Language Attitudes Among Teenagers And Its Effect

Language Attitudes Among Teenagers And Its Effect (A Case Study Of Teenagers In Uyo rnIntroductionrn1.1 Background of the Studyrn In the time past, language attitudes have been analyzed and debated with respect to how languages can be endangered, and how they can die. The two main points to be considered in this research are attitude and language, and how teenagers manipulate them. rnAttitude is defined as the way that one thinks and feels about somebody or something, the way that one behaves towards somebody or something that shows how one thinks and feels. While language is defined as the system of communication in speech and writing that is used by people of a particular country. Also, another dictionary definition of language is a particular style of speaking or writing.rnSo for the purpose of further development and preservation of the Ibibio Language, this research is going to be concerned with the behaviour exhibited by teenagers In Uyo, Akwa Ibom State particularly those in the Uyo Local Government Area of the State to their indigenous languagern1.2 Significance and Scope of the Studyrn The study “language attitudes among teenagers and its effects” is a study of how language is being approached and manipulated by teenagers in the Uyo district of Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, for their day-to-day interaction, fellowship and relationship. rn1.3 Purpose of this Studyrn This research aims at seeing why teenagers behave the way they do to language (what influence and inform the behaviour so exhibited to language), see the effect of their behaviour on their indigenous language, and proffer possible solutions aimed at internalizing the language in the minds of these teenagers thereby preserving the language.rn1.4 MethodologyrnIn analyzing various related texts in relation to this field, a socio-linguistic method of approach is used in examining the behaviour or attitudes exhibited by teenagers in Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State to their indigenous language vis-à-vis English and pidgin.rnAlso, questionnaires have used the observation of their attitude to language as a means of data collection.rn1.5 Statement of the Problemrn Most language users do not see the language that they speak as a definition of their race, their culture, and their personality. Negligence, ignorance and quest to follow the current trend have left Africans in general and Nigerians in particular far from their root – their source/who they really are. So in this research, ways in which we have drifted from our culture (through the embracing of a foreign language) are being elaborated upon, and suggestions on how to re-position our attitude toward our indigenous language are made explicit.