Language Endangerment: Focus on Maka/Maga Language of Yobe State of Nigeria

Abstract

The study is an attempt to investigate the effects of language endangerment on Maka/Maga language with the aim of finding out the extent or level on which it is endangered. The research employed the Ethnographic Research approach that involves observing variables in their natural environments or habitats in order to arrive at objective research outcome, which, at the same time uses observation and distribution of questionnaires. The study also adopts the work of UNESCO expert committee on language endangerment (2003) as its model of approach. As part of its findings, the research discovered that the factors that cause language endangerment are: Inter Community Marriage, Lack of Research on the Endangered Languages, Globalization, Lack of Institutional Support, Cultural Background and Migration. However, the research also confirmed that Maka/Maga language is under serious threat of endangerment especially when discovered that the language suffers a case of language shift.