Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6052ISSN: Print 1683-8831
Abstract
Bi-/multilingualism is one of the most remarkable natural endowments of African countries. Indeed, this linguistic phenomenon was never a colonial heritage, but rather a virtue enriched partly by colonialism. In other words, language pluralism existed in African countries ever before its colonization. It is however disturbing today that this natural endowment like the colour of the skin is being rebelled against by the youths due to civilization and technological advancement so much so that many bi-/multilingual communities in Africa are fast becoming monolingual ones. The Erushu linguistic experience is a case in point. This study examined language use and language attitude in Erushu community with a view to determine the issue of language maintenance, shift and loss as far as its linguistic repertoire is concerned. The result revealed a case of language shift and language endangerment. Language attitudes are a basic requirement in matters of language shift and loss. Indeed, the survival of a language in a multilingual setting depends on the true inward attitude of the owners towards the language. Our data revealed that the supposedly positive attitude expressed by the Erushu is external only. They substituted the outward act for the correct inner attitudes. The result is a clear indication that attitudes are latent inferred from the direction and persistence of external behaviour.
How to cite this article:
S.A. Dada . On the Survival of BI-/Multilingualism in Erushu Community.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/pjssci.2008.104.110
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1683-8831/pjssci.2008.104.110