Nigerian Languages Research Articles

Nija-Onto: An ontology of The Nigerian languages version 1

Ontologies are becoming increasingly important as a knowledge-based resource for man and machines. Ontology is a veritable tool in computing for representing and thus preserving, domain knowledge for both human and machine processing. This paper builds a foundational ontology for Nigerian languages. Each language is annotated with its location information showing geo-political zone, states, and places where the Language originates. The ontology of Nigerian languages was built using the Methontology approach and specifically created using the Protégé 5.5.0 OWL editor. The Ontology was built on and evaluated using queries and a set of competency questions. The Nija-Onto was found to strongly align with its purpose of representing domain knowledge and thus provides visualized and highly tractable information on Nigerian languages.

Multilingualism and language endangerment flame via COVID-19-crisis communication

ABSTRACT Drawing from health-crisis communication literature and anchoring the study on what we have coined as Dressler-Schmidt’s endangered language model, we aim to explore the extent to which COVID-19 pandemic has become a language endangerment window for users of English as a second language (ESL) in Nigeria. To achieve this, data was collected from respondents via online questionnaires and follow-up interviews. The analysis of the data was done using frequency count and percentage while that of the interview responses was done thematically. Overall, the analysis reveals that Nigerian languages are facing a serious linguistic dislocation amid the COVID-19-crisis communication. The paper concludes that the wheel of language endangerment may keep rolling in the multilingual Nigerian society and can get accelerated by any health-crisis communication. We, therefore, propose a COVID-19-crisis communication model to slow down the language endangerment flame in the country.

AN APPRAISAL OF THE AVAILABILITY AND USE OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS IN TEACHING MODERN AND NIGERIAN LANGUAGES (ENGLISH, IGBO AND YORUBA) IN LAGOS STATE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS

This study looked at the appraisal of the availability and utilization of instructional materials for teaching of English and Nigerian indigenous languages (Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba) in Nigeria junior secondary schools. The Scope of the research is Lagos State Junior secondary schools. Three Educational districts were used for the Study. The method adopted for the study was descriptive Survey. Two research instruments, teacher’s Questionnaires and observation checklist schedule were used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Major findings of the study includes; inadequate instructional materials in teaching Nigerian and modern languages in Nigerian junior secondary schools, the available instructional materials were not adequately utilized as a result of inexperienced and ill-trained teachers. The study concluded that there would be appropriate use of instructional materials by modern and Nigerian languages teachers if the government and the stakeholders could provide fund for the needed materials, employ qualified teachers as well as encourage and sponsor on-the-job training of Modern and Nigerian languages teachers.

Abstract 89: Translation and Linguistic Validation of the Mastectomy Module of the BREAST-Q Questionnaire for Use in Nigeria

Abstract Purpose: The majority of breast cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa are recommended to have mastectomy; The impact of mastectomy on a predominantly young African patient population requires evaluation. The BREAST-Q is a validated patient-reported outcome measure of quality-of-life following breast surgery that has been translated into 30 languages-none in Africa. This study aimed to translate and validate the mastectomy module of the BREAST-Q for use in Nigeria. Methods: The BREAST-Q mastectomy module was translated from English to Yoruba (a major Nigerian language) and linguistically validated using best practice guidelines. Translation was performed in 4 steps: forward translation (x 2), back translation, back translation review, and cognitive interviews with post-mastectomy patients. The translated BREAST-Q instrument was administered to post-mastectomy patients (n=21) alongside the EORTC-QLQ BR23 to evaluate construct validity. Results: The translation process identified phrases not amenable to direct translation, including “emotionally healthy” and descriptions of pain (“nagging,” “throbbing,” “sharp”). Translations were amended to reflect local context and question intent. Patients provided suggestions to simplify complex phrases, such as “discomfort in your breast area.”during cognitive interviews. Internal consistency within scales was over the 0.70 threshold for psychosocial wellbeing (α=0.84-0.87), sexual wellbeing (α =0.98-0.99), physical wellbeing in chest (α =0.84-0.86), and satisfaction with care (α =0.89-0.93). ICC for test-retest reliability was moderate (0.46-0.63). Conclusion: The Yoruba version of the BREAST-Q mastectomy module in Yoruba presents a conceptually equivalent version in a language that is easy to understand.. We will use this validated instrument in a pilot study of Nigerian patients to identify targets for intervention to improve the patient experience and compliance with breast cancer surgery. Citation Format: Olalekan Olasehinde, Anya Romanoff. Translation and Linguistic Validation of the Mastectomy Module of the BREAST-Q Questionnaire for Use in Nigeria [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 89.

