Language Endangerment: A Case Study of Ngizim Language in Yobe State of Nigeria

Citation: Salisu Alhaji YUSUF, Bello Muhammad JAJERE & Sani SAIDU (2018). Language Endangerment: A Case Study of Ngizim Language in Yobe State of Nigeria. Yobe Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (YOJOLLAC), Vol. 6. Department of African Languages and Linguistics, Yobe State University, Damaturu, Nigeria. ISSN 2449-0660

LANGUAGE ENDANGERMENT: A CASE STUDY OF NGIZIM LANGUAGE IN YOBE STATE OF NIGERIA

Salisu Alhaji YUSUF

And

Bello Muhammad JAJERE

And

Sani SAIDU

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to examine the level of endangerment of Ngizim Language. The results of the work show that Ngizim language enjoys the custom and culture of Hausa language as the result of assimilation. Many native speakers found it very difficult to express themselves (especially young adult and children) freely in Ngizim language and therefore, they were not able to produce a folk tale, proverbs, song etc in their native language which show that the language is currently endangered. The method employed for the collection of materials for this research was an interview which used as part of the effort to measure and recorded the use of Ngizim language in Yerimaran and Arikime (wards) of potiskum area. As the result of the following this data, there will be two sets in two different dominants in the tables which show that Ngizim native’s speakers use the Hausa language for the purpose of their business activities as well as lingual-franca. Also most of them understand Hausa fluently rather than their own native language (Ngizim). However, the table 1 showed the result that only 6.75% are usually use Ngizim language all the time , 49.08 are partially use the language 19.63 are rarely use the language and 17.79 are never use the language. Therefore, the observation shows that most of the Ngizim natives use the Hausa language almost all the time rather than to use their own native language. Based on the result above the Ngizim language may be classified as belonging to the seriously endangerment, based on the following levels of endangerment identified by Wurm (1996), which included potentially endangered language, seriously endangered, Moribund and extinct. Because most of their speakers are young adults based on the observation I made when I conducted the interview in yeri-maram and Arikime area in Potiskum where predominantly by Ngizim native speakers. The main point of this work also is to seen in the fact that Ngizim language is now in a risk of gradual extinction or death if urgent measures are not taken by all stakeholders concerned to tackle these problems of the Ngizim language.

1.0 Introduction

Language Endangerment: A case study of Ngizim language is the area of study for this research falls under the element of socio-linguistics. Socio linguistics is a branch of Linguistics or is a part of Linguistics which concerned with language as a social and cultural phenomenon, Trudgill (1974). It therefore, implies that socio-linguistics deal with the relationship between language and society. Since there is no society that exists without a culture, so also no culture can exist without a language.

Therefore, language serves as vehicle or tools for effective communication in a given society. However, language endangerment as an instance in which a particular language or languages are said to be under pressure from larger and more dominant languages Trudgill (1974), when such a pressure persists, the language in question may begin to give way to the more dominant ones. This can be seen in a number of ways including a reduction in number of a speakers; such pressure on the other hand could be political, social and economic among others. This is a language which attracts other speakers if it is politically and social or economically viable, that is if the speakers have some social political influence over speakers of other language.

1.1 Aim and Objectives

The aim and objectives of this paper are to examine the level of endangerment of Ngizim language and to provide the solution on how to tackle the problems of endangered language (Ngizim).

1.2 Historical Origin of Ngizim Language

Ngizim is spoken in Yobe State, Nigeria, in the area to the east and south of Potiskum, the largest town in Yobe state.Ngizim has virtually no dialect differentiation other than a few lexical differences among village (Shush, 1978).The Ngizim have been given various name by many historians and anthropologist.These include Nguzum, Ngwazim, Ngojen, Ngazim, Nkizam, Ngazar, Nkazara, Ngizam, Ngasum and so on. Each name is distinctive but refers to the same Ngizim people (Whilteley, 1918).According to palmer (1936), the Ngizim people were clearly identified as inhabitant of fittir region of Kanem – Borno about 1259 A.D. it was the fusion of the clan of Kayi also known as the Zaghawa with the Ngizim about this time that gave rise to the separate political entity which arose in the fitti rregion at about 1350 A.D. which was called the Bulala or the kingdom of Gaoga (Gondola of the famous Leo Africa).

