DOCSLIB.ORG

A Case Study of Kogi State, Nigeria

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Case Study of Kogi State, Nigeria LANGUAGE POLICY AND PLANNING IN THE BROADCAST MEDIA OF A MULTILINGUAL CONTEXT: A CASE STUDY OF KOGI STATE, NIGERIA. By FUNMILAYO MODUPE OBUKADETA A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY School of English Faculty of Arts and Humanities University of Sheffield First Supervisor: Prof. Susan Fitzmaurice Second Supervisor: Dr. Jane Mulderrig May 2019 ABSTRACT Studies on language policies and planning in Nigeria have mostly focused on education while the broadcast media domain has received very little attention. This situation may be attributed to the fact that unlike in the educational sector where there is an explicit and substantially detailed structure of language policy and planning, there is no such thing in the Nigerian broadcasting media. Yet the Nigerian broadcast media has a complex task of deciding which languages to use for communicating information to a vast multilingual audience. This study addresses this gap in the literature by examining the language practice of four public broadcast stations consisting of two television stations and two radio stations. A wide range of interviews were carried out with relevant staff members who have a range of different functions at these broadcast stations. Data was also collected from official documents and programming records. My iterative process of data analysis informed by Grounded Theory Method produced two broad interesting findings. First, the data analysis reveals that although the broadcast stations claim they have no language policy, I argue for the existence of a de facto macro language policy in the Nigerian broadcast media which is being interpreted and implemented at the local broadcast stations in various ways. Secondly, the analysis of the language use in these broadcast stations demonstrates that English occupies a dominant position. Ample evidence from the analysis of the interview data collected and the stations’ programme schedules show how the dominance of English is being perpetuated in the stations through standardisation and commercialisation mechanisms. Although the stations have a multilingual framework by using some indigenous languages in their broadcast, this study reveals that these languages are under-utilised and there is generally very little will to increase their use. This study also shows that the Nigerian Pidgin English is gaining force as a proxy for the indigenous languages in the broadcast media. The study ends by advocating the need for an explicit language policy that will recognise and promote the use of indigenous languages in the stations as well as securing a decent airtime slot for indigenous language programming. By so doing, the general audience will not be excluded from the public space irrespective of their knowledge of English and/or Nigerian Pidgin English as a lingua franca. Finally, this study is the first of its kind to situate the language practices in the Nigerian broadcast media in the language policy and planning field. i DEDICATION To the Almighty God, who gave me wisdom, knowledge and understanding to write this insightful piece. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My utmost gratitude goes to the Almighty God who saw me through my PhD journey. He granted me smooth access to all my interviewees and made my field trip very productive. He provided fresh insight and understanding to my study and gave me the strength to combine the pressures of motherhood with academics. I am eternally indebted to my parents Engr. & Mrs Olonipile who invested in my education and encouraged me to reach the height I am in today. Through thick and thin, you sponsored my PhD programme. Thanks for trusting in me this much. May you reap abundantly the rewards of your labour in Jesus’ name (Amen). I am also grateful to my siblings, Abayomi, Foluso, Deji and my cousin Esther whose calls and advice were soothing balm in times of need. Words are powerless to express my gratitude to my main supervisor, Prof Susan Fitzmaurice. Thanks for your encouragement, diligence and the time you invested in my studies. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me and for also challenging me to think outside the box. I also appreciate Prof Andrew Linn whose short contribution to my work shaped and provided fresh insights to it. I also appreciate my second supervisor, Dr Jane Mulderrig for her contribution to the success of this PhD programme. I am grateful to my precious family. To my darling husband, Peter Obukadeta thanks for your loving support, prayers, encouragement and personal sacrifices throughout my PhD journey. I am glad you joined me along the way. To my beloved son, Emmanuel Obukadeta, your resilience and patience during my writing stage is highly commendable. Finally, I really appreciate all my participants in the broadcast institutions I visited during my field trip. Thanks for your time and for making my data collection experience very interesting and productivity. iii Table of Contents ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................................... i DEDICATION ...................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES.............................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Background to the Study and the Motivation of Study................................................... 1 1.2 Research Questions ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Methodological Framework .......................................................................................... 3 1.4 Organisation of Chapters .............................................................................................. 4 CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................................. 7 LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 A State of the Art Review of Language Policy and Language Planning ......................... 