Basic Education and Reading Readiness Skills: An Appraisal of Early Childhood Kindergarten in Imo State, South-East of Nigeria

Reading is a basic tool of education and also a crucial aspect in the Nigerian language curriculum. As a receptive skill, it involves the ability to meaningfully interpret or decode written or graphic symbols of a language. It is not merely about how to pronounce words; it is significant that the children understand the meaning of the words they read in order to unfold the hidden treasure of knowledge and also participate in the words’ universal culture and civilization. It becomes imperative to kindle reading culture among the children who are faced with several competing leisure time activities. The early childhood or the kindergarten, being the best time to imbibe reading culture and early literacy skills in children, is also the time to get them reading ready. This research, therefore, was mainly initiated to investigate how reading readiness could enhance children’s early literacy and factors that affect reading readiness among the kindergarten in Imo State. The sample of the study was drawn from the population of nursery/ primary school teachers in the three educational zones using stratified sampling technique. The main objective of the study being to ascertain the essence of reading readiness in building early childhood literacy skill; thus, a qualitative research method was employed. The findings indicated that the majority of the kindergarten teachers are unqualified and inexperienced to impart reading culture into the children. Other factors are overcrowded classrooms and poor environment that prohibit one-to-one teacher/pupil relationship in the reading class. It was suggested that the government should always organize all-inclusive workshops to train the teachers on the steps in teaching reading. Also, parents should always be provided with regular information on the reading progress of their children for them to make their own input in the reading skill of their children. All the above will help to build a solid reading skill which will promote basic functional education in Imo State.

PHONOLOGICAL DEVIATION AMONG SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE IN THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NASARAWA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

In Nigeria today, most speakers of English are second users of the language because they acquire their different mother tongues before they come to learn English. This article studied the phonological deviation among speakers of English at the Federal Polytechnic. Nasarawa. Adopting the survey research design, the oral production test (OPT) was used whereby thirty (30) students were randomly selected to speak on some topical issues and issues; related to academics such as Examination Malpractice in Nigeria’s Higher Institutions, Campus Gangsterism, High Rate of Unemployment in Nigeria, The 2019 General Election and hate speeches among politicians during the 2019 electioneering campaign. The student’s speeches were recorded and transcribed in their raw forms and compared with the Received Pronunciation (RP) for the purpose of analysis. The results showed that there were deviations in the production of some sounds that are not present in the phonetic inventory of most Nigerian languages as well as wrong placement of stress on English words. The results also showed that the mother tongue plays a significant role in the wrong pronunciation of English words by most Nigerian English bilinguals.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0208/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Information Needs of Rural Secondary School Students on HIV/AIDS in Katsina State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine information needs of rural secondary school students on HIV/AIDS in Katsina State. Multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting 180 students. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire and analysis was carried out using frequency counts, percentages, Chi square and Pearson product Moment Correlation. Results revealed that majority (54.4%) were within secondary school age of 16-20 years; non-boarded (67.8%), awarenrss (83.3%) and 43.9% have family size of 11-20. Radio (¯x=2.01), school authority (¯x=1.99), television (¯x= 1.61) and posters (¯x=1.57) were information sources though; school authority (¯x=2.62), radio (¯x=2.44), television (¯x=2.26) and posters (¯x=1.96) were the most preferred sources of awareness. Access to information sources was mostly constrained by lacks of power supply (¯x=1.54), television viewing centre in school (¯x=1.52), and contact with change agents (¯x=1.51) and poor coverage of HIV/AIDS news on newspapers/magazine/newsletters (¯x= 1.48). Majority (63.3% had high level of constraint. Also level of information needs was high to majority (67.2%). Symptoms (¯x=2.68), choice of marriage partners (¯x=2.66), availability of antiretroviral drugs (¯x=2.63) and sources of infection (¯x=2.62) were major areas of information needs. It is concluded that secondary school students’ information needs on HIV/AIDS in Katsina State is high. The distinct peculiarities of school as a culturally heterogeneous community should be studied and noted. In this sense, appropriate use of three major Nigerian languages: Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages are sin qua non in HIV/AIDS awareness creation in schools.

