Shift in Language and Threat to Survival in a South-west Nigerian Border Town

Abstract

The study examined the pattern of language use in Omuo with the aim of bringing to the fore the impact of multilingualism on the indigenous languages/dialects of Omuo people. The data for the study were obtained through the use of the questionnaire. The theoretical framework adopted for the study is Domain of Language Behaviour. The analyses were on the pattern of language use of Omuo dwellers in different domains- in the home, school, workplace, church and market. The study discovered that Omuo, Ahan and Omuooke languages/dialects, which were the major languages/dialects of the people, were less spoken among youths. This portrayed language endangerment. English/Yoruba took the lead in all the domains examined. The researcher, therefore, suggested that parents should be encouraged to transfer their in-group languages to their children in order to avoid language extinction and death.