A METALEXICOGRAPHIC EXAMINATION OF PARTS OF SPEECH (POS) TREATMENT IN SELECTED IGBO DICTIONARIES

Abstract

Lexicography is a dynamic field concerned with the theoretical and practical dimensions of dictionary compilation. As languages undergo constant change, new lexical entries are introduced daily, necessitating systematic documentation to provide writers and speakers with a robust choice of expressions. This study provides a metalexicographic examination of the treatment of Parts of Speech (PoS) within the content forms; nouns, verbs, adjectivals, and adverbials across seven selected Igbo-English bilingual dictionaries published between 1972 and 2014. Adopting a descriptive qualitative methodology, the research assesses how these dictionaries handle morphological and syntactic information, such as classification of qualificative nouns, transitivity, and verbal derivatives. Findings reveal significant structural inconsistencies and a lack of uniformity in PoS tagging across the selected dictionaries. While Williamson (2013) and Akponye (2014) provide robust morphological data and usage examples Nnaji (1985) and Eke (2001) function primarily as bilingual wordlists with minimal grammatical guidance. Identified discrepancies however are attributable to lack of specialized lexicographic training and unresolved debates within Igbo linguistic theory. In conclusion, for future Igbo dictionaries to meet international standards and effectively serve for pedagogical purposes; this study recommends that there is an urgent need for standardized PoS labeling, mandatory inclusion of contextual usage examples, and closer collaboration between lexicographers and theoretical linguists.