Educational Broadcasting and Local Languages in South East Nigeria: The Effectiveness in Safeguarding the Endangered Igbo Language

The broadcast media use indigenous languages in presenting some programmes in south east Nigeria yet, the level of patronage of some of these languages by indigenes or inhabitants of the regions where these languages operate especially the Igbo indigenous language remains grossly low. Worrisome also is the fact that UNESCO has enlisted the Igbo language as one of the Nigerian languages that is endangered. This study examines the use of educational broadcasting as a virile tool in safeguarding and developing the Igbo indigenous languages in south east Nigeria. The objectives of this study are to: determine the extent to which the broadcast media programmes on indigenous language have contributed in the awareness level of endangered language in southeast states Nigeria, find out if there are broadcast media programmes that educate the audience on how to speak, read and write the Igbo Language and ascertain other factors responsible for the poor usage of the Igbo language in the south east Nigeria. Survey research design was used with 379 copies of questionnaire as the major instrument of data collection. Two theories were used for the study; the development media and the Agenda setting theories. Enugu Metropolis was used as the case study. Data generated were analyzed using simple percentages and frequency distribution tables. Chi- square was used to test the hypothesis. Findings from the study are discussed within the context of much larger body of knowledge on educational broadcasting and the link with endangered Igbo language.

Issues in introducing indigenous languages in higher education in Africa

Abstract As the most populous African nation, with one of the most diverse, and problematic, ethnolinguistic profiles in the world, Nigeria provides a case study for the potential introduction of indigenous languages in (higher) education delivery in once colonised territories. We argue that increased enrolment in higher education will become necessary for Nigeria to attain its developmental goals. We then discuss the limits to what the Nigerian educational system can be expected to achieve using English as the medium of instruction. Once these limits are surpassed, the gradual addition of a limited number of Nigerian languages will become inevitable. We propose to make use of a distinction between languages as designed (or intellectualized) and languages as discerned, inspired by the terminology of ‘Ausbau’ and ‘Abstand’ languages as used by Kloss. The article briefly reviews the complex linguistic makeup of Nigeria and outlines a number of principles that could guide rational language choices in this area, such as ease of acquisition and inclusivity. It ends with suggesting a number of concrete steps that should be taken over the coming years in order to make the introduction of indigenous languages into higher education in Nigeria a practical possibility.

On the parameters of the power of English in Nigeria: A bottom-up approach towards revitalizing Nigerian languages

On the parameters of the power of English in Nigeria: A bottom-up approach towards revitalizing Nigerian languages

On the Quest to Study Abroad; Cultural, Linguistic and Economic Fallouts- matters Arising In Nigeria