7 2.1.1 Definition of Key Terms .................................................................................. 13 2.1.2 A Review of Studies on Language Policy and Planning in the Broadcast Media. 14 2.2 Language Policy and Language Planning in Nigeria.................................................... 15 2.3 The Development of Broadcast Media in Nigeria ........................................................ 23 2.3.1 Language Policy in the Broadcast Media .......................................................... 28 2.3.2 Recent Studies in Nigerian Broadcast Media .................................................... 30 CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................................................................... 33 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN................................................................................. 33 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 33 3.1 Review of Methodologies Used in the Literature ......................................................... 33 3.1.1 Historical-textual method ................................................................................. 34 3.1.2 Survey method ................................................................................................. 34 3.1.3 Ethnography .................................................................................................... 34 3.2 Grounded Theory Method ........................................................................................... 35 3.2.1 Data Collection ................................................................................................ 36 3.2.2 Data Analysis Process ...................................................................................... 37 3.2.3 Justification for Using Grounded Theory ............................................................ 39 3.3 Research Design ......................................................................................................... 40 3.3.1 Pre-field Trip Arrangements ............................................................................. 41 3.3.2 Expectations made about my Research before Data Collection ......................... 43 3.3.3 Data Collection Process ................................................................................... 45 iv 3.4 Processing of Data ............................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER FOUR ..............................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Nigeria's Constitution of 1999
    PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:42 constituteproject.org Nigeria's Constitution of 1999 This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the Comparative Constitutions Project, and distributed on constituteproject.org. constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:42 Table of contents Preamble . 5 Chapter I: General Provisions . 5 Part I: Federal Republic of Nigeria . 5 Part II: Powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria . 6 Chapter II: Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy . 13 Chapter III: Citizenship . 17 Chapter IV: Fundamental Rights . 20 Chapter V: The Legislature . 28 Part I: National Assembly . 28 A. Composition and Staff of National Assembly . 28 B. Procedure for Summoning and Dissolution of National Assembly . 29 C. Qualifications for Membership of National Assembly and Right of Attendance . 32 D. Elections to National Assembly . 35 E. Powers and Control over Public Funds . 36 Part II: House of Assembly of a State . 40 A. Composition and Staff of House of Assembly . 40 B. Procedure for Summoning and Dissolution of House of Assembly . 41 C. Qualification for Membership of House of Assembly and Right of Attendance . 43 D. Elections to a House of Assembly . 45 E. Powers and Control over Public Funds . 47 Chapter VI: The Executive . 50 Part I: Federal Executive . 50 A. The President of the Federation . 50 B. Establishment of Certain Federal Executive Bodies . 58 C. Public Revenue . 61 D. The Public Service of the Federation . 63 Part II: State Executive . 65 A. Governor of a State . 65 B. Establishment of Certain State Executive Bodies .
    [Show full text]
  • Mediareach , Through Its Research and Innovations Unit, Undertakes
    NIGERIA WEST & CENTRAL AFRICA INTRODUCTION mediaReach ODM, through its research and innovations unit, undertakes data synthesis and interpretation with a view to providing expert and precise media information. This guarantees the primacy of our brands in media and marketing communications. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We acknowledge various clients and leading advertisers for supporting this worthy endeavour. We also acknowledge the support of and use of data provided by Media Monitoring Services Limited, Media Planning Services Limited., The Federal Office of Statistics, The World Bank, The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria. DISCLAIMER Whilst every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the precision of statistics and other information contained therein, the publisher and copyright owners cannot accept liability in respect of errors or omissions. Readers will appreciate that data is only as up-to-date as the available data and the printing schedule will allow, and is subject to change during the natural course of events. mediaReach ODM is a specialist media planning, buying, control and inventory management services in Nigeria. The company holds professionalism, client responsiveness, innovation and integrity as its values in action; and is also widely known to be the most transparent and accountable media independent in the country. Starting on a clean slate in April mediaReach has grown up to be a reputable firm within the industry. mediaReach is part of the global OMDnetwork. THE POWER OF IDEAS OMD believes in powerful ideas, driven by insight, to deliver compelling business results. We understand that creativity is the sustainable source of differentiation and competitive advantage for advantage for ourselves and our clients.
