Abstract:

A significant number of Nigerian languages have not been put into maximum use either by documenting them or by parents attempting to pass them on to the younger generation. Thus, this paper delves into the struggle of the ‘minority’ languages in Nigeria against the oppressive and predative tendencies of the other neighbouring prestige languages. Specifically, it examines societal endoglossic bilingualism in Erushu, Akoko with respect to some demographic variables (sex, age, education, occupation and place of acquisition). Our findings reveal that at 0.05 level of significance, there is a significant difference in the level of subjects’ mastery of Erushu, the mother tongue with respect to age as well as their mastery of Yoruba, the regional lingua franca, with respect to education. However, other variables are not statistically significant. Language use data here reveal a case of language shift as adolescents in this community are gradually giving up the mastery of Erushu in preference for Yoruba and English. The paper further reports on the quest for linguistic and ethnic identity ravaging virtually every small ethno-linguistic group in the nation as evident in the Erushu/Yoruba data presented here. The paper recommends some strategies which Nigerians should adopt in order to preserve and popularize their languages. These are educational, political and cultural strategies. These efforts include organizing language Institutes for small language groups, re-orientating the citizens through government organs as far as language use and language attitudes are concerned and the re-vitalization of some cultural festivals and names.

Author: Samuel Ayodele Dada