The Sociolinguistic Setting of Àlẹ́gé

Abstract

Àlẹ́gé is a small group of Bendi languages spoken in the Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria, West Africa. In light of the community’s efforts to develop and sustain the language, this survey was conducted to assess the different domains of language use and the factors influencing the continued vitality of Àlẹ́gé in these domains. The aim of this study is to help the Àlẹ́gé community make informed decisions regarding the types of language development projects to initiate and the specific challenges to address. For this study, three survey methods were employed: individual and group interviews, participant observation, and the use of three structured questionnaires—village profile, household, and school-based questionnaires. Findings indicate that Àlẹ́gé is a multilingual community, where Àlẹ́gé is predominantly spoken alongside English, Nigerian Pidgin, and Bette (mostly spoken by adults) in certain domains. Despite the high level of multilingualism, the Àlẹ́gé people maintain a strong positive attitude toward their language, proudly using it in their homes, markets, churches, and other community domains. Considering various socio-economic and demographic factors, such as migration and youth unemployment, which currently affect the community, it is imperative to establish language development strategies that will enhance the vitality of Àlẹ́gé and prevent an intergenerational gap in language use. transmission.