Browsing by Author "Amende, Charles A."

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    ACCULTURATION IN THE PERIOD OF GLOBALIZATION: TIV LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
    (Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2012-07-05) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Amende, Charles A.
    Acculturation is the adoption of the element of one culture by a different cultural group. Culture entails the knowledge, belief art, morals, laws, customs, habits, and language acquired by the people of the society. Language is known to be the sole transmitter of culture. Globalization encourages integration among countries and cultures across the world. The forces of globalization have therefore, endangered the world's linguistic and cultural diversity. This paper therefore, examines the effects of globalization on Tiv language and culture in recent times. The paper will also suggest useful solutions to avoid total annihilation of the Tiv man's valued cultural heritage.
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    DIALECT DISTANCE AMONG GBAGY1 DIALECTS: GBAGYI NGE-NGE AND GBAGYI NKWA
    (Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-01-01) Amende, Charles A.; Akase, Tiav Thomas; Salisu, Muhammad Raj.
    This work examines dialect distance among Gbagyi dialects. Dialect distance connotes the degree of mutual intelligibility between dialects of the same language. The degree of mutual intelligibility however, relates to the extent of divergence between the dialects of Gbagyi language; and is measured by the degree of closeness in the writing system and pronunciation, coupled with high tendencies of cognacy between the dialects of the language. Mutuality breeds cordial relationship and understanding between speakers of a language, and its absence may often create problems in communication which may lead to misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and disintegration. This work therefore, examines the extent of dialect distance between two (2) dialects of Gbagyi language as they affect speakers of both dialects. The study is survey in nature; and findings reveal that mutual intelligibility exists between Gbagyi Nge-Nge and Gbagyi Nkwa dialects of Gbagyi language but the degree of mutual intelligibility is low. The study suggests a harmonization of the dialects for the standardization of the Gbagyi language.
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    DIALECT DISTANCE AMONG GBAGYI DIALECTS: GBAGYI NGE-NGE AND GBAGYI NKWA
    (DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, KEFFI, 2020-07-16) Amende, Charles A.; Akase, Tiav Thomas; Salisu, Muhammad Raj
    This work examines dialect distance among Gbagyi dialects. Dialect distance connotes the degree of mutual intelligibility between dialects of the same language. The degree of mutual intelligibility however, relates to the extent of divergence between the dialects of Gbagyi language; and is measured by the degree of closeness in the writing system and pronunciation, coupled with high tendencies of cognacy between the dialects of the language. Mutuality breeds cordial relationship and understanding between speakers of a language, and its absence may often create problems in communication which may lead to misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and disintegration. This work therefore, examines the extent of dialect distance between two (2) dialects of Gbagyi language as they affect speakers of both dialects. The study is survey in nature; and findings reveal that mutual intelligibility exists between Gbagyi Nge-Nge and Gbagyi Nkwa dialects of Gbagyi language but the degree of mutual intelligibility is low. The study suggests a harmonization of the dialects for the standardization of the Gbagyi language.
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    Harmonizing Wana and Wangibi Dialects for the Standardization of Eggon Language
    (Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2020-03-17) Amende, Charles A.; Tanimu, Yusuf; Abraham, David A.
    in a multilingual community is accepted and codified. When a chosen dialect amongst others is reduced to writing, having a set of rules guiding the orthography, it is said to be a standard language. Standardization occurs as a result of a direct and deliberate intervention by a society. The standard language becomes a symbol of nationhood or is designated for official and social use in the community. This research discovered that Eggon, the language under review has about 14 dialects spoken across the Eggon communities and none of these dialects has been chosen as a standard dialect. The paper tries to identify the problems hindering the standardization .of Eggon and also tries to ascertain what steps need to be taken to develop a standard form of Eggon. A descriptive research method approach is used in this study and data was collected through interaction with informants that are competent in the language. The study reveals that a major factor hindering the standardization of Eggon is the challenge of which dialect to be used for the standardization. Findings indicate that the orthographic contrast between the two (2) dialects which are Wana and Wangibi is very minimal; therefore, efforts should be made to integrate the two (2) dialects to form a standard orthography of Eggon language, in accordance with the orthographies proposed in this work. This work tries to harmonize both mutually intelligible and widely spoken dialects and suggest that the harmonized version be accepted as a standard language that can be spoken across Eggon communities.
