Comparison of Vowel Content Rates of Igbo and Some Other Language Words and Expressions of Equivalent Meaning: An Exploratory Introduction to Quantitative Study of Igbo Language

Abstract:

This paper proposes, develops, presents and illustrates an exploratory method for possible use in the promotion of quantitative research, teaching and study of Igbo language, culture and concepts. In particular the paper proposes, develops, presents and illustrates vowel content rates defined as the number of vowels per unit of the number of letters in Igbo language words or expressions with the vowel contents rates of words or expressions of equivalent meaning in any other language of research interest. A test statistic is also developed for use in testing the null hypothesis that vowel content rate of Igbo language words and expressions do not differ from vowel content rate of words and expressions of equivalent meaning in some other language of interest. The proposed method is illustrated with some sample data on matched pairs of Igbo and English word names that are equivalently used as names of human body parts in the two languages. Analysis of these data show that, at least for human body parts, vowel content rates of Igbo word names are on the average significantly higher than vowel content rates with the corresponding English Language word names that are also used as names of the same human body parts.