FACTORS AFFECTING LANGUAGE CHOICE IN A MULTILINGUAL SOCIETY
ABSTRACT
The work looks into the factors affecting language choice in a multilingual society, from a sociolinguistic point of view. This study brings to light a number of what affect individuals language choice.
This work comprises of four chapters. The first chapter talks about the introduction, the second chapter is the literature review, the third one deals with data presentation and analysis, lastly, the fourth chapter discusses the findings, recommendations and conclusion.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGES
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table of Contents vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
- Background to the Study 1
1.1 Statement of Problem 10
- Research Questions 10
- Purpose of Study 11
- Significance of the Study 11
- Limitation of Study 12
CHAPTER TWO:
2.0 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 13
2.1 Causes of Multilingualism 21
- Language choice 24
- Determinants of Language choice. 26
CHAPTER THREE:
3.0 DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 34
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Findings 57
- Recommendations 58
- Conclusion 59
References 61
Appendix 64
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
- BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Most cultures have stories which seek to explain the origin of life and to explain why things are as they are in the world today. The story from Genesis would have us believe that linguistic diversity is the curse of Babel (Genesis 11:1-11).
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech… And they said to one another… Let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, behold, the people is one, and they have all one language,… Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So, the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore, is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth.
In primordial time, people spoke the same language. God, however, decided to punish them for their presumptuousness in erecting the tower by making them speak different languages. Thus, multilingualism became an obstacle to further co-operation and placed limits on human worldly achievements.
