DEPLETION OF IGBO LANGUAGE by Adebi Precious

DEPLETION OF IGBO LANGUAGE

Igbo language is the principal native language of the Igbo people - an ethnic group of south eastern Nigeria.

Language is the pedigree of nations, it is a supreme achievement of a uniquely human collective genius as divine and unfathomable - a mystery as a living organism.

Culture is said to reflect the sum total of human creation, everything that is a product of human mind, system, technique, and tools which make up man's way of life.

Language is the custodian and vehicle for culture mobilization, so therefore, language learning is a process of enculturalization and any danger that touches language therefore touches man, his things and indeed his being and essence.

Igbo language is depleted and has lost its value because its speakers has ceased to use it and has stop passing it on to the next generation.

When igbo language is not spoken by its  children outside the home it is definitely endangered.

When it is not spoken at all by the children it is severely endangered.

When it is spoken only by the oldest generation it is critically endangered

                             AND

When it is spoken by only few members of the oldest generation and death takes its role on them, it results to radical language death.

Depletion of igbo language can be linked to political repression or genocide : Igbo speakers not to be identified as natives of igbo, stop speaking igbo which was as a result of the deliberate killing of a very large number of igbo's and children are unable to learn a language not spoken in thier environment.

It can also be linked to colonialism and neo-colonialism : Colonial rule of british and france in nigeria affected our traditional and cultural values and heritage especially the france colonial rule in which they introduced a policy known as the policy of assimilation which was to implant french language, culture, tradition and civilization with the intention of suffocating the culture, tradition and fundamentals of Africans, precisely Nigeria and also neo colonialism - which is the persistent and consistent influence of colonialism after independence and in our now ledership and politics.

It can also be linked to the presence of a dominant language : when minority language like igbo spoken by only one ethnic group comes in contact with english a dominant language spoken by the whole world, it leads to gradual language death of the minority language.

It is also linked with the mark of elitism : which is to deny your children the wisdom, philosophy and thought encapsulated in igbo languge by shielding them off thier mother tongue with the thinking that with a dual cirizenship, foreign behaviours and use of advanced technologies they will be considered far more better than those in thier mothers tongue.

It is also linked with igbo man's attutude towards that which is his and his easy enchantment with foreign things.

IGBO LANGUAGE CAN BE PRESERVED BY : 

Removal of some cultural adulteration from westernization : westernization affected our heritage  strongly that it is described as barberic, heathen, and primitive etc.

Amount and quality of documentation: igbo literatures and books should be written and published to enable student read and write them.

Re-orientation on Nigerians insatiable quest and taste for foreign things.

Establishment of organizations for cultural activities and forums.

Availability of quality personnels and materials for language education and literacy.

Government and institutional language attitude and policies including official status and use.

Community members attitude and consciousness towards the the importance and value of their own languge to other languages.