Tense and Aspect in the Ikálẹ̀ Dialect of the Yorùbá Language

This paper presents the realization of both tense and aspect in the Ìkálẹ̀ dialect (Southeastern
Yorùbá). It notes that there are marked differences in the realization of tense and aspect in the dialect
and the standard Yorùbá. The data for the study were obtained from native speakers of specific
communities in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria which includes Àyèká, Aaye,
Erékìtì, Òde-Erinje and Òde-Ìtèpe. Five informants ranging from ages 52 to 62 were selected in order to
authenticate our data. The randomly selected informants were fluent native speakers living in the
communities. Using Russell Ultan’s tense system dichotomy, the study identifies the tense and aspectual
system in Ìkálẹ̀ dialect to be retrospective, in line with Bamgbose (1990)’s view where the dichotomy
between future and non-future is paramount. The varying forms of tense and aspect markers are in
relation to the interwoven nature of tense and aspect in the dialect.