Lexical Variation in Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi Dialects of Àkókó: A Critique

Abstract

Bámigbádé and Sanni (2018) examined lexical variation in Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi, two speech forms spoken in Àkókó region of Ondo State, Nigeria, with focus on cognates. They observed that Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi share striking similarities and concluded that they are both dialects of Àkókó language. This paper critiques this submission with the aim of correcting the erroneous claims in the work. Based on available evidence from existing literature and linguistic evidence from Àkókó region, the paper argues that there is no language known as Àkókó and by implication, therefore, Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi cannot be its dialects. It also establishes that the comparison of Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi lexical items which necessitated the search for cognates was vague since the basis for the comparison was neither established nor justified. Relying on data from adult native speakers of Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi, the paper presents empirical facts which invalidate the claims of Bámigbádé and Sanni (2018). It concludes that Bamigbade and Sanni’s claims on the linguistic variation and relationship between Ìkàrẹ́ and Arigidi are false and unreliable.