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
- Is there a manifestation of English Linguicism in the
Yoruba speaking parts of the country?
- Is there a possible indication of the situation to a
total loss of Yoruba language with time?
- What political factors exacerbate the situation?
1.4 Objectives
of the Study
- To determine if there is a manifestation of English
Linguicism in the Yoruba speaking parts of the country.
- To determine if there is a possible indication of the
situation to a total loss of Yoruba language with time.
- 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.
EDITOR SOURCE - English Linguicism And Language Loss
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