Language Shift: Implications On The Igbo Language

Language contact situation manifests differently in different linguistic environments. This may result from how the languages in contact interact. This paper examines language shift and its implications on the Igbo language. The Labovian approach to language study is applied in this paper. Two methods of data collection were adopted. One is audio recording of natural interactions between the researchers and some of the respondents. Two is a surreptitious audio recording of speech events between and among the respondents, all in different domains. The analytical method used in this research is content analysis. The results show that English is the dominant language predominantly used in the study area. The Igbo language is observed to be under threat and may be assimilated by the dominant English as there is a shift towards English. This indicates that in future, if urgent steps are not taken, a different variety of English may become the language used in the study area. Another implication of this language shift on Igbo is the loss of cultural values and identity of the people.