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.

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