A groundbreaking linguistic study from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has provided fresh clarity on the distinct ways the German and Yorùbá languages build complex verbs. This research promises to influence language teaching, translation, and bilingual education across Nigeria and internationally.
Core Findings: Two Languages, Two Mechanisms
Conducted by Deborah Ibukun Adeyeye of the Department of Foreign Languages, the research was published on 1 December 2025. It meticulously analysed data from classic texts like Günter Grass’s Blechtrommel and D.O. Fagunwa’s Igbó Olódùmarè.
The investigation confirmed that while both languages create multi-part verbs, their core mechanisms are fundamentally different. German relies heavily on derivational morphology, using separable particles (like ab-, aus-) or fixed prefixes (such as be-, ver-) to alter and expand verb meanings. This system poses a notable challenge for learners who must master both meaning and the rules of separability.
Yorùbá's Unique Compositional Approach
In sharp contrast, Yorùbá constructs its complex verbs through composition and contraction. This process often involves combining full lexical items, such as a verb with a noun, another verb, or a preposition. Adeyeye's work highlights that these patterns create unique learning demands, especially for bilingual speakers whose first language shapes their approach to verb formation.
A particularly significant discovery was the identification of a morpho-syntactic category specific to Yorùbá: multi-phased verbs. These verbs can be either separable or inseparable based on the surrounding clause structure, a nuanced feature not typically found in German grammar.
Implications for Teaching and Learning
Deborah Ibukun Adeyeye stressed that these structural contrasts have direct and practical implications for pedagogy. She advises educators to adopt precise, step-by-step instructional methods that explicitly highlight these key differences. This approach is designed to prevent transfer errors where learners incorrectly apply rules from one language to the other.
“Understanding these contrasts is essential for effective pedagogy,” Adeyeye noted. She added that focused attention on mismatched structures significantly improves student comprehension and overall bilingual competence.
Rooted in contrastive analysis theory, the study encourages both teachers and students to proactively identify areas where cross-linguistic interference might happen. By doing so, they can adopt strategies that support clearer and more accurate acquisition of verbs in both German and Yorùbá.
