Language Attitudes of Igbo Speakers: A Comparative Study of Igbo People at Homeland (Awka) And in Diaspora (Lagos)

Abstract

Language attitudes refer to individuals' beliefs, evaluations, and emotions towards their native language, other languages and its usage in various social contexts. By comparing the language attitudes of Igbo peopleat home and in diaspora, this research aims to investigate various domains influencing language attitudes among Igbo people in their homeland such as Awka metropolis and Igbo people residing in diaspora communities such as Oshodi in Lagos. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods such as a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview to collect data from 300 participants: 150 participants in Awka and 150 in Oshodi from Anambra and Lagos States respectively. In other to gather insights into the participants' language attitudes, perceptions of language vitality, language use patterns, and the challenges associated with Igbo language maintenance, a questionnaire was administered to 300 sample population while a semi-structured interview was administered to twenty participants who were randomly selected from the sample population. The findings reveal that the majority of Igbo people in diaspora share similar positive attitude with Igbo people in their homeland towards their language and culture, although they face challenges in maintaining it due to the influence of the dominant English language and culture. Various reasons were identified as the challenges these speakers have in maintaining the Igbo language when communicating, such as limited knowledge of some Igbo words, lack of properly trained teachers to teach Igbo language effectively, parents preference to the English language, dialectal differences etc. In other to preserve and promote the Igbo language both in the Igbo homeland and among diaspora communities, the study, recommends that: parents should expose their children to the Igbo language and culture at a very tender age, there should be development of more books, audio, video materials, and online resources to teach and learn Igbo language, awards or sponsorships should be granted to winners of quiz competitions organized in Igbo language and many more.