LANGUAGE ATTITUDES AND IDENTITY AMONG IBIBIO-ENGLISH BILINGUALS IN UYO, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/aasd.vol4no1.100Keywords:
Language attitudes, Ibibio-English bilingualism, identity, intergenerational transmission, and language shiftAbstract
The study is based on Language Attitude Theory (LAT) of Baker (1992) and Gardner (1985) which provides the theoretical framework for examining the language attitudes and construction of language identity among Ibibio-English bilinguals in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study employs a structured Language Attitude Questionnaire (LAQ) which was administered to sixty (60) self-identified Ibibio-English bilinguals aged eighteen years and above, the study examines the cognitive, affective and conative components of their attitudes towards Ibibio and English and how these attitudes are mediated by some demographic variables. Findings show that there is a basic attitude ambivalence: English has high overt prestige on cognitive-instrumental dimensions (88% strongly agree it is necessary for jobs and careers), and Ibibio has high covert prestige and affective attachment (73% strongly agree that it gives emotional warmth and belonging). But a critical generational gap arises, with only 38.5% of those aged 30 and below speaking Ibibio regularly to their children, while 88.9% of those aged 61 and above do so. The rates of intergenerational transmission are significantly lower for urban-born bilinguals, reflecting a continuing language shift, compared to rural-born migrants. It is concluded that proactive institutional action in the field of education, government and broadcasting for Ibibio as well as conscious family language policy is a prerequisite for the maintenance of Ibibio in an urban setting in Uyo. The results have implications for theoretical discourse on post-colonial bilingual identity in Africa, and offer a baseline that is grounded in the field for conducting language policy interventions.
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