On the Use of Modern Technological Technique for the Teaching of Anaang/Ibibio Tones Itoro A. Michael Department of Linguistics and Nigerian languages, University of Uyo, Nigeria Abstract—Tone is an important feature of African tone languages. The aspect of tone identification, marking and analysis seem to be problematic in the teaching of most Nigerian languages; even in the existing orthographies apart from Yoruba and Tiv. The paper therefore proposed the use of modern technological aid for effective teaching of tones, with a view to providing insight into the analysis of Anaang/Ibibio tones. This study examined the relevance of the computer and software in language to show how the teachers- learners in a setting like Anaang/Ibibio stand to benefit from the use of modern technological devices in language research. The paper argues that teachers need to revise their methods in line with current technological trends for a better understanding of tone. This entails taking advantage of the double resources which the computer, and the access software provided, and adding to it the human intelligence. The position of the paper is that the computer is a more recent direction in language research and proved to be result oriented for the teaching/learning of tone. The application of modern technological device like software PRAAT and computer enhanced a feasibility study of the different patterns of tone. The use of spectrographic analysis actually converted the abstract sounds to ideal and visible sounds, thereby enhanced easy identification of the different tones. This paper therefore establishes a basis for the understanding of the relative tone/pitch forms of Anaang /Ibibio Index Terms—tone, computer, software, technology I. INTRODUCTION Anaang/Ibibio are classified as tonal languages. The meanings and the production of the syllables, words, phrases and sentences are severely guided by the tonal pattern of the language. Therefore, the teaching of Anaang/Ibibio cannot be productive without a proper understanding of tone. In this modern technological era, there is an increased interest in the use of computer for teaching. This technology has extended to the teaching of language specifically, phonetics, lexicography, speech technology and descriptive linguistics. The reality of the mechanism of tones are still not understood even with the advances made in speech processing technology. However, with strides made in computer technology, lots more have been done on tonal investigation in Nigerian languages including Ibibio (Gibbon, Urua, Ekpenyong 2006, Urua 2007). Nigeria is a pluri-lingusitic nation where only three languages; Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are recognized as the major and official Nigeria languages alongside English (FGN 2006). Other Nigerian languages including Ibibio and Anaang therefore fall among the minority languages. Ibibio has been developed to a standard form and taught in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. The teaching of Anaang is only restricted to primary and adult education since it is yet to be developed to a standard level. Despite the rate of growth in the Ibibio language, the teachers as well as the learners of the language still find it difficult to tone mark correctly. Tone is an indispensable distinctive feature of African tone languages. It contributes to both lexical and grammatical contrasts. Therefore any lexical or grammatical construct in African tone languages that is not properly tone-marked automatically leads to ambiguity in meaning. Consider the following pair of words from Ibibio. 1./ɔbɔŋ/ ‘mosquito’ and /ɔ bɔŋ/ ‘chief’ The misplacement of the tones on the segments can make one to address a ‘chief’ ɔ bɔŋ as ‘mosquito’ if the downstepped tone [ !] is omitted to produce / ɔbɔŋ/. It is therefore imperative to introduce a practical approach to the teaching of Ibibio/Anaang tones with a view to providing insight to the features of Anaang/Ibibio tones. This work therefore aims at establishing an instrumental method on how to identify tones and how to apply it in teaching using modern technological tools like software PRAAT and computer. Modern instructional technique is not equivalent to new techniques. It means improved and additional environmental settings to adapt to an old concept, in order to meet the demands of the 21 st century teaching techniques. A. Importance of the Problem Tone teaching//learning has been seen as a problematic area in the process of indigenous languages usage in Nigeria. One of the problems often identified is lack of material resources or teaching aid. Tone has been seen as a problematic phenomenon owing to its abstract nature. This abstractness actually attracted negative influence on the use of tone even in the approved orthographies of Nigerian languages. In the manuals of the orthographies of Nigerian languages ISSN 1798-4769 Journal of Language Teaching and Research, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 791-800, July 2014 © 2014 ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland. doi:10.4304/jltr.5.4.791-800 © 2014 ACADEMY PUBLISHER