However, the Ngizim like many chadic languages generally trace their origin to Yeman. There is also a close historical relationship between them and Teshinawa (an extinct language) or Gugai,Katagum region.Teshinawa were in turn related to Dagare both of which are related to the Ngizim, because they spoke a language similar to that of Ngizim, although the language is fast dying out. In another tradition, the Ngizim, the Bade, the Teshinawa and the Dagara are referred to as “Badu” (herdsmen) by the Kanuri. Having inter-married with Kayi (or Amakitan), they formed the bulk of the Bulala. Ngizim in Bornu is yet another evidence of the Ngizim historical impact in old kanuri-Borno Empire, the impact of the Ngizim cannot be overlooked Wazir Kabir Kursu Ibn Haruna and commander in chief of the famous Mai IdrissAlooma (1517-1583) as well as Nasiru Bultu and so many other key figures in old Kanem Bornu empire were full blooded Ngizim (Bubaram, 1995). By the 16th century a large concentration of Ngizim people could be found in the Southwest of Birnin Ngazargamu. Some traditional points out that the Ngizim arrived at Potiskum region in two migratory strength which followed the two different routes around 1718 A.D Palmer (1936), the contact between Ngizim and Hausa trace back to the century Laver (1976), state that the population of Hausa mainly in Potiskum town, numbered about 30, 050 according to the 1963 census and who have been increased consider since then.

1.3 Language Endangerment

The endangered language is a situation whereby a language is at risk of fall out of use as its speakers die out or shift to speaking another language. Graddol (1997), therefore, language endangerment can be seen as an instance in which a particular language or languages are said to be under pressure from larger and more dominant languages. When such a pressure persists the language is question may begin to give way to the more dominant ones. This can be seen in a number of ways including a reduction in number of a speakers, the lost of either with their own culture or the younger that may not produce language to the dominant role such pressure on the other hand, could be political, social and economic among others. Thus the language attracts other speakers if the speakers have some social, political influence over speakers of other languages. Once factor, like this is in place, influence of the smaller languages begins to wing. In our world today, out of the about sixty to seventy thousand estimated languages, more than half of the sixty to seventy languages are said to be endangered (Wurm, 1998). In fact, Crystal (1997) claims that just about twenty percent (20%) of the World’s languages are viable and that the half of the World’s population are dominated by less than dozen languages. Therefore, the twenty (20) most common languages spoken by more than 50 millions speakers each are spoken by small communities, most of them with fewer than 10,000 speakers.

1.3.1 The Level of Endangerment of Ngizim Language

Wurm (1996), states that in our world today, there are sixty to seventy thousand estimated languages, but with a sad more than half of these languages are said to be death in the 2100. Therefore, Crystal (1997), it is also agreed that these languages are at different levels of endangerment. This means that some languages have greater potential for survival than others in this connection therefore, explain this variation in status, five (5) levels of languages are endangered have been identified by Wurm (1996).

1. Potentially endangered language.

2. Endangered.

3. Seriously endangered.

4. Moribund.

5. Extinct.

i) Potentially Endangered language, these are languages that are under social, political and economic pressure from larger languages and therefore beginning to loss child speakers.

ii) Endangered, these are languages that have no child speakers and it youngest speakers are young adults.

iii) Seriously Endangered, these are languages for which speakers are fifty (50) years old and above or languages that are speaking by fifty (50) years and above of speakers, Wurm (1996).

iv) Moribund, languages that are no longer to learn efficiently. According to Wurm (1996), languages that are handful of speakers left most of them are very old at least from 70 years and above are use to produce the languages.

v) Extinct, technically a language is to be extinct when the last speaker dies but in practical term, such a languages could have die long before the death of the last speakers, simply because the moment there is only one speaker for a language the status of that language as a means of communication is as good as non-existence or death.