    [Show full text]
  • ATFAL DAY ABUJA DISTRICT OJODU DISTRICT Holds SADR Fetes Children Waqar-E-Amal, Attends Prepares at LCC OMI-ADIO Local Farmlands 3Rd Ramadan Lecture MAY 2018 PAGE 2
    MAY 2018 | VOLUME 4, ISSUE 5 ATFAL DAY ABUJA DISTRICT OJODU DISTRICT holds SADR fetes Children Waqar-e-Amal, attends prepares at LCC OMI-ADIO local farmlands 3rd Ramadan Lecture MAY 2018 PAGE 2 Oyo State attends Youth Development Workshop (By Rasheed Animasaun) ot less than 20 members of Majlis NKhuddam-ul- Ahmadiyya, Oyo State have attended and participated actively in a youth development conference tagged #YouthEmpowered2018 to complement their entrepreneurial knowledge and training acquired during the Oyo State Economic Summit. e #YouthEmpowered2018 was organized and sponsored by the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) and held in four different locations in the country. For Ibadan, the 3-day intensive training featured: Personal Life Training; Business Seminar and Business Grant competition at Daylan Events and Conference Centre, Sango-Poly/Eleyele Road, Ibadan between 24th and 26th April, 2018. e Group with the best idea was selected out of 30 other groups and NBC promised to start up and/or sponsor their business proposals while 4 other runner up submitted their details, although nothing has been promised yet. But it is hoped that those teams might have opportunity for internship programmes with the Company. Some Majlis members, who attended, fell under this category; Alhamdulillahir Rabbil aalamin. However, a Majlis member, Bro AbdurRasheed Animasaun, got a gift for being one of the six participants who mobilized more than 10 people for the summit after registration had closed. He and other five awardees were promised a private session with one of the mentors who were the programme managers (Kasher Ltd) or experts from other realms of life.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    The Final Draft RAP Report for Agassa Gully Erosion Sites for NEWMAP, Kogi State. Public Disclosure Authorized FINAL REPORT RESETTLEMENT ACTION PLAN (RAP) FOR AGASSA EROSION SITE, OKENE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA Public Disclosure Authorized SUBMITTED TO Public Disclosure Authorized KOGI STATE NIGERIA EROSION AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (KGS-NEWMAP) PLOT 247, TUNDE OGBEHA STREET, GRA, LOKOJA. Public Disclosure Authorized i The Final Draft RAP Report for Agassa Gully Erosion Sites for NEWMAP, Kogi State. RAP Basic Data/Information S/N Subject Data 1 Intervention Site Agassa Gully Erosion sub-project, Okene LGA, Kogi State 2 Need for RAP Resettlement of People Displaced by the Project/Work 3 Nature of Civil Works Stabilization or rehabilitation in and around Erosion Gully site - stone revetment to reclaim and protect road way and reinforcement of exposed soil surface to stop scouring action of flow velocity, extension of culvert structure from the Agassa Road into the gully, chute channel, stilling basin, apron and installation of rip-rap and gabions mattress at some areas. Zone of Impact 5m offset from the gully edge. 4 Benefit(s) of the Intervention Improved erosion management and gully rehabilitation with reduced loss of infrastructure including roads, houses, agricultural land and productivity, reduced siltation in rivers leading to less flooding, and the preservation of the water systems for improved access to domestic water supply. 5 Negative Impact and No. of PAPs A census to identify those that could be potentially affected and eligible for assistance has been carried out. However, Based on inventory, a total of 241 PAPs have been identified.
