar research on the above topic. Finally the study will contribute to the body of the existing literature on the analysis of focus construction in Oji River dialect.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

 The study on the analysis of focus construction will focus on Oji River dialect