SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIATION BETWEEN AGED AND YOUNG WOMEN IN AWKA : A STUDY OF AMIKWO AND UMUOKPU
Abstract
This study dwells on the examination of sociolinguistic patterns of dialectal variations, social constraints on language attitudes between the native Awka old women that speak pure dialect and younger women that do not speak original Awka dialect. The effect of age on lexical choice in Awka have been found to be contradictory and problematic. This is because the prestigious dialect is not necessarily the standard variety. It is observed that there is no form of variations in speech among women in Awka then but the reverse is the case in speech form amongst speakers of Awka dialect as seen from today’s speakers of the same Awka dialect. This, as a matter of fact, gave rise to this research. The objective of this study is to delve into the inner workings of local linguistic system in pursuit of a better understanding of the interface in sociolinguistics by adding the cognitive approach. The data used for this work were sourced from the responses of those under study. They spoke and the speeches were taken and analyzed. The researcher used descriptive method in analyzing the data. The collected data were quantitatively studied and it was found that variation is not mechanical or automatic, but is based on personal conscious choices. This was achieved through systematic observation and analysis of the speaker’s use of language in natural situations. The researchers choose Amikwo and Umuokpu villages in Awka and speakers were subcategorized into two groups of native older women of Awka betweeh the ages of 50-75 and younger women of Awka between the ages of (35-49) and commonly used words were elicited in two or more different locations. The study adopted the theory of generative grammar as Theoretical framework. It was discovered that as the native younger women associate and mingle with other people in the society, their speech pattern change. This research will be of great importance to Awka speech community because, it will help to restructure their language. It will also aid them to adapt fast in learning the Standard Igbo both in speaking and writing. The informants were chosen using judgment sampling procedure. The speech of the speakers was investigated using face to face interviews. It was also found that age is one of the most important social factors correlating with lexical variation.Downloads
Published
2024-07-05