CULTURAL INFLUENCE ON LANGUAGE

Department: LINGUISTICS

Request on WhatsApp

Instant Download

Code No: 472349

₦5,000.00

ABSTRACT


The existence of taboo and sexism in Ohaozara dialect have be established. It is in the area of describing how culture influences language that constitutes issues of discuss in this research work. This work serves as an insight into the behaviour of language  as it is bend, controlled and molded by the culture of  Ohaozara people. Culture as a crucial part of human life is the shared patterns of behaviours and interaction, cognitive, constructive and affective understanding that are learned through a process of socialization. These shared pattern identify the  members of a culture group while also distinguishing  those of another group and since language is peculiar to the  speakers hence the variation of Ohaozara dialect, in gender and age as it is been influence by the culture of the people, therefore distinguishing those of Ohaozara people from the others. Thus a deviation from the norms of the dialect is termed a taboo.  Data for the study were drawn from Ohaozara dialect. The work being a descriptive survey, adopted the simple descriptive method of analysis among others. From the data collected and analyzed the following findings were made; the study reveals the existence of culture in Ohaozara land stipulating the conduct of its members which makes it impossible or immoral for its  members to commit taboo because of the penalty that awaits the offender. There are some terms that exist but are not used by women freely; the euphemistic renditions for items are derived from panegyric names coined by special old men for public usage, women do not address such words plainly in the presences of the men. Thus we recommend that the study of socio linguistics should go beyond teaching only linguistic students  to even secondary schools and other departments in every institutions because of its importance on our culture and our immediate society.

CHAPTER 1


CHAPTER ONE
 INTRODUCTION
1.0       Background of the Study
          Generally, language is a distinctive code of communication. Language according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English is a system of communication by written or spoken words which is used by the people of a particular country or area. Agbedo (2003) puts it that language is the pivot on which all human activities, ranging from the most prosaic to the most profound revolve. What he meant is that language touches the entire aspect of an individual’s life
          Language provides the unique medium through which the belief system, world view, moral values and virtually all the basic ingredients of any given society are passed on from generation to generation.
          Every society has a set of values and norms that governs the behaviour of the members and their languages and as well ensure peace and order in the society. These values and norms are cultural to the people. Culture which is the people’s way of life provides order and guidance for social behaviour and stability among changes.
          Ohaozara Community in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has a unique and rich cultural heritage which direct and guide the life and language of Ohaozara people. Culture influence on the people of Ohaozara can be appreciated in the tradition of the people’s taboos as moral restraints. This is because their ancestors are too religious.
          The people of Ohaozara believe that the custodian of morality and the ancestors as the agents of maintaining the moral laws is the earth goddess “Ala”. The moral codes make known the do’s and don’ts of the community. The don’ts are known as the “taboos or “Nso ala” by the people.
          There are things that are forbidden by the Ohaozara people. Therefore the community hates and frowns at those things in order to live peacefully among the community members.
          One has to seriously observe those don’ts because breaking them attracts punishments from the earth goddess and their cohorts.
1.1       Historical and Geographical Background of the Study
          The area of study is Ohaozara. It is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Obiozara, Uburu. It has other towns like Ugwulangwu, Uburu, Okposi in the Local Government Area. It is located at the South East of Abakaliki. It has an area of 312 km and a population of 148, 626 as of the 2006 census.
          The most striking physical feature of Ohaozara is the Okposi and Uburu salt lake.
          For a living, the Ohaozara have two major occupations; farming (which is strictly reserved for the men), and salt production (which is under proscription in favour of the women) in the past, these two occupations made Ohaozara self-supporting and contented.
          It is obvious from the position of the town that her alluvial soils would be rich. Yam farming, became so highly developed that a piece of land was under cultivation every year. Five months after yams are harvested, the land was cleared for planting the alternative crop-cocoyam. Nowadays, it is cassava that is alternated with yams. This attachment to yams continues now in spite of a boost in rich farming.
          Salt production has supplemented Ohaozara economics since that discovery of the so-called salt lakes by two hunters, Ekuma Chita and Uta Ano. Since then, the women have produced salt by a process beyond the scope of this work.
        

Departments