Resuscitation and Sustainability of Endangered Minor Nigerian Languages through Multimodality

Authors: Anana Mariam
Resuscitation and Sustainability of Endangered Minor Nigerian Languages through Multimodality
DOI
10.65962/jcrelc-oct-2025-1
DIN
JCRELC-OCT-2025-1
Abstract

Resuscitation and sustainability of endangered minor Nigerian Languages are highly imperative for cultural, religious, social, economic, political and educational purposes. They preserve the cultural identities and heritages of ethnic groups; assist in intergenerational communications and allow inclusivity of social lifestyles and equities. Against this backdrop, this study investigates endangered minor Nigerian languages with a view to identifying their statuses, examining the attitudes of the users with a view to identifying whether or not they have positive or negative influences on the languages; and suggesting how they can be revitalised and sustained through multimodality. Data were randomly obtained from the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria; in the North-central (Koro and Igede), in the North-East (Bade and Tera) in the North-West, (Kamuku and Duwai) in the South-East (Ikkwere and Ohuhu Igbo), in the South-South (Ibibio and Ogoni) and in the South-West (Akoko and Egun), (a total of twelve Nigerian languages) were selected for this study. The mixed-methods research design and Cultural Sustainability Theory were also adopted. One of the major findings is that consistent use of minor languages in cultural festivals can rejuvenate and sustain minor languages in Nigeria. The study, therefore, recommends that minor Nigerian languages should be revived and sustained through multiple modes such as the use of social media and technology; and native speakers’ readiness to interact and communicate using these languages in private and public spaces freely.

Keywords
Nigerian Languages intergenerational communications cultural identities multimodality educational purposes.
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Introduction

Language represents and reflects people’s cultures; without it there are no meaningful cultures and cultural heritages. It is encapsulated in people’s total way of existence; including but not limited to their behavioural patterns and attitudes which the author believes that they are shaped by the language they speak. Also, people are often identified through the language they use. Campbell (1994) captures it succinctly when he states that every language is a reflection of “its speaker’s history and culture and that its extinction causes “irretrievable loss of a portion of one own humanity.” In a similar observation, Jassim (2024) maintains that language is tied to identities and dialects are seen as markers of regional, social and cultural backgrounds.

Although the usefulness of every language is unquantifiable, a lot of languages have gone into extinction mostly because people who supposed to speak them have shifted to other languages and neglected theirs due to reasons best known to them. Observing this trend, (Sañudo, 2023) explains that over 90% of the world languages are endangered. In addition, (Crystal 2000) maintains that the question of language loss is a global issue and that the estimation is “roughly equivalent to the loss of one language every forthright. In the same vein, (Alejan et al., 2021) maintain that half of the world’s languages are swallowed up by dominant languages. The question is if we all neglect and allow our languages to be dead, whose language would we use? Again, a situation where all languages become dead, man’s cultural existence will be negatively and massively affected. 

It worth stating that negligence of language use is a starting point of a gradual language endangerment process. From here, it can lead to a total abandonment and finally irreparable loss and death. There are no mincing words that many Nigerian languages (whether major or minor) are actually traversing into the destiny of extinction and complete death if there are no interventions. Observing this negative trends, (Chukwu & Chima, 2024) express that many Nigerian languages seem to be on their way to extinction; they also submit that most minor indigenous languages in Nigeria are endangered. In the same vein, (Ugwu, 2020) maintains that many Nigerian languages are presently endangered or near extinction. Blench (2012) concludes that Nigeria has a very large number of languages that are severely endangered. Ude et al., (2020) also observe that Nigerian languages are endangered; they list 152 endangered Nigerian Languages. According to (Ayenbi, 2024) over 500 minor Nigerian languages “appear endangered due to insufficient use and shift to the English Language. According to (Akpan, 2024) many Nigerian languages are moribund. 

Conclusion

Many minor Nigerian Languages are endangered and need to be quickly revitilised otherwise they will go into extinction. There are many factors such as the dominance of English, Hausa and Yoruba language over indigenous languages, stigmatization, urbanization, lack of speakers, intermarriages and inferiority complexes that have hindered native speakers of the twelve (12) languages ( Koro, Igede, Bade, Tera, Kamuku, Duwai, Ikwere, Duwai, Ibibio, Ogoni, Akoko and Egun) from interacting and communicating in their mother tongues (MT). 

To ensure that these minor languages are revitalised, multiple modes such as linguistic modes, non-linguistic modes and paralinguistic modes are necessary. Deliberate application and use of these minor languages through positive attitudes towards the use of MT and educational policies that encourage the use of MT from primary schools to tertiary institutions are necessary. Also, each committee should encourage constant use of these languages. This recommendation agrees with (Shehu & Ejembi 2022) who observe that active use of indigenous languages can help to preserve linguistic heritages.

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