Language Attitudes of the Igbo: A Threat to the Igbo Language
Language as a mark of ethnic identity and carrier of culture is very important in human life and therefore needs loyalty of the owners. It is on this note that this paper aims to discuss the language attitudes of the Igbo people which serve as threat to the Igbo language. The primary data for thi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Bucharest Publishing House
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Styles of Communication |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://drive.google.com/file/d/10A9DYkjufGmkFlW6KOdjPUiqYawKCTWx/view |
| Summary: | Language as a mark of ethnic identity and carrier of culture is very important in human
life and therefore needs loyalty of the owners. It is on this note that this paper aims to discuss the
language attitudes of the Igbo people which serve as threat to the Igbo language. The primary data
for this study are gathered using research instruments like participant observation and interview
while the secondary data are from secondary sources like textbooks, signposts and music album.
The researcher uses a descriptive model of analysis to show that attitudes of the Igbo constitute a
threat to their language. Other findings of this study are as follows: the negative attitudes of the
Igbo toward their indigenous language manifest in such forms as spoken, reading, writting and in
such area as transfer of the Igbo language to their younger generation. In terms of spoken form,
there is preference of English to Igbo as evident in the use of English numeral system and code
alternation. In the area of reading textbooks and other materials written in Igbo lack readers as
many Igbo people prefer to read textbooks and materials written in English. In terms of writing,
many Igbo people go contrary to the Igbo phonotactics. Many Igbo people do not care to transfer
the Igbo language to their younger generation. Nigeria government policy on language use,
bilingualism, lack of personal interest of the Igbo and incentives are the factors responsible for the
negative attitudes. The study also reveals that attitudes of the Igbo have not only led to language
shift, but to inconsistency in the writing of some utterances in Igbo as well as low publications in
the Igbo language. The rese archer recommends that in order to maintain their ethnic identity,
world view, language as well as their culture, Igbo people need to be loyal to their language. |
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| ISSN: | 2065-7943 2067-564X |