    [Show full text]
  • The Issue of Colour Naming in Some Indigenous Nigerian Languages
    European Scientific Journal May 2014 edition vol.10, No.14 ISSN: 1857 – 7881 (Print) e - ISSN 1857- 7431 EXPANDING THE DOMAINS OF ENGLISH INFLUENCE: THE ISSUE OF COLOUR NAMING IN SOME INDIGENOUS NIGERIAN LANGUAGES Rabi Abdulsalam Ibrahim Department of English and Literary Studies Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria Abstract This paper discusses the expanding domain of English in Nigeria, a country where English is its official language. Schmied (1991) explores the domains where English has impacted upon some African languages. One domain he did not include was that of colour naming. This paper investigates the impact of English on speakers of some indigenous Nigerian languages, with emphasis on Hausa, in relation to the languages’ colour terms. It finds that some English colour terms have been loaned into these languages. The terms commonly loaned are blue, and to a lesser extent yellow, gold and silver. The loaned terms have some of their phonemes adapted to follow the phonemic patterns of the indigenous languages. The most common phonemic adaptation that features in the languages is the split consonant feature. Examples of phoneme adaptations of English colour terms in some Nigerian languages include, ibulu for blue in Igala, bulu in Hausa and ehbulu in Esan, while yellow is yalo in Hausa. This paper concludes that with the global influence of English in world, more domains would be impacted upon by the language. Keywords: English Language, Domains, Nigeria Introduction Nigeria is a country with several ethnic groups and languages. Gordon (2005) lists 510 living languages in Nigeria. However, it is actually hard to give an exact number of languages in Nigeria because some linguists argue that some so called languages are no more than dialects of each other.
    [Show full text]
  • KOGI STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2019 Brief
    KOGI STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2019 Brief 1 BACKGROUND The Kogi State Governorship election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 16, 2019. The election will be taking place simultaneously with the governorship elections in Bayelsa State. These governorship elections would be the first elections to be conducted by INEC post-2019 general elections. Kogi State, with a land area of 29,833 square kilometres, was carved out of Kwara and Benue states on August 27, 1991. Kogi is one of the states in the north-central zone of Nigeria. It is popularly called the confluence state due to the fact that the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue occur there. There are three main ethnic groups in the state namely Igala, Ebira, and Okun; with the Igalas being the largest ethnic group. Lokoja is the state capital. Kogi State, with a population of 3,314,043 according to 2006 census, is the most centrally located of all the states of the federation. It shares common boundaries with Niger, Kwara and Nasarawa states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the north Benue and Enugu states to the East; Enugu and Anambra states to the south; and to the west by Ondo, Ekiti and Edo states. PRESENT DAY GOVERNMENT OF KOGI STATE The present Governor of Kogi is Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the Deputy Governor of the State is Edward Onoja (his former Chief of Staff), who was sworn into office in October 2019 fpllpowing the controversial impeachment of the former Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba. On 5th December 2015, Governor Yahaya Bello was declared the elected Governor of the State after a supplementary election was held to conclude the inconclusive election of Saturday, 22nd November 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • English Fricative Rendition of Educated Speakers of English from a North-Central City of Nigeria
    International Journal of Language and Literary Studies Volume 2, Issue 3, 2020 Homepage : http://ijlls.org/index.php/ijlls English Fricative Rendition of Educated Speakers of English from a North-Central City of Nigeria Theodore Shey Nsairun Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria/Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria [email protected] Eunice Fajobi *(Correspondence Author) [email protected] Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria DOI: http://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v2i3.321 Received: Abstract 22/05/2020 This paper examines the influence of ethnicity on the realization of the Accepted: English fricatives articulated by selected educated speakers of English 13/08/2020 from four ethnic groups of Ebira, Igala, Hausa and Okun-Yoruba residing in Lokoja, a North-Central city of Nigeria. Data for the study consist of 1080 tokens elicited from 120 informants. The study was Keywords: English fricatives, guided by a synthesis of the theoretical frameworks of Honey’s (1997) ethnicity, Sociophonology and Azevedo’s (1981) Contrastive Phonology. sociophonology, Perceptual and acoustic analyses of the data reveal that, although contrastive phonology, speakers tend to not articulate sounds that are absent in their phonemic acoustic analysis inventory with the dexterity expected of their level of education, co- habitation seems a factor that has robbed off on the respondents’ level of performance in this study. Results reveal further that 80% overcame their linguistic challenges to correctly articulate the test items while 30% generally had difficulty articulating the interdental fricatives /P/ and /D/ and the voiced palato-alveolar fricative /Z/; perhaps, because these sounds are absent in their respective phonemic inventories.
