Abstract
This research analyzes the derivational tactics adopted in the derivationosf Yorùbá Ilorin place names with a view to evaluating the morphological processes and concomitant phonological alterations that determine their structure. The research is prompted by the relative neglect of Ilorin toponyms in current studies on Yorùbá morphology and onomastics. Adopting Hockett's (1954) Item-and-Arrangement model as its theoretical framework, the research adopts a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were gathered from thirty-five indigenous place names purposively selected from seven districts within Ilorin city and augmented with information elicited via semi-structured interviews with ten native speakers of Ilorin Yorùbá. Additional data were collected from archival records and appropriate academic sources. The data were examined descriptively with focus on the segmentation of constituent morphemes and the phonological processes surrounding their formation. The data demonstrate that affixation, compounding, calquing and borrowing comprise the key derivational techniques involved in the formation of Yorùbá Ilorin place names, with compounding appearing as the most productive approach. The research further reveals that these derivational processes are accompanied by phonological phenomena such as vowel elision, assimilation, contraction, epenthesis and tone alteration. The research also indicates that extended interaction with Hausa, Arabic and English has contributed considerably to the vocabulary makeup of numerous Ilorin place names, therefore demonstrating the multilingual nature of the speech community. The research confirms that Yorùbá Ilorin place names are not random geographical identifiers but linguistically driven forms which reflect historical experiences, cultural values and contact-induced modifications. It consequently adds to the recording of Ilorin Yorùbá and enriches current studies in morphology, dialectology and African onomastics.
Keywords: Yorùbá
Ilorin, place names, derivational morphology, compounding, borrowing,
onomastics, Item-and-Arrangement model.
DOI: 10.36349/sojolics.2026.v02i02.012
author/Fatai Toyin Kareem
journal/Sokoto JOLICS 2(2) | August 2026 |
