ADVOCATING MUSIC AS A TOOL FOR PRESERVATION OF LANGUAGE

Abstract

The ethos, norms, and values of each culture of the world are embedded in the language which is predominantly used by the people for communication. Some of the languages today, especially in Africa are fast becoming endangered. This is because the language of the colonial masters has taken over the indigenous languages in most African countries. Consequently, such language (indigenous) remains on the path of extinction while the „masters‟ languages are given good recognition and generally accepted for use. Considering the fact that the world is now a global village, no culture should be left unrecognized on the world map. Music, which is a widely accepted means of expression, can therefore shoulder such language(s) to get a wider coverage and acceptability in the global world. This paper therefore, examines the role music plays in language and how music can be used as a tool for its propagation and preservation.