    [Show full text]
  • COMEN 2017 Journal
    EMERGING ISSUES IN AFRICAN MUSIC ACADEMIA: THE NIGERIAN EXPERIENCE Nnamdi C. Onuora-Oguno, Ph.D. Introduction Music is germane to the life of Africans, such that every social activity in their lives is accompanied by some kind of music. Many theses have been written on the subject of parental prejudice to the formal study of music in African society. The belief was that the average parent cannot conjecture that a child will go to school to study an art which principally exists and is practiced by rote learning and oral tradition. The introduction of Western Music Education has changed all that. Issues have arisen and have been tackled by scholars of past and present generations. This paper is an overview of what the writer considers issues emanating in the new millennium (2000 – 2016). The participant observatory- method based on empiricism as an active player in the music academia was used, using the Nigerian music academia as case study. Issues were identified, solutions were proffered, projections and possible solutions were suggested towards making the African music academia better. The writer identified eight plagues that could jeopardize the growth of the music academia in Nigeria in the new millennium if treated with kids‟ glove. Ironically, most of the plagues identified are more intrinsic than extrinsic to the corpus of music academia in Nigeria. We must look at ourselves more closely before laying blames on non-music scholars. Below are some issues of concern. Computer Related Issues The basic deficiencies of the Nigerian music academia are issues arising from deficiency or lack of knowledge of the Information Communication Technology (ICT).
    [Show full text]
  • Cloth and the Corpse in Ebira
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings Textile Society of America 1996 Cloth and the Corpse in Ebira John Picton Textile Society of America Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tsaconf Picton, John, "Cloth and the Corpse in Ebira" (1996). Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings. 846. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/tsaconf/846 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Textile Society of America at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Textile Society of America Symposium Proceedings by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Cloth and the Corpse in Ebira John Picton. Abstract. Ebira-speaking people inhabit a region to the south-west of the cont1uence of the Niger and Benue rivers in Nigeria. The social environment is dominated by Islam, with a Christian minority. Nevertheless, in the late 1960s, when I began the research drawn upon in this paper, much of the pre-Islamic/pre-Ch11stian 11tual tradition remained intact; and all three religions presuppose a continuity of human existence beyond death. Yet the question of what persisted, and how, beyond the corpse and the grave remained unanswered in local metaphysics; and none of the Ebira words used of 'body' or 'person' were used of the deceased. Rather, the link between living and dead, enacted in rite and performance, was manifested by means of cloth; for the one index of that continuity was a textile woven by local women of hand-spun cotton with the indigo and white stripes, one pattern for the corpse of a man, and another for a deceased woman.
    [Show full text]
  • Multilingualism and the Ethnic Identity of the Ette People
    Mgbakoigba: Journal of African Studies, Volume 4, 2015. MULTILINGUALISM AND THE ETHNIC IDENTITY OF THE ETTE PEOPLE Martha Chidimma Egenti Department of Linguistics Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka [email protected] Abstract Due to their diverse nature, the classification of indigenous languages in Nigeria ranks some of them as major, main and small group languages. The Ette people speak two main, and one major, Nigerian languages namely: Idoma, Igala and Igbo respectively. This paper sets out to examine the Ette people in the light of their ethnic identity and also to ascertain which of the languages spoken has the highest percentage with regard to its status and level of proficiency. Primary data were collected from native speakers of Ette resident in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State using Phinney’s (1999) Ethnic Identity measure questionnaire. The findings show that the Idoma language has the highest percentage with regard to language proficiency and use, followed by Igala and then Igbo which is also spoken in Ette perhaps because it shares border with Enugu and Kogi States. The paper in discussing the relationship of language and identity observes that language does not mark the ethnic identity of the Ette people because of their multilingual nature. Also, the geographical location which situates them in other ethnic groups does not give them a sense of belonging. This has resulted to different forms of agitations. Introduction Nigeria is made up of diverse indigenous languages which rank them as major, main and small group languages (Bamgbose 1991:4). Ejele (2007:160) states that languages that are formerly called minority language are now made up of „main‟ languages and „small group‟ languages.
