LEXICAL RELATIONS IN ADAMAWA FULFULDE

Abstract

This paper investigates lexical relations in Adamawa Fulfulde. Lexical relations play a crucial role in understanding the structure and meaning of words in any language. The study explores the various lexical relationships in Adamawa Fulfulde, a dialect of the Fulfulde language spoken primarily in the Adamawa region. The research examines key semantic relationships such as synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, highlighting their significance in linguistic comprehension and communication among Adamawa Fulfulde speakers. The study adopted a descriptive research design. Data were elicited from competent bilingual native speakers of Adamawa Fulfulde, particularly in Girei Local Government Area of Adamawa State. The data were collated through interviews of the native speakers. It was discovered that synonymy, antonymy and hyponymy are the most productive lexical relations in Adamawa Fulfulde. By analyzing lexical data through a descriptive approach, this research provides insights into the unique semantic patterns of Adamawa Fulfulde and their implications for linguistic studies and language preservation.