ABSTRACT
The contribution of the study is to investigate and find out
whether Eggon Language of Nasarawa State is endangered, the degree of its
endangerment, factors responsible for its endangerment and whether the
endangerment is reversible. It contains five chapters with chapter one as
general introduction which contains the Statement of the problem, the aim and
objective of the study, research questions, justification of the study, the
scope, basic assumptions and significance of the study. In chapter two, the
related literatures have been reviewed in which general observations on the
review and the ground for the present study have been provided. Chapter three
contains issues on the research methodology in which a part from the library
work, three hundred and eighty one (381) questionnaires has been filled by
equal number of respondents and the same number has been interviewed, as informants,
in collecting the data of the research. Area and population samples have been
determined and the latter has been based on 381 respondents for a total
population of 50,000 – 52,000 etc. The chapter also discloses the theoretical
framework of the study, its assessment and the justification for using it in
the present study as the pioneer work that has empirically tested the
framework. After ascertaining the endangerment of Eggon, the work has
endeavoured to discover the degree of the endangerment of the language and has
been found to be severely endangered. The research has also discussed that the
intergenerational language use of the Eggon, and the negative attitude of the
native speakers towards the language have been discovered the major factors
that have initiated and hastened the endangerment of the language. However, the
endangerment has been found to be reversible as the language is not extinct. It
is still spoken by some generations and transmitted by some parents. Finally,
the research recommends that, to revitalize the language, there is an urgent
need to document and standardize the language and adequate pedagogical,
grammatical and literary materials should be provided.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page
Abstract
Table
Definitions of technical
terms
Table of contents
Chapter One:
General Introduction
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Justification of the Study
1.6 The Scope of the Study
1.7 Basic Assumptions of the Study
1.8 Significance of the Study
1.9 Languages of Nasarawa State and Neighbouring Eggon Areas
Chapter Two:
Review of the Related Literature
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Language Endangerment
2.3 Endangered Languages in Nigeria
2.4 Endangered Languages in Nasarawa State
2.5 Factors and Causes of Language Endangerment
2.6 Assessing Language Vitality and Endangerment
2.6.1 Stages of Language
Endangerment
2.6.2 Language Revitalization
and Maintenance
2.7 Justification for Language Revitalization and Maintenance
2.8 Responsibility for Language Revitalization and Maintenance
2.9 Revitalization Programmes
2.10 Revitalized Endangered
Languages
2.11 General Observation on
the Review
Chapter Three: Research
Methodology and Theoretical Framework
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Library Research
3.3 Observation
3.4 Written Questionnaire
3.5 Description of the Questionnaire
3.6 Verbal Interview
3.7 Description of the Interview
3.8 Sample of the Study
3.8.1 Area Sample of the
Study
3.8.2 Population Sample of the Study
3.9 The Theoretical Framework
of the Study (EGIDS)
3.9.1 Evaluating the Framework
3.9.2 Justification for Employing the Framework in the Present Study
3.10 Data Presentation
3.10.1 Endangerment of the Eggon Language: Data Presentation from the
Questionnaire
3.10.2 Factors for the Endangerment of Eggon: Data Presentation from the
Questionnaire
3.10.3 Endangerment of the Eggon Language: Data Presentation from the
First Interview
3.10.4 Factors for the Endangerment of Eggon: Data Presentation from the
first Interview
3.10.5 Factors for the Endangerment of Eggon: Data Presentation from the
Second Interview
Chapter Four: Data
Analysis and Discussion
4.1 Introduction
4.2 The Endangerment of the Eggon Language
4.3 The Degree of Endangerment of the Eggon Language
4.4 Factors for the Endangerment of the Eggon Language
4.4.1 Migration Factor
4.4.2 Exogamy
4.4.3 Economic Factor
4.4.4 Education Factor
4.4.5 Socio-Political Factor
4.4.6 Religious Factor
4.4.7 Negative Attitude of the Native Speakers towards their Language
4.4.8 Inability of the Eggon
Language to Respond to New Domain
4.5 The Use of the Eggon
Language by the Native Speakers
4.6 The Reversibility of the Eggon Language Endangerment
4.7. Conclusion
Chapter Five: Summary,
Concluding Remarks and Recommendations
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Concluding Remarks
5.4 Recommendation
References
Appendix i Sample of the Research Questionnaire
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Introduction
Language is a functional aspect
of human nature that plays significant roles in the General endeavour of man.
