EXTINCT AND ENDANGERED LANGUAGES: THE IGBO LANGUAGE EXAMPLE IN NIGERIA.

English Language

ABSTRACT This study seeks to make a case for Endangerment of languages with focus on Igbo language being one of the major languages spoken in Nigeria that is endangered. Although all through human history language endangerment is sometimes described as natural phenomena, many languages are currently on their death toll due to globalization, mass migration, cultural replacement, imperialism, neocolonialism and linguicide. Recent studies indicate that Language loss crises currently exceeds the rate of loss of biodiversity. This makes for increasing urgency in understanding the diverse reasons for language change, loss and implications in order to stem the catastrophic rate of language loss globally and work out modalities to check and improve language vitality. The descriptive method was applied. This study revealed that many languages are on extinction que while others are already extinct. The Igbo language specifically is already endangered as it is in a dying state and urgently needs revitalization for survival. It further revealed that many of the younger generation, the children, youths, young adults and middle-aged people no longer use the language. Also, Igbo language is now hardly learnt and thought as mother tongue both formerly and informally in schools and at homes. Only old people and rural dwellers are left to speak Igbo as the language is generally looked down on. Factors leading to Igbo language endangerment include undesirable language attitude and disloyalty to the Igbo language and marginalization of the Igbo language along political horizons. A long-term negative consequence of Igbo language endangerment discovered in this study is that the Igbo language stands the risk going completely into extinction in about forty to fifty years from now if nothing drastic is done to curb this ugly trend. Of course, the major drastic consequence of this will be the death of the entire Igbo culture, tradition and in fact Ndi Igbo as a people. Recommendation proffered include; Positive sensitization and projection of desirable attitude towards the Igbo language. Advancement and development of Igbo language into a language of science and technology through thorough work on its metalanguage and development of orthography. The speedy and effective implementation of these recommendations will hopefully avert the impending doom for the Igbo language and the Igbo nation at large.

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