Nigerian language and culture are endangered because of a strong craving to study abroad. The upsurge in the number of Nigerian youths fleeingthe country still grows for many reasons: while some go in pursuit of university education, others simply go in search of greener pastures. Yet, the cultural cum linguistic and economic implications of this mass exodus of the supposedly best brains of the country have received little or no scholarly attention. This paper therefore presents a discourse cum psycholinguistic analysis of some online newspaper publications on the presence and activities of Nigerians in oversea countries vis-à-vis, the aftermath on the Nigerian nation. The methodology involves a critical reading of selected online newspaper publications on educational issues in Nigeria and abroad. The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis Linguistic Theory (1929), and Anchimbe and Janney (2017) Postcolonial Pragmatic Theory are used to account for the hybridic discourses resulting from the mixture of different sociocultural and linguistic elements as a corollary of colonization. The results show that the alarming taste for oversea education in Nigeria has not only corrupted our communication system and cultural demeanor, it has also impacted negatively on the value of our currency, contributed to the general weakness of the Nigerian local universities and ultimately led to brain drain in Nigeria. It is therefore concluded that this trend has taken from us far more than whatever good it has brought and should immediately be discontinued as a necessary route to our cultural and economic emancipation.

Educated Nollywood artistes’ accent as a Normative Standard of English pronunciation in Nigeria

The English language, although a second language, plays a prominent role in Nigeria. As the official language in the media, governmental administration, education, law courts, commerce, entertainment and politics, it has assumed a hegemonic position over indigenous Nigerian languages (Oladipupo, 2021). In view of its long years of interaction with these languages, the absence of native models, and the influence of Nigerian teachers who lack Standard English pronunciation competence (Awonusi, 2015; Akinjobi, 2020), it has been nativised and acculturated (Adegbija, 2004). This has, therefore, resulted in a Nigerian English (NigE) variety that is markedly different from Standard British English, its precursor and target model, at the syntactic (e.g., Akinlotan, 2021), pragmatic (e.g., Fuchs, Gut & Soneye, 2013) and phonological (e.g., Awonusi, 2015; Akinola & Oladipupo, 2021) levels.

Vowel deletion in Àbèsàbèsì

Àbèsàbèsì1 is an endangered Nigerian language spoken in nine settlementswithin the Akoko North East and Akoko North West Local GovernmentAreas (LGA) of Ondo State by an estimated total of less than 7,000 speakers.In this language, as in many other Benue-Congo languages, it is a commoncase that two vowels meet across a word boundary. Among differentphonological processes that are triggered by the occurrence of two soundsat morphological boundary are: segment harmony, deletion/elision,assimilation, dissimilation, coalescence, velarization and palatalization.This paper investigates the phenomenon of vowel deletion in Àbèsàbèsì foran insight into the V1 # V2 vowel deletion in the language. Data collectionadopts a participatory model. The paper attempts a descriptive and rule baseaccount of the types of vowel deletion the language attests. For a betterunderstanding of the segment behaviour, Data collection and presentation islimited to the Èkìròmì dialect as spoken in Ìkáràm. Èkìròmì attests two typesof V1 # V2 vowel deletion and certain environments where no vowel deletiontakes place. This paper attempts to clarify the distributional properties ofthese two types of vowel deletion and to explain the cases where no deletiontakes place. It shows that V1 # V2 vowel deletion, in most cases, affects thefirst of two consecutive vowels (V1) and proposes an explanation of the fewcases, where the second vowel (V2) is affected.
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 1Àbèsàbèsì is known as Akpes in literature and has the ISO-639-3 code ibe and the Glottolog codeakpe1248.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Psychometric Testing of Yoruba Version of the EQ-5D Questionnaire in Patients With Musculoskeletal Disorders.

