Author(s) :

Bizualem Amlak.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This paper examines the structure of noun phrases in Dizin, one of the least linguistically studied languages in the Southwest part of Ethiopia. It focuses mainly on the Maji dialect. It describes different types of elements that appear in noun phrase and their orders in light of Dryer's(2007)cross-linguistic observation. The study follows a qualitative research approach. The data were collected using elicitation from key informants and from natural texts like fables in Maji district. The findings showed that Dizin employs variable order of elements with respect to the head noun or with respect to each other, which is almost similar to Hellental’s (2010) work on closely related language Sheko. Specifically, numerals and demonstratives occur before or after the head noun. While adjectives, quantifiers, and adpositions occur post-nominal, relative clauses occur left-adjacent to the head noun. As a result, Dizin is neither left-headed nor right-headed in the typology of noun phrase structure.

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