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    THE ISSUES OF LANGUAGE IN GOVERNANCE IN A MULTILINGUAL SOCIETY
    (Department of Language and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-07-05) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Umaru, Jacob Yakubu; Amende, Charles A.; Akwashiki, Vincent S.
    Language is very vital to human society, that there is hardly any situation or human function where language is not required. It also means that for any idea to be transformed into good governance, it must be sufficiently couched in human language. This means that the ideas, knowledge, skills, attitude and experiences required for governance must be communicated to people through language. All the interventions and achievements ever recorded in human existence have their roots in language. This explains that no governance can take place without language. Language therefore, plays a role in the development of a nation. It also contributes to individual and societal development. This adopts descriptive approach to discuss the issues of language in governance in Africa with a particular reference to Nigeria. Personal observations have been used in the collection of data for this work. As members of Nigerian society, the researchers have been much familiar with the issues of language in governance as chosen for discussion. Some amount of information was obtained from textbooks and journal publications for clearer understanding of the subject matter. The data collected is systematically described considering the facts and features involved. The research study shows that language policy, language choice and acceptability are the major issues of language in governance in a multilingual society like Nigeria in particular and Africa at large. The study also shows incidences of disunity, low productivity, conflict, fake hate speech and underdevelopment are some of the effects of issues of language in governance in Nigeria. The work finally proffer solution to some of the language issues in governance in Nigeria
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    Language Endangerment and Globalization: The Northern Experience
    (Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2010-09-01) Abraham, David A.; Amende, Charles A.
    Much emphasis over the last two decades on language endangerment has only been placed firmly on the protection of cultural diversity, ahead of the sweeping homogenizing tidal wave of globalization. Linguists have been worried over the vast amount of cultural and linguistic knowledge that is disappearing in an increasing global world. The fear of language loss on daily basis or endangerment in this era of globalization has been a great concern to most Linguists which is the main concern this paper. The endangered languages are doomed to go into extinction like species lacking reproductive capacity. The target of this paper is therefore to discuss the circumstances; using the northern Nigeria language situation as a case study, that leads to language mortality, through the corollaries and agencies of globalization. The paper discovered that globalization has both positive and negative effects of globalization although the negative effect is more pronounced on the languages. The paper therefore recommends that mobilize remedial steps must be languages from the negative effects of globalization. This, if done will reduce the rate of language endangerment and death especially in northern Nigeria.
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    Lexical and Structural Ambiguity in Tiv Discourse
    (DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH FACULTY OF ARTS NASARAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, KEFFI, 2020-01-28) Tanimu, Yusuf; Amende, Charles A.; Salisu, Muhammad Raj
    This study investigates ambiguity in Tiv discoui'se with focus on lexical and structural ambiguity. Ambiguity connotes a situation where a word or sentence has more than one meaning or interpretation; and lexical ambiguity is a type of ambiguity created by a particular lexical item or lexical unit (a word). Ambiguity affects communication, where meaning is distorted between a speaker and a listener, leading to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. This study examines ambiguity occasioned by lexical item, sentence structure, homonymy, polysemy and sense of a word. It unveils instances of such ambiguities in Tiv and highlights appropriate choice of words and the role of context in ensuring disambiguation in Tiv discourse. This is done, in order to engender effective communication in Tiv as well as to contribute to the development of the Tiv language.
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    Semantic Relations in Tiv Language of Benue State
    (Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-01-01) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Tanimu, Yusuf; Amende, Charles A.
    This work examines semantic relations in Tiv. Semantic relations are a set of words with an identifiable semantic affinity. This affinity creates a relationship between words in which they are connected in order to make more acceptable meaning out of them. It is obvious that semantic relations inTiv consist of vocabularies that empower speakers of the language in attaining proficiency in the use of the language, but is this always the case? When you listen to most communications in the language, users do not show good mastery and use of sense relations. It follows that, misapplication of these sense relations by speakers render the listeners confused as to what the right option of word or expression should be in a given scenario. This misapplication or use of the semantic relations would also result in wrong grammatical construction in the language. This work, therefore, calls for the need to identify these semantic relations in Tiv and understand their uses and applications to produce very intelligible and pragmatic sentences. The researchers are able to dictate these semantic relations and their wrong applications through interaction with native speakers using our intuitive knowledge of the language. The population of the study is the Tiv people of Benue state, butfor the convenience of this study, a sampled population is taken from three (3) major Tiv communities of Katsina-Ala, Gboko and Makurdi which will represent the entire study area. Data for this work is sourced through participant observations, personal interviews, and conversations with native speakers of the language. The work is expected to deepen the grammar of Tiv language and will further enhance effective communication in the language.