BackgroundThe EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) is a generic self-administered questionnaire used for the measurement and economic valuation of a wide range of health conditions, which necessitates its existence and adaptation in different languages. Currently, the tool does not exist in any Nigerian language. This study aimed to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and determine the reliability and validity of the Yoruba version of the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.MethodsThe International Quality of Life Assessment (IQOLA) project guidelines, involving forward translation, reconciliation and harmonization, backward translation, and reconciliation of problematic items were used in the Yoruba translated version of the EQ-5D-5L (EQ-5D-Yor). A total of 113 and 109 persons with musculoskeletal disorders participated in the validity and 7-day test-retest reliability testing of the EQ-5D-Yor. Convergent and discriminant validity of the EQ-5D-Yor were determined using the Yoruba version of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) (SF-12-Y) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics of Spearman correlation, Intra-Class Correlation, Cronbach alpha, and multi-trait scaling analysis. Alpha level was set as p < 0.05.ResultsThe construct validity of the EQ-5D-Yor yielded Spearman rho ranging from 0.438 to 1.000, with the EQ-VAS having the highest co-efficient (r = 1.000; p = 0.001). The convergent validity of the EQ-5D-Yor index with scales and domains of the SF-12-Y yielded no significant correlations (p < 0.05), except for the physical functioning scale (r = −0.709, p = 0.001). On the other hand, the divergent validity of the EQ-5D-Yor index with VAS yielded a moderate negative correlation (r = −0.482; p = 0.001). The Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha for the test-retest reliability of the EQ-5D-Yor were 1.000 and 0.968. The confirmatory factor analysis showed the factor loadings were poor when including VAS in the model.ConclusionThe EQ-5D-Yor has acceptable validity and reliability and can be used as a valid tool among Yoruba speaking population with musculoskeletal disorders.

Language Indigenization in Terms of Language Contacts (Based on the Nigerian English Variant)

The purpose of the article is to identify the specifics of the English language Indigenization procedure on the territory of Nigeria, one of the largest countries in West Africa. The research work has the complex system to analyze the cultural and linguistic processes, which are manifested in the study under the influence of cultural factors and its influence on the language functioning. The practical work part is based on the analysis of the language thematic groups “National food” and “National clothes” presenting the specific features of Nigerian English. The results show, Nigerian English has a wide range of words denoting local realities and reflecting the adaptation of the English language to the Nigerian culture peculiarities, which are the process of indigenization. All in all, English words with new lexical meanings, words from Nigerian languages, and Portuguese loanwords have been used for naming local food and clothing elements.

Tones and Tunes: Melody and Part-Writing Exercises based on Ìgbò and Yorùbá Lyrics

This essay explores text-setting in two Nigerian tone languages through composition and re-composition exercises. Writing music based on indigenous language texts remains an essential aspect of maintaining artistic and cultural continuity with pre-colonial musical traditions.

The Multilingual Pragmatics of New Englishes: An Analysis of Question Tags in Nigerian English

This paper presents a variational pragmatic analysis of multilingual question tags in Nigerian English, combining a corpus-pragmatic analysis of the Nigerian component of the International Corpus of English with a survey study on the preferences and attitudes of Nigerian students toward different question tag forms. The corpus study highlights multilingual pragmatic variation in terms of form and function of variant as well as English and non-English (i.e., derived from indigenous Nigerian languages) invariant question tags in six text types: conversations, phonecalls, classroom lessons, broadcast discussions, broadcast interviews, and legal cross-examinations. Nigerian speakers combine a wide range of English and non-English invariant forms, whereas variant question tags only play a marginal role and are not characteristic of Nigerian English. Text type influences the overall frequency of question tags and – together with the pragmatic function – constrains the use of individual forms. The survey study shows diverging results as the participants generally prefer variant over invariant question tags and show a strong dispreference for indigenous Nigerian forms when speaking English. Nevertheless, their preferences for specific forms over others are guided by the communicative setting and requirements of a given situation. The students also hold most positive attitudes toward variant question tags, while non-English tags are rated less positively on items reflecting decency. However, all question tag forms are valued in terms expressiveness. Hence, Nigerian students’ dispositions toward multilingual question tag use are guided by a prescriptive ideology that is biased toward canonized English forms. While indigenous Nigerian forms are well integrated into question tag use, indicating a high degree of nativization of Nigerian English at a pragmatic level, acceptance for these local forms is lagging behind. In general methodological terms, the paper shows that question tags – or discourse-pragmatic-features in general – have high potential for studying multilingual variation in New Englishes. However, studies on the multilingual pragmatics of New Englishes need to consider the full range of multilingual forms, take into account variety-internal variation via text type, and should ideally also study the users’ perspectives.

