A Syntactic Analysis of Selected Clausal Coordinates as Used in the Amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
CHAPTER ONE
Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to do a syntactic analysis of clausal coordination by and, but, and or as used in the Amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a view to finding out some syntactic implications that the uses of those coordinators generate in compound sentences. In achieving this aim, the study further seeks to realise the following objectives:
- To identify the attributes of the sections and subsections characterised by clausal coordination by and, but and or in the Amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
- To discuss the syntactic implications that the uses of each of them could generate in the Amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
- To do a syntactic analysis of the sections and subsections of the Amended 1999 Constitution that have clausal coordination.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Introduction
This chapter contains a review of related literature. It discusses legalese as a language variety as well as various grammatical theories – both past and present, and the theoretical framework for the study.
Coordination
Coordination is a syntactic structure that contains the linkage of two or more conjoins at the same grammatical level by certain conjunctions. That means that, for example, a verb and an adjective cannot be coordinated because such coordination will be considered ungrammatical in English. Conjunction, itself, is a word class which belongs to a sub–category of closed system items. Closed system items are word classes whose members are fixed. Conjunctions, pronouns, articles, prepositions, auxiliary verbs are all closed system items because they are not productive since their membership cannot be increased through affixation.
A conjunction is a word that connects words or group of words of the same grammatical unit. There are three kinds of conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions.
Coordinating Conjunction
A coordinating conjunction connects individual words or groups of words that perform the same function in a sentence. They are: and, but, nor, for, yet, so and or. A coordinating conjunction can connect individual nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and prepositions. A coordinating conjunction can also connect phrases or clauses as in these examples:
- a) Foyeke and Bisi are students of Joseph Ayodele Babalola University (JABU).
- b) During the autumn, our weather has been cool, crisp and c) He is gambling with his health for he has been drinking for years. d) Musa plans to take a bicycle tour and visit his uncle‟s farm. e) If someone checks on me, you can wake me up or take a message.
Correlative Conjunction
A correlative conjunction is a conjunction that consists of two or more words that function together. Like coordinating conjunctions, correlatives connect words that perform equal functions in a sentence. Examples are both … and, either … or, not only … but, either … or, whether … or. Few of them are used below:
- You should take either a raincoat or an umbrella to school today. b) Either Umar or Ekpo is to emerge winner.
- Not only Kemi but Aisha is to blame for the loss.
- Neither the basketball nor the football team is doing well. e) Both the cross country team and the swimming team are doing well. f) Whether you stay or you go is your decision.
Subordinating Conjunction
A subordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause. It connects a dependent clause to an independent clause within a sentence. Subordinating conjunctions usually express relationship of time, manner, cause, condition, comparison or purpose:
TIME: After, as long as, as soon as, before, since, until, when, whenever, while
MANNER: as, as if, as though
CAUSE: because
CONDITION: although, as long as, even if, even though, if, provided that, though, unless
COMPARISON: as, than
PURPOSE: in order that, so that.
Syntactic Features of Coordinators in Clausal Coordination Some syntactic features of coordinators in clausal coordination have been identified. They are discussed below with relevant examples:
- Clausal coordinators are restricted to initial position in the clause:
Ojo goes to school on foot and Tayo goes to school by car. John plays football and Tayo plays basketball.
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter focuses on the methodology for the study. It states the data gathering technique, its analytical procedure and the theoretical framework for the study.
Data Gathering Technique
The data were gathered from a copy of the constitution procured by the researcher from a bookshop by underlining and extracting the relevant sections of the constitution needed for the analysis. The sentences containing the clausal coordinates were sourced from the different schedules of the constitution. There are six schedules in the Amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The first schedule lists the
thirty-six states of the federation as the various components of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and defines the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as its administrative capital. The second schedule contains the exclusive and concurrent legislative lists as well as their interpretations. The third schedule contains the Federal and State Executive bodies while the fourth schedule lists the functions of the seven hundred and seventy-four (774) local councils in Nigeria. The fifth schedule spells out the code of conduct for public officers, while the sixth is the oath.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS
Introduction
In this chapter, the researcher analyses the texts characterised by clausal coordination by and, but and or, which are sourced from the Amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ease the comprehensibility of the sections and subsections of the constitution where they are found. The analysis will be presented in a tabular form.
REFERENCES
- Boards Of Parastatals (2004)”. Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. http://hosf.gov.ng/civil_service/structure_2. Retrieved 2009-12.
- Federal Republic of Nigeria.. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Lagos: Government Printer.
- Government Ministries in Nigeria(2009). Commonwealth Retrieved 2010.
- History of Civil-Military Relations in Nigeria (2002): The Current Transition (continued)
- Permanent Secretaries(2004)”. Office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