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    SEMANTIC VALUE OF SILENCE IN TIV DISCOURSE
    (Department of English, Nasarawa State University Keffi, 2021-01-05) Akase, Tiav Thomas; Mohammed, Y.; Amende, Charles A.
    Semantics attaches meaning and value to all aspects of human behavior including silence. The way we dress, talk, eat, walk, look at things, etc., all convey meaning. This is because everything that human beings do, actions and inactions have meaning in semantics. It.is in view of this t|iat the researchers want to examine the value of silence which is the complete absence of sound or noise in’a discourse. Silence is an aspect of nonverbal communication that is often used; in Tiv Discourse. It expresses information about the,.user’s feelings, ideas, attitudes, etc. People from different cultures' have different meanings and interpretations of silence whenever it is used in any discourse. This work however, Centre sonly on Tiv experience and usage. The findings of the.work show that silence has both positive and negative semantic values in Tiv discourse. Most importantly, the work helps us to knowwhen and how to use it and shall not bother much that it is an insult or one is ignored whenever it is used, for it may convey different meaning. The paper is a contribution to the development of Tiv discourse studies and language in general.
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    A Socio- Cultural and Linguistic Analysis of Gbagyi Names
    (Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2015-10-01) Abraham, David A.; Amende, Charles A.; Muhammad, Bashir Yusuf
    Names apart from serving as makers of individuals’ identities reveal the deep rooted socio semantic and cultural values, experience, prevailing situations and philosophies of a given society. The focus of this paper therefore, is on the structure and socio-semantic and cultural importance of Gbagyi names and their relevance to cultural promotion and identity of Gbagyi nation. It will also examine the various perspectives leading to the understanding of Gbagyi names and the meanings of Gbagyi names to their society. The method of data collection employed in collecting data for the work is that of interaction with the Gbagyi native speakers. Written materials on Gbagyi were also consulted to elicit Data. Direct observations among native speakers of the language also formed part of the method of data collection employed. The Data collected were analysed based on the structure and meaning of Gbagyi given names. The paper,though may not be as exhaustive provides an insight into the structure and semantics and values of Gbagyi personal names as reveals the implications and importance of names to the bearers in Gbagyi and to the general public at large.
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    A SOCIO- CULTURAL AND LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF GBAGYI NAMES
    (Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2015-10-26) Abraham, David A.; Amende, Charles A.
    Names apart from serving as marks of individuals ’ identities reveal the deep rooted socio semantic and cultural values, experience, prevailing situations and philosophies of a given society. The focus of this paper therefore, is to examine Linguistics and socio-semantic and Linguistics implications of Gbagyi names and their relevance to cultural promotion and identity of Gbagyi nation. It will basically carry out a linguistics analysis of Gbagyi names looking at the semantic and structural implications of the names. The primary and secondary research methods were employed in carrying this work; while the primary source shall be based on the interaction and direct observations among native speakers of the language, the secondary source shall be based on written materials on Gbagyi language. The Data collected shall be analysed based on the structure and meaning of Gbagyi given names. The paper therefore, though may not be as exhaustive, is hoped to provide an insight into the structure and semantic values of Gbagyi personal names and will also make the reader to appreciate the implication and importance of names to the bearers in Gbagyi language.
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    SOCIOLINGUISTICS SITUATION AND THE PLIGHT OF THE MINORITY IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: A CASE STUDY OF GBAGYI
    (Department of Languages and Linguistics, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, 2015-11-26) Amende, Charles A.; Abraham, David A.
    Much has been documented in Sociolinguistics about the advantages of bilingualism but perhaps not much has been done to examine the negative effects it has on smaller languages. The focus of this paper is therefore on the sociolinguistic situations that involve the dominance of Hausa on other .......minority, languages.in the North especially the .Gbagyi language.In another development, It examines the level of interference of Hausa lexis and sentence patterns in Gbagyi as one of the minorities languages in northern Nigeria, using Blench’s 1017 wordlist. The paper also determines the extent of Hausa influence on the Gbagyi as well as found out the means of preserving it from total extinction. • The descriptive statistical method is employed in gathering data and the simple percentage tool is also used to discover the extent' of incursion of Hausa into Gbagyi language. This paper finally tries in proffering solutions on how the language can be revitalized and saved from going into extinction.