YOUTUBE AND SECOND LIFE FOR INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE LEARNING: AWARENESS AND USAGE IN TERTIARY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Purpose: This paper examined awareness and usage of YouTube and Second Life in indigenous language learning in tertiary education in Nigeria.&#x0D; Methodology: The study anchored on socio-cultural constructivism and adopted the survey research design. The population of the study was two-fold. The first component comprised of 52 Nigeria Certificate in Education students from five Federal Colleges of Education, who registered for the language acculturation programme at the National Institute for Nigerian Languages (NINLAN) in 2018. The second part of the population included ten lecturers of Nigerian languages in NINLAN. Since the study was focused on learning, and the population of students was manageable, the census sampling technique was applied. Thus, all 52 students were involved in the survey. Based on a representation of the three major Nigerian languages, the purposive sampling technique aided the selection of three lecturers: one each for Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Out of which, two lecturers were available at the time of the study. Quantitative data were collated from the students via a self-administered questionnaire, while the interview method was used to elicit qualitative data from the lecturers. Quantitative data were analysed using simple percentages, Chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test.&#x0D; Findings: Findings showed a significant awareness of YouTube, but its usage for indigenous language learning was insignificant. Compared to YouTube, the awareness of Second Life was lower and it was not used for indigenous language learning.&#x0D; Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommended that tertiary education; particularly language teacher education should incorporate Web 2.0 channels such as YouTube and Second Life into traditional classroom pedagogy to bridge resource gaps in indigenous language learning.

Alternation of Lenis and Fortis Consonants in Ẹ̀dó and Ésàn as Indicators of a Dynamic Sound Change in Ẹdo

Ẹdo and Esan belong to the group of genetically related languages referred to as the Ẹdoid group of languages, which in turn belongs, along with other Nigerian languages such as Yoruba, Igbo, Nupe, Idoma, and Izọn, to the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo language family. The similarities between the speech forms of Ẹdo and Esan compared to the other Ẹdoid languages are evidenced in the high number of cognate sets based on a lexical statistical analysis. This naturally implies that the behaviour of sound segments in any of the two languages could serve as indicators of any evolutionary trend in any of the two languages. It is observed that the phonetically weak consonants [ɱ, n, ɹ] in Ẹdo lexical items alternate with their corresponding strong counterparts [m and l] in similar lexical items in Esan. The relative stability of the strong forms in contemporary Esan language seems to give credence to the claim of a dynamic sound change observable in contemporary Ẹdo language where the proto bilabial stops /b/, and /m/; the alveolar lateral stop, /l/, evolved into the relatively weak bilabial oral and labiodental nasal approximants, [β] and [ɱ] respectively, and the alveolar lateral approximant [ɹ], which is currently being outrightly deleted in any position of the words in which it occurs, thus following the evolution pattern /l/ > [ɹ] > [ø]. The over bearing influence of the English language and the Nigerian pidgin, the two languages that have taken over practically all Ẹdo homes, and the non-teaching of the language in the Ẹdo State educational system have been identified as catalysts to the endangerment of the Ẹdo language that may go into extinction in the very near future if drastic measures aimed at reversing the trend are not urgently and diligently applied.

A contrastive analysis of mood and aspect of English and the English-Lexifier Nigeria creole, Naija

The paper is a contrastive study of the mood and aspect structures of English and the English lexifier Nigeria creole (henceforth referred to as Naija). The aim is to ascertain areas of structural differences. The vocabulary of Naija is that of English which is the superstrate, while its syntax is that of some Nigerian languages, which form the substructure. The study is a qualitative research whose data is got from English and Naija. Sentences and expressions from both languages were randomly selected, compared and juxtaposed. Findings from the study show that the two languages are structurally different in their mood and aspect. The study recommends that Naija should be introduced and taught in the lower basic schools particularly in areas where it has been creolized.