Being a paper presented at the 29th Annual Conference of Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) on Language and Linguistic Diversity: Documentation and Revitalization of Minority Languages for Sustainable Development, at the University of Jos, Plateau State, from 5th to 9th December, 2016
Abstract
Since time immemorial,
majority languages have been responsible for the endangerment of minority
languages. This phenomenon occurs whenever two or more speakers of different
languages (mostly from major and minor language respectively) come into contact.
Usually, the outcome of this contact gives rise to several linguistic
consequences. Thus, borrowing, interference, colloguing, code mixing, code
switching and relexicalization, which the result brings about language death
(endangerment). The endangerment of Fulfulde language spoken by the Fulani
situated in the outskirts of Tsaure town of Kano state is apparent. These
wrought from the incessant contact of both speakers of the two languages i.e.
Hausa and Fulfulde. It is very pathetic that young Fulani child could not speak
Fulfulde for three minutes without switching to Hausa completely. This paper
casts a vivid glance at the role of Hausa language in the endangerment of
Fulfulde language as one of the minority languages in Northern Nigeria. The
area of the study chosen is divided into two linguistic units, namely Hausa
(having the population of about 70%) and Fulfulde (with 30% speakers)
respectively. It finally concludes with carrot and stick measures to be taken
in reviving and revitalizing Fulfulde language in Tsaure town area of Kano
state.
1.1 Introduction
The
phenomenon of language endangerment has for long occupied the front burner in
the world of sociolinguistic and education circles of the three decades
(Anicie, 2008). This situation (i. e. of language endangerment) has reached
every pathetic level that very many numbers of languages all over the world,
having endangered up to 90% of all the worlds 6000 - 65000 existing languages,
are likely not to survive to the next century (Geary, 1997; Hafe, 1992; Krauss,
1992; Hill, 1978; Anichie, 2008).
The
dead worrisome part of this problem is that, African continent has a lion share
of the endangered languages (Brenzeinger, 1998). In Nigerian context for
example, about half of the Nigeria’s 500 languages are endangered, with some,
already extinct or near extinction (Anichie, 2008; Grimes, 2010). A research
conducted by Ugwuoke in 1992 reveals that, about 152 Nigerian languages have
already been endangered. However, eight out of them (Nigerian languages),
extinct including: Bassa-Kontagora, which had only 10 surviving speakers as was
in 1987 (Crozier & Blench 1992). More so, Emai language spoken by a very
small community in Edo state together with other 30 different languages would
probably cease to exist by the year 2050 “as none could serve as a lingua
franca and were therefore, being supplanted by the English language” (Shaeffer
in Anichie, 2008).
In
the northern part of Nigeria, however according to Haruna (2007), about 20
language are either extinct or almost extinct as in the case of Bubbure
language of Bauchi state which has only one (1) person speaking it and Holma
language of Anambera state with only (4) four aged speakers as in 1987.
However,
language endangerment occur when minority language mixed up with majority
languages. That is, major language in an area tends to endanger the minor
languages spoken. But what is this language enlargement? Language endangerment
is defined as language with less than 5000 speaker (Brenzinger et al, 1991). Going by the
aforementioned definition, Emenanlo (2007) examined Nigerian languages with the
following evaluative factors on the UNESCO’s (2003) language vitality index:
i.
Intergenerational transmission
ii.
Absolute number of fluent and committed
speakers
iii.
Proportion of speaker within the total
population
iv.
Shifts in domain of actual use
v.
Material for language and literacy
vi.
Government, institutional and languages
attitude and policies including official status and use
vii.
Interaction and social effect between language attitude and polices
viii.
Nature, type and quality of language
documentation (UNESCO, 2003)
After
the analysis of the above evaluative factors, Emenanjo (2007) conclude that, no
Nigerian language is safe from endangerment in the near future, not even the
three major languages (Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo). This research therefore sets out
to investigate the roles played by Hausa language in the endangerment of the
Fulfulde language in Tsaure town.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Nigeria
has the large number of Fulanis beyond any other country (Diallo, 2013). One
shows that Fulfulde is spoken across nineteen African countries but the one
spoken in Nigeria would be the first to
extinct in the near future. For at the moment, Nigeria has the highest number
of indigenous Fulani that cannot speak Fulfulde at all (Ibid).
It
was also discovered that, in the northern Nigeria (i.e. where first dwelled in
as far Nigeria is concerned) more importantly, Kano state, Fulani having been
denying their language, as such they prefer using Hausa in their daily
interactions.