This irrespective of whether the language form is oral, written or even
semiotic. It is evident that Nigeria is bestowed with linguistic variety which
offers insight into cultural and psychological perspective with which people
conduct their daily affairs. In this regard, Nigeria is then bestowed with
various developmental opportunities through its numerous languages. Definitely,
Nigeria is one of the frontline multilingual countries of the world. This is
inherent in the fact that “Africa, itself, is considered to be perhaps the most
multilingual continent in the world, with more languages spoken per capita than
anywhere else” (Yemi, 2007:5).
Currently, the languages listed for Nigeria numbered
527 languages out of which 520 are living languages and 7 are extinct. 10, out
of the living languages are non-indigenous, 20 are institutional, 78 are
developing, 351 are vigorous while 27 are threatened and 44 are dying (Lewis,
Simons and Fennig, 2016:1). Therefore, Nigeria is a country of many languages.
This multilingual characteristic of Nigeria is definitely inherent in many
states of the federation with Nasarawa State being one of them. Unfortunately,
the most remarkable implications of multilingualism is the fact that it leads
to the subsequent endangerment of some of the languages involved in the process
which, in turn, gives birth to language extinction (Wardhaugh, 2000:98).
There are thirty six (36)
states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, including Nasarawa
State, the area of this study. Among them, the areas with endangered languages
are, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Gombe, Jigawa
and Kaduna States. The rest are Kebbi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Rivers,
Taraba, Yobe States and Abuja.
Nigeria‟s multilingual
character coupled with the fact that language as an overall curious phenomenon
has made research into language relations (such as colonization, endangerment
and extinction) a vogue in today‟s language studies in Nigeria. Ideally, the
purpose of conducting a research of this kind falls between the range of
understanding the nature of multilingualism, its sociolinguistic outcome and
preventing or rather reversing the linguistically unpleasant consequences such
as language endangerment and language death or extinction. This study selects
Eggon, as one of the languages of Nasarawa State, with a view to studying
language endangerment in Nigeria.
In the presentations of Kigbu
(1984) and Adgidzi (1999), they said the Eggon oral traditions narrates that
the Eggon ancestors originated from the hill country in the Far East (Egietne)
where their founder (Eggon) first dwelled and practiced traditional religion
(Ashum Cult) and traditional farming. Some Eggon ancestors shifted to a place
called Ngazargamu in the area of Lake Chad where they lived for another time
using their traditional religion and agriculture. Around 11 century AD, some
Eggon ancestors moved from Ngazargamu to southward with Abro Agbi as the
leader, and
his brothers Jade Oka and
Ambina. They settled in Kwararrafa, a place east of present Wukari town. During
their stay, they faced epidemic problem that led to the death of some of them.
Consequently, some Eggons had to migrate from the area to south east direction
until they reach river Arikya. There, Jade Oka, Ambina and some others crossed
the river to another settlement called Wamba while Abro, his family and some
others moved to the west of the river and established a town of Ogba (Arugba)
east of present Shabu town in Lafia local government area.
At the middle of 11th century AD, Abro and his team moved next to a new settlement
called Angro. He had chosen the area for defence mechanism. In the new
settlement, Abro gave birth to three sons, Anzo, Abe and Offo from the most
beloved wife. After some time, he also had another son in person of Ehwlo
(Eholo) from another wife. According to other traditions, Ehwlo (Eholo) was,
for one reason or the other, the adopted son of Abro. Now, whatever the case,
Abro was more affectionate to his three sons of the most beloved wife than the
other son, adopted or otherwise, which created some enmity and personal hatred
between the two sides. The most considerable part of the scene was that, when
Abro reached oldest age, he trusted most of his precious property to the sons
of the beloved wife and Ehwlo (Eholo) discriminated. For that reason, Ehwlo
(Eholo) became angry and attempted killing Abro. The dichotomy in Abro‟s family
gave birth to the two sub-tribal divisions of Anzo and Eholo. From there,
hostilities continued, from time to time, between the two sides. God so kind
Eggon were bestowed with a centre forum called “Eggon Federation Council of
Elders of Peace” situated in Ogako in Ekudugba Clan. This council of Elders of
Peace....
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