Linguistic Assimilation: The Influence of Hausa Language on Tsuresha (Gungagawa Language) of Yauri Emirate, Northern Nigeria

Abstract

The word Gungawa is used by the Hausa people in Yauri to refer to people who lived on the islands of the River Niger, Northern Nigeria. The islands in the River Niger in Yauri Emirate were the traditional homelands of the Gungawa. They are a distinct ethnic group in Yauri Emirate who called themselves Baresha and called their language Tsuresha. At present, the Baresha (Gungawa) are found in Yauri, Ngaski and Shanga Local Government Areas (Yauri Emirate) in Kebbi State. Few are also found in Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State, largely due to migrations. These people have been in Yauri for over 500 years now. However, since 1968 when they were resettled by the Nigerian government to give space for the construction and operation of the Kainji Dam, the Tsuresha (Gunganci) language has been facing serious existential challenges especially due to the overbearing influence of Hausa, the most dominant language in Northern Nigeria. As the Baresha came into much more in contact with other people, particularly the Hausa speaking people, their ancestral language continue to diminish. The end result is that, Tsuresha is becoming endangered. Most Gungagawa people now speak the Hausa language fluently, dress like the Hausa people and most often identify themselves as Hausa not as Baresha (Gungawa). This paper aims explores the influence of Hausa language on the language of this distinct ethnic group of Yauri origin.