Abstract
This study examines structural ambiguity in Tiv. It explores the nature, causes and sources of grammatical ambiguity in Tiv, with emphasis on how such ambiguity shapes communication within the language. The objective is to analyze the ways structural ambiguity operates in Tiv spoken in Benue State, Nigeria, and how it affects meaning interpretation. Tiv, spoken largely in the Benue valley, belongs to the Kwa-Bantu group of the Bantoid subfamily of the Niger-Congo family. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative approach. Data were sourced from Tiv-speaking communities through participant observation and supplemented with secondary materials. The findings reveal that structural ambiguity frequently leads to misinterpretation, as sentences often permit more than one grammatical reading. The study shows that most ambiguities can be resolved through discourse context, paraphrasing or the introduction of subordinate clauses. The work is expected to illuminate the impact of structural ambiguity on Tiv communication and to guide speakers and learners on strategies for effective use of the language.
Keywords: ambiguity, structural ambiguity, context analysis, discourse, Tiv
DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i02.007
author/Sontyo, J. J., Tiav, A. T., & Imoh, P.
journal/Sokoto JOLICS 1(2) | November 2025 |
