Abstract
The level of endangerment a language faces is relative to the degree of its resources viz a large and active speaker population; a thriving literary tradition complemented by a widespread and flourishing readership, and the prestige accorded the language by its speakers. In this sense, most languages of the world face one or the forms of endangerment. This paper however, explores a form of endangerment emanating from within the resources of the language itself. This paper observes an ironic even if pathetic situation, where the very resources of a language, particularly its Media and literary tradition have its thriving practices marked by a propensity for appropriating words from other language(s) considered more prestigious because of the socio-economic , educational, and political standing it enjoys globally. This, the paper argues is as threatening to the pristine existence of a language as other forms of endangerment. Consequently, it suggests borrowing across dialects of the language family than to opt for appropriating words from other foreign and prestigious languages, particularly for words that exist in the repertoire of either the language or in any of its dialects, For example, the persistent use of the English derivative ‘chanji’ from the English ‘Change’ where an equally two-syllable word of the same semantic implication exist in Hausa, ‘Sauyi’. This obnoxious and depreciating practice largely characterizes the use of the Hausa language in our films, literary texts especially of the popular culture genre and other popular media.
Author: Mallam, M.T. & Bunza, U.A.