Moreover,
in Tsaure particularly, almost every Fulani prefers Hausa to Fulfulde. That,
out of 30 Falani, only 10 have the chances of speaking fluent Fulfulde. And in
some areas such as Jagal, this research shows that, 30 out of 30 could not
speak fluent Fulfulde without code mixing. It’s discovered that Hausa as the
dominant language in the casa study area is endangering Fulfulde language.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The
research was set out to find out the role of Hausa in the endangerment of
Fulfulde language in Tsaure town, Kano state. Categorically however, the
research aims at finding out whether the Fulani in Tsaure:
i.
speak their language fluently without code
mixed,
ii.
use Fulfulde at home for communication
with their children,
iii.
prefer to speak Hausa to Fulfulde,
iv.
understand that Hausa language endangers
their language,
v.
would the regret if Fulfulde ceased to
exist in that area?
1.4 Research Questions
The
study was guide by the following research questions:
vi.
Do the Fulani in Tsaure speak their
language fluently without code mixed?
vii.
Do they use Fulfulde at home for
communication with their children?
viii.
Do they prefer to speak Hausa to Fulfulde?
ix.
Do they understand that Hausa language
endangers their language?
x.
Would they regret if Fulfulde ceased to
exist in that area?
1.5 Scope of the Study
This
study investigated the role of Hausa language in the endangerment of Fulfulde
in Tsaure town. In the study, the sample size was 30 people, of which 20 males
and 10 females were selected. However, this does not mean that, the population
of the Fulani living in the research area is restricted to that number. Rather,
the research only limited the number of the respondents so as to complete the research
within the stipulated time. It hopes that, the results obtained would suffice
to see the kind of roles Hausa language plays in the endangerment of Fulfulde.
2.1 Literature Review
Language
endangerment received ample scholarships. Several authors conducted series of
researches on language endangerment, endangered language, language death etc.
Very recent Oshodi (2013) wrote on “An assessment of indigenous Nigerian
languages and factors of language endangerment: Can the indigenous languages
survive? In the work, he examined the degree of the endangerment of a group of
some related speech forms from Arigidi cluster spoken in small
communities in south west Nigeria. Similarly, Odinye & Odunye (ND)
conducted a research on “Preventing the extinction of Igbo language” in their
research, they x-rayed the gradual death of Igbo language due to the negative
attitude of Igbo toward their language. Brenzinger, (1998) wrote “Endangered
language in Africa.” He summarizes the possible endangered language in Africa.
UNESCO, (2003) gives expert advice on how to revive the endangered languages in
their press-release entitled “Language vitality and endangerment”.
Similarly,
Ohiri Anichie, (2008), also conducted an empirical study on “A survey of
awareness of language endangerment in Nigeria”. The research discusses the
possible extinction of some minority languages. Equally, Sallabank, (2003)
revealed that Nigerian languages are at the part of endangerment. The present
research differ from the others in the following ways
i.
It focuses on the role played by Hausa
language in the endangerment of Fulfulde language.
ii. The
research area is first of its kind, for such no such research has ever been
carried out.
3.1
Language Endangerment
Language
endangerment is defined as a condition where by the socio-economic, political,
technological, cultural and religious ecologies have altered to a point where
some language species cannot survive or thrive on them (Odunye & Odunye). Language
death has certainly taken place in this century. Evidence from the word list of
Growes (1907) suggests the, disappearance of a number of small languages around
Bauchi as a result of domination of Hausa speakers (Brenzinger, 1998). Micheal
in Brenzinger (1998) discovered that Butu -Ningi group has witnessed the death
of languages still spoken in the 1970s.
According
to UNESCO, (2003) languages can be ranked on a continuum from stability of
extinction. Six degrees of endangerment may be distinguished with regard to
intergenerational language transition as we are going to see:
|
Degree
of Endangerment |
Intergenerational Language
Transmission |
|
1- Safe
|
Language
is spoken by all generations: intergenerational transmission is interrupt. |
|
2- Vulnerable |
Most
children speak the language but it may be restricted to certain domain. |
|
3- Definitely Endangered |
Children
no longer learn the language as mother tongue in the home. |
|
4- Severe
Endangered |
Grandparents
and older generation speak language: while the parents’ generation may
understand it, they do not speak it to children or among themselves. |
|
5- Critical
Endangered |
The
youngest speakers are grandparents and older and they speak the language
partially and infrequently. |
|
6- Extinct
|
There
are no speakers left. |
Source:
UNESCO (2003) language vitality and endangerment framework.
3.2 Why Languages Die?
Language
dies as a result of one or more of the following reasons as stated by
Brnzinger, (1998):
1- Assimilation
into larger, more powerful groups nearby.
2- Assimilation
into smaller but culturally dominant groups.
3- Assimilation
into English, the national language.
4- Demographic
crises caused by labor migration/urbanism.