    [Show full text]
  • Oral Performance of Ìrègún Music in Yagbaland, Kogi State, Nigeria: an Overview
    ORAL PERFORMANCE OF ÌRÈGÚN MUSIC IN YAGBALAND, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA: AN OVERVIEW Stephen Olusegun Titus, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Abstract Performance is one of the major arts in most African countries. Among the Yoruba in Nigeria several genre of oral performance has been researched and documented. These include the ijala, iwi, oriki ekun iyawo, Iyere Ifa, iwure, among others. However, very little attention and studies have been committed to oral performance of Ìrègún chants and songs in Yagbaland. This paper, therefore, focuses on the evaluation of oral performance of Ìrègún chants and songs among Yagba people in Kogi State, located in North central of Nigeria. Primary data were collected through 3 In-depth and 3 Key Informant interviews of leaders and members of Ìrègún musical groups. In addition to 3 Participant Observation and 3 Non-Participant Observation meth- ods from Yagba-West, Yagba-East and Mopamuro Local Government Areas of Kogi State, music recordings, photographs of Ìrègún performances, and 6 chants were purposefully sampled. Secondary data were collected through library, archival and Internet sources. Although closely interwoven, Ìrègún performance is structured into preparation, actual and post-performance activities. While chanting, singing, playing of musical instruments and dancing forms the performance dimensions. Ire- gun music serves as veritable mirror and cultural preserver in Yagba communities. Keywords: Iregun Music; Performance; Yagbaland; Chants and Songs Epiphany: Journal of Transdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1, (2015) © Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 9 S.O. Titus Introduction Performance of oral genre varies in Yoruba culture as varied as contexts for per- formance. In essence, oral performance can only be realized when it is actually performed.
    [Show full text]
  • Fundamental Linguistic Information on English, Igala and Hausa Languages
    World Wide Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development WWJMRD 2017; 3(12): 409-419 www.wwjmrd.com International Journal Peer Reviewed Journal Fundamental Linguistic Information on English, Igala Refereed Journal Indexed Journal and Hausa Languages UGC Approved Journal Impact Factor MJIF: 4.25 e-ISSN: 2454-6615 Unubi, Sunday Abraham, Yusuf, Sadiya Unubi, Sunday Abraham Abstract Department of Igala Language This paper explores the fundamental linguistic information on English, Igala and Hausa languages. and Culture, School of As it is often said, information is power. The fundamental information on these languages as Languages, Kogi State College of Education, P. M. B. 1033 provided by the researchers here includes how their names came to be, their locations and Ankpa, Nigeria ethnographies, their genetic and typological classifications as well as their sociolinguistic profiles and dialectal issues. Of course, this typological and philological linguistic information is highly necessary Yusuf, Sadiya for linguists and language enthusiasts as it brings to their fingertips in just a single article such Department of Hausa information that is basic for any kind of study in these languages under focus here and other Language, School of languages of the world. Languages, Kogi State College of Education, P. M. B. 1033 Keywords: English, Igala and Hausa. Ankpa, Nigeria Introduction At any level of linguistic study (whether phonology, morphology, syntax, pragmatics or sociolinguistics) of any language, supplying the basic or fundamental linguistic information about such language is of utmost importance, and should be the usual practice. This is because such language did not just fall from the sky. It actually belongs to a particular branch of the tree of family of languages typologically.
    [Show full text]