Considering Wurm based on his levels of endangerment, the Ngizim language may be classified as belonging to the second level (Endangerment). Because most of their speakers are young adults based on the observation I made when I conducted the interview in yeri-maram area in Potiskum where predominantly by Ngizim native speakers.

Therefore, any language that crosses the lines of either being potentially endangered or endangered is already passed in to the limbo of time. Such language may continue to have an existence in record form but could be falling out of use because of the preference of its speakers for more socially acceptable language.

However, Fishman (1997), points out that it’s not because languages are not being tough in schools or look official status that make them to be endangered but that they became endangered because they lack informal intergeneration transmission and informal daily life support. Fishman (2002), maintains that a language is simultaneously indexical of both the materials and non materials properties of the traditional associated symbolic culture and therefore, like all symbols, easily politicized, and finally language is also part and parcel of the bulk of any culture inter dependence of language and laws, religious education, jokes, song, blessing, curses, greetings and languages are in large part identical rather than merely occurrences or “flew travelers” that they are all too often taken to be.

Base of explanation above stated by fishman (2002), the Ngizim language adopted both material and non-material properties of it is traditional associated as well as symbolic of the Hausa culture rather than to maintains their activities should be conducting in Hausa language such as folk tale, songs, jokes, riddles, greetings, and so on, that is to say that the language begin to lose most of their native speakers.

1.3.2 Causes of Language Endangerment

Fishman (1968), maintains several factors for this responsibility these are:-

i. Physical and demographic dislocation.

ii. Social dislocation.

iii. Political/Economical dislocation.

Physical/demographic dislocation is a situation whereby a large lacks a demographic straight. In this situation physical is a situation whereby the speaker of the community was a scarred. And demographic dislocation refers to many speakers (i.e. hundred thousand), and become a few speakers (i.e.thousand), because of natural disease or though war, or complicit. Also demographic dislocation is divided in to two factors, that is the:-

a. Natural disease

b. The man made

a. Natural disease could be a rainfall which really happening from God and many people were die and left few.

b. The man made factor, this can be happen through man conflict which use as wars. Social dislocation according to Fishman (1968), social dislocation is a situation whereby the entire speakers are no longer in social position and they are not influence. He therefore, pointed that the Economic/Political dislocation refers to if the speakers of the language are not longer commercial that is if they are not economic influence for looking something from other language.

1.3.3 Why Ngizim Language is an Endangered.

Based on observation that I made the Ngizim language is an endangered through the influence of Hausa over the Ngizim language can be seen through the following, borrowing; code switching and code mixing as well as cultural assimilation and economic influence. Therefore, the following results in the tables below from two different areas (i.e. the Yerimaran and Arikime) will be served as an evidence for the endangerment of Ngizim language based on my observation I made through this research.

 

Table 1 Yerimaran area

NO. of Ngizim native	11-18yrs	18-32yrs	32-62yrs	62-80yrs	Percentage
163	20	21	20	102	_
A	4	5	4	6	6.75
B	5	6	6	65	49.08
C	3	11	8	15	19.63
D	6	1	_	22	17.79

KEY

A=All the time uses Ngizim language

B=Some times

C=Rarely

D=Never

Due to this observation the Ngizim native’s speakers use the Hausa language for the purpose of their business activities as well as lingua-franca. Also most all of the Ngizim native understand Hausa fluently more than their own native language (Ngizim). However, table 1 showed the result that only 6.75% are usually use Ngizim language all the time , 49.08 are partially use the language 19.63 are rarely use the language and 17.79 are never use the language. Therefore, the observation shows that most of the Ngizim natives use the Hausa language almost all the time rather than to use their own native language.

