Papers by Tagesa J . Akpagher
A Century of the Catholic Church in Tivland (1921-2021), 2022
This article explores the history, achievements, and future prospects of Catholic Education Servi... more This article explores the history, achievements, and future prospects of Catholic Education Services in Tivland, Nigeria. From the earliest missionary schools established in the 20th century to the present, Catholic education has been central to human formation, evangelisation, and social development in the region. Rooted in the Church’s conviction that every child has a right to education by virtue of their human dignity, Catholic schools have produced generations of leaders, catechists, priests, and professionals who continue to shape society and the Church. The article examines the successes and challenges of Catholic education—including the impact of government policies, the need for inclusive education, and the ongoing demand for teacher retraining and infrastructural support. It further highlights the importance of establishing a Catechetical Institute and a Catholic University in Tivland as essential steps toward consolidating these gains. Ultimately, it calls for renewed commitment to sustain Catholic education as a vital instrument of faith and human development.
The Catholic Priesthood as s Herald of Social Transformation: A Festschrift in Honour of Rev. Fr Simeon Iber , 2024
Reactions to Pope Francis' Papal Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans, on the blessing of homosexual c... more Reactions to Pope Francis' Papal Declaration, Fiducia Supplicans, on the blessing of homosexual couples. The paper explores the impact of the document on Catholic theology
Nigerian Journal of Trends in Language Arts & Social Sciences Education, 2024
This study examines the morphologically conditioned epenthetical processes in Tiv nouns. The stud... more This study examines the morphologically conditioned epenthetical processes in Tiv nouns. The study seeks to find out which environments epenthetic processes occur in Tiv nouns, what rules or constraints govern the processes and the implications of these on Tiv grammar. To achieve these, the study adopts the qualitative research design. Data was collected from monolingual native speakers of the language through participant observation, non-directive interviews and relevant scholarly materials. Data collection was restricted to Gboko, whose speech norms are considered the standard variety. The study employed Leipzig glossing rules for organising and coding data. The deductive method of data analysis was adopted since the study is theory-guided. Data was analysed using an auto-segmental theoretical approach, and findings show that epenthetic processes are morphologically conditioned in that they occur through affixation in pluralisation. This study discovers that epenthesis in Tiv occurs in Nouns at the initial, medial and final positions. It reveals that the common epenthesis in nouns at initial positions in Tiv are vowels (henceforth vowel epenthesis), glide epenthesis occupies medial position in Tiv while consonants take the nouns' final position. The study further portrays that the processes of epenthesis in Tiv are governed by the Tiv phonotactics. The study concludes that inappropriate application of epenthetic sound could lead to poor reception and, consequently, no comprehension. The study calls for more research in morphophonemics, considering the fact that the outputs of morphological processes are inputs for phonological outcomes and thus an unavoidable need for an interface between planes of linguistic analysis.
Nigerian Journal of Trends in Language, Arts & Social Sciences Education, 2024
This study examines secondary palatalisation patterns in Tiv nouns. The objectives were to determ... more This study examines secondary palatalisation patterns in Tiv nouns. The objectives were to determine the physiological basis of the patterns, describe the environments where these patterns occur, and explain their effects on Tiv grammar. Data were gathered from the field through participant observation, consultations, non-directive interviews, and relevant scholarly materials. The focus of the study is on the Gboko dialect. A purposive sampling technique was employed. A total of 85 monolingual Tiv native speakers were selected as respondents, including 3 male and 2 female adults, aged 40-70, each from one of the 17 council wards within the local government. The data were analysed using Articulatory Phonological (AP) theory. The findings revealed that, besides being morphologically and phonologically conditioned, secondary palatalisation in Tiv nouns is based on the presence of the front high unrounded /i/ as a V-shaped syllable in the physiological configuration of the noun, serving as a prepalatalisation cue; the presence of /j/, which functions as a palatalisation trigger immediately after the onset of the second syllable; and changes in the constriction location (CL) and constriction degree (CD) of the target consonants. It was further found that all target consonants are palatalised before the palatal glide /j/. Secondary palatalisation in Tiv nouns is restricted to the onset of the second syllable, in line with Tiv phonotactics. The failure to account for the primary and secondary places of articulation of the target consonants results in ungrammatical realisations in usage contexts. Based on the findings, it is recommended that further research be conducted to explore other forms and patterns of palatalisation in Tiv.
International Journal of Arts (IJAS), 2025
Translation is an art that, if done correctly, helps to convey the meaning of the source text int... more Translation is an art that, if done correctly, helps to convey the meaning of the source text into the target language in such a way that the target language reader thinks it was not translated but written in his or her language. Such a translation can be said to be accurate, clear and natural. While there are different theories and techniques of translation, this study examines the concept of meaning-based translation, focusing on the importance of accuracy, clarity, and naturalness grounded in Skopos theory of Translation. This theory posits that translation should prioritise conveying the source text's intended function and meaning in the target context. Through a systematic review of existing literature, this research emphasises how meaning-based translation with domestication in view, rather than mechanical translation that tilts towards foreignization, can and should incorporate three indispensable attributes, namely: accuracy, clarity, and naturalness. This research synthesises existing knowledge, providing a comprehensive understanding of meaning-based translation and its applications, thus offering a valuable contribution to the field of Translation Studies.
Books by Tagesa J . Akpagher
Ati a Batisema, 2016
One’s culture is an integral part of personal identity, and a person’s name often speaks volumes ... more One’s culture is an integral part of personal identity, and a person’s name often speaks volumes about their cultural heritage and the society they belong to. With the arrival of Christianity in Africa, many people were given foreign names at baptism. Even though the faith was taught in local languages and liturgies were celebrated in traditional styles, new converts were told they needed the names of saints for baptism. This book seeks to foster genuine conversation on inculturation, offering the Tiv people the opportunity to bear baptismal names in their own language and to discover scriptural connections for such names.
Celebrating a Legacy: Essays in Honour of Most Rev. William A. Avenya, 2025
The Tiv language is spoken by over 15 million people across several states in Nigeria, including ... more The Tiv language is spoken by over 15 million people across several states in Nigeria, including Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Cross River, and the FCT. It is also spoken in the Manyu region of Cameroon, making it an international language. However, its development has lagged behind global language progress due to the imposition of the colonial language as Nigeria's official national language. This has hindered the development of liturgical literature in Tiv. This article delves into the specific contributions of Most Revd William Avenya to the Interdiocesan Tiv Translation Committee, established by the Late Bishop Athanasius Usuh. The author examines the committee's work over the years through the lens of translation principles, highlighting the challenges faced, especially in today's world where computer-assisted technology is prevalent. In conclusion, the author proposes methods to make the Tiv language more accessible to native speakers and second-language learners worldwide.
Burning Questions of Faith, 2015
Modern culture seems to be obscuring some key aspects of our Catholic faith. This book is a clear... more Modern culture seems to be obscuring some key aspects of our Catholic faith. This book is a clear teaching on some of those aspects of our faith. If you are seeking understanding about issues like homosexuality, payment of tithes, confessing to a fellow human being, indecent dressing, and so on, then this book is for you. There is a good depth of clarity in stating the mind of the Church in order to provide practical guidance to those who are seeking the Lord with a sincere heart. The book also speaks to non-Catholics who want to understand the Church’s teaching on key issues.
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Papers by Tagesa J . Akpagher
Books by Tagesa J . Akpagher