3.3 Factors Leading to the
Endangerment of Fulfulde in Tsaure
Several
factors led to the endangerment of Fulfulde in Tsaure area of Kano state. Notwithstanding,
this research strive to find out the following factors:
i.
Domination
by Hausa Speakers: The disproportionate percentage of the
people are Hausas, approximately making about 70% of the total population. This,
actually marked as the madus-operandi for the meager number of the Fulani there
to at times resort to Hausa.
ii. Inter-tribal Marriages: This
is another determinant that wrought about near extinction of Fulfulde in the
area. Many Fulani marry from Hausa (known as Hausa) and vise-versa. The Hausa
women are Fulfulde language barren, which may also applied to their children.
iii. Some Fulani Feel Ashamed to Speak
their Language Even Among themselves: It has been discovered
that, some of the Fulani living there (i.e. Tsaure) are ashamed to speak Fulfulde,
thinking that their Hausa counter-part may look down upon them as barbaric.
This research however finds that, some of the Fulani could not even speak it at
home i.e. to the children and to the spouses.
iv. Hausa Language as a Language of
Business Transaction: In the market place, Fulani in Tsaure
find it necessary to speak Hausa; otherwise, they would not be understood.
3.4 Research Methodology
The
research methodology adopt for this work is the descriptive Survey. Descriptive
survey is concern with person, place and time (Araoye, 2004). It also represents
a probability to describe a given state of affairs that exist in a given
population at a time. The research however, considered descriptive survey
method suitable for the study, for we are interested in finding out the role of
Hausa language in the endangerment Fulfulde in Tsaure town of Kano.
The
population for the study consists of all the Fulani (male and female) within
the study area, while the target population comprises the Fulani living in
Jagal, located at the extreme northward of Tsaure. The research adopts
purposive sampling procedure to select Jagal village. The choice of this
village was base on the assumption that this village is large enough to
represent the entire Fulani living in Tsaure area. According to Doramola in
Olayinka; Adeola; Omotosho & Meshach, (2015), purposive sampling is a
technique through which the researcher intentionally selects certain group as
sample, because of their relevance to the investigation under consideration.
Self-structure
questionnaires entitle; “Role of Hausa language in killing Fulfulde language”
was used to collect data. The questionnaire consist of two sections A & B. Section
(A) deals with personal data of the respondents. While section (B) has 20
items, which contain general reasons, Fulfulde is becoming extinct in Tsaure.
More so, in section B, respondents are asked to respond to the items using the
following;
“Yes”
“No” “Undecided”
The
researcher with the help of some assistants administers the questionnaire. Respective
respondents filled it and it was collected instantly to avoid missing of the
questionnaires. The result is presented here;
Table 2: Role of Hausa Language in
Killing Fulfulde in Tsaure Town.
|
|
|
Yes |
No |
undecided |
|
1. |
Those
who speak Fulfulde at home |
70 |
30 |
_ |
|
2. |
Those who are ashamed to speak it |
_ |
100 |
_ |
|
3. |
Those
who prefer Hausa language |
20 |
80 |
_ |
|
4. |
Those
who married Hausa women |
50 |
48 |
2 |
|
5. |
Those
who speak it without code-mixed |
20 |
80 |
_ |
|
6. |
Who
regret if the language extinct |
_ |
100 |
_ |
4.1 Discussion
This
research investigated the role of Hausa in the endangerment of Fulfulde
language in Tsaure town. The result in table 2 indicates that 70% of the total
of the respondent do not speak Fulfulde regularly at home while only 30% use
it. However, none of the respondents was ashamed to speak their language
everywhere. However, they prefer in most cases. Moreover, 50% of the respondents
are married to Hausa women. While 80% of them would regret their languages goes
to extinction.
The
research discovered that there is the possibility, because of the manner the
respondents responded to the questionnaire, that Fulani children of the next
generation in Tsaure may find it very difficult learning their native language.
4.2 Conclusion
Language endangerment has for long been the
order 21st century. Very many languages cannot escape the danger of
extinction. However, throughout this discussion, we cast vivid glance into how
Hausa language contributed drastically in the endangering Fulfulde in Tsaure.
The study indicates that it is already a culture of majority language to
dominate the minority languages in proximity, which consequently lead to
language extinction. The study discovers that Fulfulde in Tsaure is close to
extinction if adequate and proper care is not taken. Fulfulde all over Nigerian
languages is categorized as part of 118 minority languages, which are too late
to save them from extinction. It was recorded that the desecrated nature of
Fulani contributes immensely in the endangerment of their language. Moreover,
nothing is being done to discover it from extinction.
The
responsibility of the documentation and preservation this language (Fulfulde)
lies upon the shoulder of the government as well as the community.
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