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Endangered Language in Nigeria: a Case Study of Gera

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Endangered Language in Nigeria: a Case Study of Gera ENDANGERED LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF GERA LANGUAGE OF BAUCHI STATE FURERA ADAMU GARBA C82F/29446/2014 A RESEARCH THESIS SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH AND LINGUISTICS IN THE SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES OF KENYATTA UNIVERSITY MAY, 2018 DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my original work, except where due citations have been made, and has not been previously presented for a degree or any other award in any university. Signature………………………………….. Date…….……………………… FURERA ADAMU GARBA Department of English and Linguistics We confirm that the work reported in this thesis was carried out by the candidate under our supervision. Signature……………………………….Date……………………………… DR. CALEB SHIVACHI Department of English and Linguistics Kenyatta University Signature……………………………….Date……………………………… DR. KENNETH KAMURI NGURE Department of English and Linguistics Kenyatta University ii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my parents, Engineer Garba Aliyu Bagel and Hajiya Talatu (Yaya) Bagel iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A journey of this nature can never be successful without guidance. I heartily thank my supervisors, Dr. Caleb Shivachi and Dr. Kenneth Kamuri Ngure, for taking me through the journey. They devoted their time, despite tight schedules, and their books for the success of this academic sojourn. Thank you so much.I also want to appreciate the Chairman of the Department, Dr. Purity M. Nthiga, who patiently listened to my enquiries and responded to my calls even before I arrived in Kenya. The encouragements and scholarly supports that I received from all the members of staff of the Department are unparalleled. My special thanks Prof. Martin Njoroge, Dr Phyllis Mwangi, Dr. Nyamasyo, Dr. Gimode, Dr. Kebeya, Dr. Nthiga, Dr. Kanana, Dr. Ayeko, Dr. Njiri, Dr. Gachara, Mwalimu Gecaga, Madam Owili, Madam Frashiah, Madam Mary and Mr Morris. I acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Kiguru and Dr Ogutu for reading my work at different stages and offering scholarly insights. I am equally grateful to my fellow post-graduate students at the department of English and Linguistics, Dr. Asiru Tunde, Abdul Malik Usman and Peace Benson, you are wonderful companions and I cherish all the times we spent together in the resource room exchanging ideas and helping each other academically in any way we could. You are indeed good inspirations. Special Salutations goes to my colleagues at Bauchi State University, especially Yusuf Jika, Sulaiman Ahmed, Sadiya Garba Gambo Saraki, Jamilu, Mallam Umar and Aliyu. Thank you for your prayers and encouragements and for helping me with iv materials for my work and e-books whenever I required them. You are more than colleagues, may God reward you abundantly. Considerable regards to my Nigerian brothers and also housemates, (Danbello Ahmad, Felix, Bako, Mundy and Dr Pomak) for the companionship, help and the care they showered on me during our stay at Devivi House.My gratitude I forget my landlords, Mary and Aaron of Devivi housing complex for their love, support and understanding. Nor shall I forget my aunt Mrs Maryam Shall of the Nigerian Embassy for her love and tremendous support. I am duty bound to acknowledge and appreciate the contribution of my research assistants and leaders of the team for the questionnaire distribution and collection such as Mallam Adamu Gidado, Mustafa Bagel, Mallam Saidu Kuitum, and Mallam Adamu Gilliri. I am also grateful to Mallam Muhammadu Bala Jinkiri, Sarkin Gera, Mallam M.K Amir of the Yankari express Bauchi for ensuring that I got hitch-free interviews. Also my special thanks to the Wakilin Tarihin Bauchi (The Custodian of the History of Bauchi) who made sure I read the right books and met the right people. May Allah bless all of you. I also appreciate the love, encouragements and prayers from my siblings; Firstly, my eldest sister Honourable Maryam Garba Bagel for supporting me throughout the entire program. Secondly, my sistersAmina, Sa‟adiya, Rukaiya, Latifat, Hassana, Aishatu, Takiya and Hanifa Bagel.Also my brothers, Ibrahim, Aliyu, Abdul-Kadir, Ridwan, Jamil, Abul-Muhyi, Usman, Abdulrashid and Sadik Bagel.May God continue to be with you and may you live long to reap the blessings of your sweat in multiples. v I shall not forget my sons, Muhammad Rabiu Abdilaziz, Muhammad B. Ahmed, Amir, Sadik and Faik Audi, for loving me and giving me more reasons to succeed and excel. I love you boys. Finally, I must express my best regard and gratitude to the management of Bauchi State University under the administration of Prof Izuddin for granting me the opportunity to pursue the PhD and also for the financial support. Special regards also to Mallam Ubayo Juji, the Registrar of the University. I wouldn‟t dare forget to extend my gratitude to colleagues and all members of staff of the Department of Languages and Linguistics and Faculty of Arts and Education, especially Mallam Jamilu Abdullahi who despite being far away in Malaysia, was of immense help to me whenever I was in need, the head of Department, Mallam Abdulmumini Isa and the Dean Dr Sadiya Abubakar. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION..................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION........................................................................................................ iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................ xv LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. xix OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS ................................................... xxi ABBREVIATIONS AND ACCRONYMS ....................................................... xxiv ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... xxv CHAPTER ONE ..................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background to the Study ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Sokoto Caliphate .......................................................................................... 5 1.2.1 The Status of the Hausa Language in the Sokoto Caliphate ................ 8 1.3 The Spread of Hausa Language to the Non Speaking Hausa Territories of the Northern Nigeria ............................................................. 10 1.4 The Status of the Hausa Language during the Colonial periods ....................... 12 1.5 Bauchi State of Northern Nigeria ...................................................................... 15 1.5.1 The Background of the Gera people and their Language .................. 18 1.5.2 The Gera Language ............................................................................ 18 1.5.3 The Origin of Gera people ................................................................. 19 1.5.4 The Gera People and Language and Identity ..................................... 22 vii 1.5.5 Contact between Bauchi and the Hausaland, and its Consequences . 24 1.6 Statement of the problem .................................................................................. 28 1.7 Research Objectives .......................................................................................... 29 1.8 Research Questions ........................................................................................... 29 1.9 Research Assumptions ...................................................................................... 29 1.10 Justification and Significance of the study ..................................................... 30 1.11 Scope and Limitations of the Study ................................................................ 32 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................... 33 2.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 33 2.1 Language Endangerment .................................................................................. 33 2.1.3 Factors and Causes of Language Endangerment ............................... 38 2.2 Global studies on Language Endangerment ..................................................... 41 2.3 Studies on Language Endangerment in Africa ................................................. 45 2.4 Studies on Language Endangerment in Nigeria................................................ 48 2.4.1 Endangered Languages in Bauchi State ............................................. 55 2.5 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................... 56 2.5.1 Hans JurgenSasse (1992) Theory of Language Death ....................... 57 2.5.2 H. Giles and P. Johnson (1987) Ethnolinguistic Identity Theory ...... 60 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ................................... 64 3.3 Site of the Study ................................................................................................ 66 3.3 Target Population .............................................................................................. 66 3.4 Sampling
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