Table 2 Arikime area

NO. of Ngizim	11-18yrs	18-32yrs	32-64yrs	62-80yrs	Percentage
95	10	15	25	45	-
A	-	-	-	-	-
B	11	8	20	34	76.2
C	15	25	15	34	89.47
D	10	-	25	-	36.31

A= All the time uses Ngizim language.

B= Some times

C= Rarely

D= Never

Considering table 2 which shows that there is no Ngizim natives use the language all the times in the area and only 76.2% some time use the language, 89.47% are rarely use the language as well as 36.31% were never use the language daily. This shows that the level of endangerment of Ngizim is currently seriously endangered.

1.4 Research Methodology

The method employed for the collection of materials for this research was from uneducated Ngizim native speakers who could not read and write as well as educated native which I interviewed them on how they communicate with their language and using questionnaire was not possible because the educated native of Ngizim language were spread in various places. And only the uneducated were gathered in a village in some area of potiskum local government. Now consider the following sample in the tables below used when conducting an interview in the two different domains where predominantly by Ngizim native speakers.

Table 1 Yerimaran area

NO. of Karai-Karai native	11-18yrs	18-32yrs	32-62yrs	62-80yrs	Percentage
163	20	21	20	102	-
A	4	5	4	6	6.75
B	5	6	6	65	49.08
C	3	11	8	15	19.63
D	6	1	-	22	17.79

KEY

A=All the time uses Karai- Karai language

B=Some times

C=Rarely

D=Never

Table 2 Arikime area

NO. of Karai-Karai	11-18yrs	18-32yrs	32-64yrs	62-80yrs	Percentage
95	10	15	25	45	-
A	-	-	-	-	-
B	11	8	20	34	76.2
C	15	25	15	34	89.47
D	10	-	25	-	36.31

A= All the time uses Karai-Karai language.

B= Some times

C= Rarely

D= Never

1.5 Discussion on the Research

Interviews have been used as part of the effort to measure and recorded the use of Ngizim language in potiskum Yarimaran and Arikime. As the result of the following this data, there will be two sets in two different dominants as in tables. Due to this observation the Ngizim native speakers use the Hausa language for the purpose of their business activities. Also most of the Ngizim native understand Hausa fluently rather than their own native language (Ngizim). However, the table 1 showed the result that only 6.75% are usually use Ngizim language all the time and 49.08 are partially use the language as shown in table 2 . The observation show that most of the Ngizim native speakers in Yarimaran potiskum use to speak Hausa language as the means of communication to the different ethnic groups for their daily use. Considering the table 2 which shows that there is no Ngizim natives use the language all the times in the area and only 76.2% some time use the language, 89.47% are rarely use the language as well as 36.31% were never use the language daily.

1.6 Conclusion

Generally, the Ngizim language is a language which is under the pressure of one of the dominant language in northern part of the country (Hausa). This pressure on the other hand could be political, social and economic among others which can be reduction a number of speakers, Fishman (1968). It is agreed that more than half of the world’s languages are endangered. It is also equally agreed that, those languages are at different levels of endangered. This means that some languages have greater potentials for survival than others, Crystal D. (2000). Therefore, Ngizim language is classified at the level of seriously endangered due to observation made in respect to the discussion on this research finding based on the level of endangerment identified by Wurm (1996).

1.7 Recommendation

Base on the findings of this research, the following recommendation were made:

i.Government should organize workshops and seminars aimed toward promoting advance research on the language.

ii.Data collected should be digitize in the course of the research center and make it available to the public through internet.

iii.Encourage the parents to speak with their children throughout a day with Ngizim language instance of using Hausa language for their communication.

iv.Train teachers and students from various field of linguistics for data management and documentation about the language and serve as tool materials for making accessible the products of the research of the center, i.e. digital and analogue achieves of linguistics data, for language teaching materials.

v.Government should encourage the individual, communities and organization to focuses and make effort on the activities of the language especially the folktale, culture and literature of the language.

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