English Linguicism And Language Loss

English Linguicism And Language Loss: A Case Study Of Yoruba Language Use Among Students Of Obafemi Awolowo University And Adeyemi College Of Education

Introduction 1.1 Background to the Study Language is a human phenomenon that goes way beyond its immediate semiotic possibility to be a diverse sociological factor in which the people’s historical, political, and cultural memory and behaviour are encapsulated. From a certain language use, one can tell another’s social and cultural background and also the strings of events that have shaped the persons personality. For this reason, it is seen that language affects people as much as people affect a language.

Usually, the longer the event experienced by the said language users the more solidified the effects on them are by language and the clearer it is evident in the language. A more political event like colonialism always goes beyond a political factor to shaping the people’s attitude to life but also shaping the people’s attitude toward their own native language, especially to the point of disadvantaging the native language.

This disadvantage is a result of the social significance the new language has come to stand for thereby relegating the native language to the background and imbuing it with low social standing and associating its ardent users with the perception of lacking in culture. It is no wonder that when an event like colonialism goes side by side with formal education or a new form of education, those who are not exposed to it and who often cling to the older world views and cultural orientation are seen as unlearned and prejudiced. Because of the position of the new language, in this our case- English, the people often tend to disassociate themselves from it thereby positioning the native language to its demise through disuse.

1.2

Statement of the Problem

A relationship between two languages always is not an equal one. There are internal convolutions which always define them. Surprisingly, these internal working are usually user based than language-based in that the user's perception of the two languages often shapes this relationship and its outcome. In Nigeria, the English language is the language of the media, education, formal relations and the language of the intellectuals. This has conferred on the language the status of the high social class alongside its fluent users to the disadvantage of the native language. The younger the users the more they hold the language has on them or while those who are not so fluent in the English language are associated with a lack of education and the entire prejudice that comes with such social judgement. The motivation of this present research work is to study the presence of English Linguicism and language loss as it pertains to the Yoruba language with students of Obafemi Awolowo University and Adeyemi College of Education as a case study.

1.3

Research Questions 1. Is there a manifestation of English Linguicism in the Yoruba speaking parts of the country?

2. Is there a possible indication of the situation to a total loss of Yoruba language with time?

3. What political factors exacerbate the situation?

1.4

Objectives of the Study 1. To determine if there is a manifestation of English Linguicism in the Yoruba speaking parts of the country.

2. To determine if there is a possible indication of the situation to a total loss of Yoruba language with time.

3. To examine the political factors that can exacerbate the situation.

1.5

Significance of the Study

The work will significantly help in the resuscitation of the language and motivate campaigns that are geared towards boosting the use of the Yoruba language, especially among the younger generation. So far, the discussions on the issue going on presently are always around academic circles which the younger generation who are most affected by the English Linguicism are not relatable. The study carried out here will reinvent the posture and methods of the conversations around the issue so that a more practical approach will be adopted in tackling the issue.

1.6

Research Hypothesis

Ho: The manifestation of English Linguicism in the Yoruba speaking parts of the country is not statistically significant.

H1: The manifestation of English Linguicism in the Yoruba speaking parts of the country is statistically significant.

1.7

Scope of the Study

The research is limited to the campuses of Awolowo university and Adeyemi college of education and is focused on the manifestations of English Linguicism as it pertains to the students of those tertiary institutions with the exception of their staff members.

1.8

Limitations of the Study

Time majorly is the limiting factor for this research as there is much literature to be sifted through in understanding the nature of English Linguicism in the Yoruba language in the case studies.

1.9

Definition of Terms

Linguicism This refers to the discrimination of an individual based on his or her language use or entirely his language. It also manifests in the overall judging of a person’s academic achievements, social status, character and wealth-based simply on his or her language use or the eloquence or the lack of it in a particular language.

Language Loss This refers, in the worst-case scenario, to the death of the last native speaker of a particular language as is the case with Latin and many other languages. It also refers to the absorption of a minor language by another through politically motivated disuse of the former.

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