A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MULTILINGUALISM AND LANGUAGE USE IN TWO BORDER TOWNS IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

Adeola Omodele Ogunlade

Abstract


This comparative study explores multilingualism and language use in (Ekiti-East) Omuo and Saki communities, Southwest Nigeria, utilizing a questionnaire-based approach within the Domain of Language Behaviour framework. The research reveals that while both border towns exhibit societal multilingualism, their language situations have distinct differences. Omuo's (Ekiti-East) indigenous are severely endangered, whereas Saki's heritage language remains relatively resilient despite external influences from neighboring countries. The study highlights the complex dynamics of language use in multilingual settings, where languages may expand or contract depending on various factors. In Saki, Yoruba has expanded its use across various domains, while in Omuo (Ekiti-East), the local dialects/languages are struggling to survive. The findings underscore the importance of understanding language shift and endangerment in multilingual communities. The research has significant implications for language preservation and revitalization. Given the threat of language extinction, it is essential to develop strategies to promote linguistic diversity. The study recommends language revitalization efforts, such as documentation, education, and community engagement, to preserve the linguistic heritage of endangered languages. This study contributes to our understanding of multilingualism and language use in Nigerian border towns. The findings can inform language policy and planning initiatives aimed at promoting linguistic diversity and preserving cultural heritage.

 

Article visualizations:

Hit counter


Keywords


bilingualism, multilingualism, language situation, language shift and maintenance, domain

Full Text:

PDF

References


Adams Y., Matu P.M., and Ongarora D.O. (2012). Language Use and Choice: A Case Study of Kinubi in Kibera, Kenya. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 2 No. 4 (Special Issue) p. 99. Retrieved from https://www.ijhssnet.com/journals/Vol_2_No_4_Special_Issue_February_2012/13.pdf

Adegbija, E. (2004). Multilingualism: A Nigerian Case Study. Tenton NJ: Africa World Press, Inc. 3. Retrieved from https://africaworldpressbooks.com/multilingualism-a-nigerian-case-study-by-efurosibina-adegbija/

Babatunde S. (2014). Multilingualism Across Borders: Nigeria Republic of Benin as Case Study. European Scientific Journal. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2014.v10n10p%25p

Bamgbose, A. (ed.) (1976). Mother Tongue Education: The West African Experience, London: Hodder and Stoughton.

Bloomfield, L. (1933). Language. New York: Holt. Retrieved from https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=Language&publication+year=1933&author=Bloomfield&author=Leonard

Dada, S. A., Owoeye O. K., Ojo, G. O., (2015). The Sociology of Language Maintenance in Nigeria. Journal of English Literature and Language Review. 1, (5), 37-47. Retrieved from https://ideas.repec.org/a/arp/ellrar/2015p37-47.html

European Commission, (2007). Final report: High-level group on multilingualism. Luxembourg: European Communities. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/doc/multireport_en.pdf.

Fabunmi, F. A and Salawu, A. S. (2005). Is Yoruba an Endangered Language? Nordic Journal of African Studies 14(3): 391–408. Retrieved from https://www.njas.fi/njas/article/view/262

Fakuade, G. (1999). Language Endangerment in the North Eastern Part of Nigeria: Instances Language Empowerment: Theory and Reality, Aba: National Institute for Nigerian Languages, 50-66. Retrieved from https://www.africabib.org/rec.php?RID=291375960

Fasold, R. (1984). The sociolinguistics of society. Oxford: Blackwell. Retrieved from https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/The+Sociolinguistics+of+Society-p-9780631134626

Fishman J. A. (1964). Language Maintenance and Language Shift as Fields of Inquiry. Linguistics 1, 2(9), 32-73. Retrieved from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/ling.1964.2.9.32/html?srsltid=AfmBOoqPDBm0Jwwd9AQEuM7JRh8FNxQPZTigEIRjXrDgM_9RZ3D4dNrU

Fishman, J. A. (1965). WHO Speaks What Language to Whom and When. Linguistics, 2(12). Retrieved from https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203461341-13/speaks-language-joshua-fishman

Fishman, J. A. (1972). Domains and the relationship between micro- and macrosociolinguistics. In John J. Gumperz and Dell Hymes (eds.), Directions in sociolinguistics: The ethnography of communication, 435–453. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Retrieved from https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Directions+in+Sociolinguistics%3A+The+Ethnography+of+Communication-p-9780631149873

Fishman, J. A. (1979; reprint of edition of 1972). The relationship between micro- and macrosociolinguistics in the study of who speaks what language to whom and when. In: J. Pride and J. Holmes (eds), Sociolinguistics. Penguin: Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Sociolinguistics.html?id=1xFZAAAAMAAJ&redir_esc=y

Fishman, J. A. (1991). Reversing language shift: Theoretical and empirical foundations of assistance to threatened languages. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/4168498

Gumperz, J and Hymes, D (eds.), Directions in sociolinguistics: The ethnography of communication, 435–453. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Heinrich, P. (2015). Language Shift. Online at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/310803138_Language_shift p. 613-620

Ibrahim A. and Samaila M. (2021). Disruption In Intergenerational Language Proficiency Transmission as a Common Attribute of the Kataf Cluster Languages. Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literary Studies (JOLLS). Vol. 10. No. 2.

