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By Linus Ogbu, Lafia
A linguist and a lecturer with Isah Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic, Lafia in Nasarawa State, Dr Ayewa Ayitonu, has expressed worry that some tribes in the state stands to lose their identities if nothing was done to preserve their indigenous languages.
Dr Ayitonu said this in an interview with newsmen in Lafia, during his book presentation entitled, “The Languages of Nasarawa State.”
The author explained that the motivation behind the book was the discoverage of fast sliding of indigenous languages into extinction, noted that the quest to curb the threat of extinction was what birthed the research.
According to the author, the focus of the book is how to revive indigenous languages in Nasarawa state by encouraging the youths and parents to communicate in their indigenous languages to their children/wards especially at home.
“What we need to do is to first of first all encourage our younger ones that their language is their identity, if you allow your language to die it means identify is going into extinction. You too one day might cease from existence because your language is not there.
“We must understand that there is different domains for every language, we are not saying that the use of English and Hausa is bad, they have their own domain such as school and public gathering.
“But when children return home to meet their parents they should be able to interact with parents in their indigenous languages, in their neighbourhood they can interact with people in Hausa,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Gov Abdullahi Sule while commending the Author, underscored the importance of language in identifying people’s cultural heritage for sustainable peace and unity.
He tasked parents to be actively involved in teaching their children indigenous languages to save
them from the threat of extinction.
Also speaking, Sen. Mohammed Onawo, the Chairman of the occasion while applauding the author, called on Nasarawa state government to consider introduction of indigenous languages in the school curriculum.
On his part, Sen. Ahmed Wadada, the guest speaker, urged the citizens of the state to leverage language diversity as a catalyst for rapid growth, unity, and peace, regardless of tribal, regional and political affiliations.
Earlier, the book reviewer, Prof. Gideon Omachonu of the faculty of Art, Nasarawa State University said the 9 chapters and 242 pages book that was published by University Press, University of Calabar printing press, has all the basic formal features of standard text.
“With the level of language endangerment, conducting a research on languages in the state is not only deserving but timely and imperative,” he said.
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