Attitude towards language use and maintenance among Yorùbá-English bilinguals in the United States

ABSTRACT

This study examines attitudes to language use and maintenance among Yorùbá-English bilinguals in the United States. Using the direct approach in language attitude research, it specifically interrogates attitudes toward using the heritage language (HL) in public domains and maintenance among subsequent generations. It also jointly examines the effect of age and length of stay in the United States on attitudes. Data is sourced via survey and semi-structured interviews from one hundred and twenty-four Yorùbá-English bilinguals residing in New York, Maryland and Texas. Results indicate a positive attitude toward HL use and maintenance among older immigrants (in spite of perceived negative attitudes) compared to the younger ones. Also, findings on attitude toward language maintenance vary depending on the immigrant’s age. Further inferential analysis reveals that age and length of stay are not significant on attitude items collectively but are significant on selected attitude elements.

KEYWORDS:

• Language attitude
• heritage language
• Yoruba-English bilinguals
• Nigerian immigrants
• migration
• language maintenance

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

¹ Gbeborun in Yorùbá parlance means to gossip.

² Borrow pose in Nigerian English parlance means showing off with something that is not yours.