Komondouros, M. and McEntee-Antalianis, L. J. (2007). Language attitudes, shift and the ethnolinguistic vitality of the Greek Orthodox community in Istanbul. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 28(5). https://doi.org/10.2167/jmmd483.1

Li, W. (2008). Research perspectives on bilingualism and multilingualism. In W. Li & Liberson, S. T. (1982). Domains of Language Usage and Mother Tongue Shift in Nairobi. International Journal of Sociology of Language. 2 (34), 83-94. Retrieved from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijsl.1978.18.69/pdf

Omole, K. (2011). English Language, Culture and Education in Nigeria: Issues and Prospects. Journal of the Nigeria English Studies Association (JNESSA) 14(1), 1-10. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/English-Language%2C-Culture-and-Education-in-Nigeria%3A-Omole/e2ad6520db3a1f4910cdbd05670c6e3c398d6a52

Oyetade, S. O. (2007). Language Endangerment in Nigeria: Perspective in Akoko languages of the Southwest. International Journal of the Sociology of Language. 184: 169-184. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/IJSL.2007.021

Oyetade, S.O. (1990b). Nupe-Yoruba Endoglossic Bilingualism in Saare/Tsarag: Community in Kwara State. A PhD Thesis Submitted to the Department of Linguistics, University of Ibadan. Retrieved from https://zenodo.org/records/3626760

Rafiu K. A and Oshodi B. (2013). Language Endangerment in Nigeria: Focus on Small Ethnolinguistic Communities in Niger State. Dialectologia 11 (2013), 17-45. Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/58995286/Language_endangerment_in_Nigeria_focus_on_small_ethnolinguistic_communities_in_Niger_State

Sebastian R. Parsa G. and Brelin, J. (2016). Towards a continuous modeling of natural language domains. Insight Centre for Data Analytics, National University of Ireland, Galway, Aylien Ltd. Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved from https://aclanthology.org/W16-6012/

Trudgil. P. (1983). Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and society rev. edn. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. Retrieved from https://books.google.ro/books/about/Sociolinguistics.html?id=X7Y7DYlQu8QC&redir_esc=y

UNESCO Ad Hoc Expert Group on Endangered Languages (2003). Language Vitality and Endangerment. Document submitted to the International Expert Meeting on UNESCO Programme Safeguarding of Endangered Languages. Paris: Usman. Retrieved from https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/00120-EN.pdf

Wamalwa, E. W. and Oluoch, B. J. (2013). Language Endangerment and Language Maintenance: Can Endangered Indigenous Languages of Kenya Be Electronically Preserved? International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, Vol. 3 No. 7; p 258. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334520166_Language_Endangerment_and_Language_Maintenance_Can_Endangered_Indigenous_Languages_of_Kenya_Be_Electronically_Preserved

Wikipedia (2019). Benin-Nigeria Border. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin%E2%80%93Nigeria_border




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejlll.v9i1.611

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2025 Adeola Omodele Ogunlade

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The research works published in this journal are free to be accessed. They can be shared (copied and redistributed in any medium or format) and\or adapted (remixed, transformed, and built upon the material for any purpose, commercially and\or not commercially) under the following terms: attribution (appropriate credit must be given indicating original authors, research work name and publication name mentioning if changes were made) and without adding additional restrictions (without restricting others from doing anything the actual license permits). Authors retain the full copyright of their published research works and cannot revoke these freedoms as long as the license terms are followed.

Copyright © 2017-2026. European Journal of Literature, Language and Linguistics Studies (ISSN 2559 - 7914 / ISSN-L 2559 - 7914). All rights reserved.

This journal is a serial publication uniquely identified by an International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) serial number certificate issued by Romanian National Library. All the research works are uniquely identified by a CrossRef DOI digital object identifier supplied by indexing and repository platforms. All the research works published on this journal are meeting the Open Access Publishing requirements and standards formulated by Budapest Open Access Initiative (2002), the Bethesda Statement on Open Access Publishing (2003) and  Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities (2003) and can be freely accessed, shared, modified, distributed and used in educational, commercial and non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Copyrights of the published research works are retained by authors.