Instructional Approaches for the Integration of Cultural Elements in Indigenous. Language Classroom: A Case Study of the Bafut Language (Published)
Language teaching involves culture teaching. This study examines mother tongue teachers’ opinions on the integration of culture elements in the mother tongue classroom. It investigates instructional strategies used by mother tongue teachers in the integration of cultural elements in indigenous language classroom. The study made use of focus group interview with 10 mother tongue literacy teachers. Six key informants were also interviewed. The results showed that, language is a product of culture and must be incorporated as an essential aspect of mother tongue learning and teaching. The results also indicated that, both the mother tongue teachers, and the key informants employ a variety of approaches in the integration of cultural elements in the mother tongue classroom. It is only when cultural elements become an integral part of mother tongue curriculum and instruction, that learners acquire both cultural and communicative competence.
Citation: Nchang C.N. and Bechem E.P.C. (2022) Instructional Approaches for the Integration of Cultural Elements in Indigenous. Language Classroom: A Case Study of the Bafut Language, International Journal of English Language and Linguistics Research, Vol.10, No 5, pp.1-14
Keywords: Culture, Indigenous Language, Integration, cultural elements, instructional approaches
Instructional Approaches for the Integration of Cultural Elements in Indigenous. Language Classroom: A Case Study of the Bafut Language (Published)
Language teaching involves culture teaching. This study examines mother tongue teachers’ opinions on the integration of culture elements in the mother tongue classroom. It investigates instructional strategies used by mother tongue teachers in the integration of cultural elements in indigenous language classroom. The study made use of focus group interview with 10 mother tongue literacy teachers. Six key informants were also interviewed. The results showed that, language is a product of culture and must be incorporated as an essential aspect of mother tongue learning and teaching. The results also indicated that, both the mother tongue teachers, and the key informants employ a variety of approaches in the integration of cultural elements in the mother tongue classroom. It is only when cultural elements become an integral part of mother tongue curriculum and instruction, that learners acquire both cultural and communicative competence.
Keywords: Culture, Indigenous Language, Integration, cultural elements, instructional approaches
Language Endangerment, Shifting Cultural Identities and Revitalization Efforts (Published)
This article attempts to offer a broad perspective on the link between language, culture, and identity across a multiplex of social groups. The relationship between language endangerment, death, and the potential impact on cultural identity is examined. Through the analysis of four pertinent research studies, the microcosmic connection between language and cultural identity is explored in several contexts and across several cultural fields. In particular, the positive and negative effects of a person’s perceived dominant language is examined at length. The researchers conclude that language indeed impacts cultural identity, and vast collaborative efforts regarding language endangerment awareness, maintenance, and restoration need to be undertaken
Keywords: Culture, Identity, collaborative efforts, language endangerment, language maintenance, language restoration
Adaptations and Linguistic Manipulation of English Words in Alaroye Newspaper (Published)
Language is an important vehicle of thought and culture and people’s cultural identity is embedded in their language. Nigeria is a multilingual nation and English which has become a global language serves various functions in the country. It enjoys dominance in different levels and it is employed in the media as a source of disseminating information to the people. The data for this research were derived from one edition of Alaroye newspaper and analysed using Labov’s variability concept which stresses how language systems affect one another within a speech community. A total number of 66 words were identified from the newspaper for analysis. The Alaroye is a weekly indigenous newspaper written in Yoruba language and it has been chosen for this study because of its use of the deviant form and style of writing. The study revealed that many English words have been incorporated into the Yoruba language and such expressions dominate the Alaroye newspaper as journalists modify English words to fit into Yoruba expressions. This paper investigates the usage of these words in preference to their natural equivalents in the Yoruba language to reveal the great influence of the English language; its dominance over the Yoruba language and the attendant effects on the Yoruba language and concludes that English influence on the Yoruba language has greatly affected its orthography as the incursion of these English words will likely, in the nearest future change the normal or natural way in which the Yoruba language is written and used.
Keywords: Alaroye newspaper, Culture, English, Yoruba, language change
Linguistic Politeness Forms in English among Igbo Bilinguals in Nigeria: The Case of Reprimand (Published)
The study examined Igbo perception and expression of reprimand speech act in line with politeness as a conversation strategy in the conversational English of Igbo native speakers which is unexplored. Through a purposive sampling process, 3 000 questionnaires in the form of Discourse Completion Task depicting ten scenarios of imagined role-play between interlocutors written in English were distributed to undergraduates of Igbo extraction at seven universities systematically selected from South-East and South-South zones in Nigeria. Results showed that reprimands were conversational norms of Igbo bilinguals and were evident in their English language conversations as participants engaged in reprimanding occasioned by forms of misconduct. Findings also revealed that to achieve the conversational demands of reprimand speech act across horizontal, vertical and diagonal relationships as the case may be, the Igbo culture reflected observance of context, social status, social distance and severity of offence variables a consideration of which at the instance of a conversation underlies the choice/use of a particular strategy or another. The study concluded that speech act is culture-bound hence the need to incorporate pragmatics in language teaching
Keywords: : linguistic politeness, Culture, Igbo bilinguals, Nigeria, Social variables, reprimand
The Treatment of Cultural Content in an Integrated English Course 1 for Chinese College English Majors (Published)
This paper presents a cultural analysis of the textbook “An Integrated English Course 1” that is widely used by college English majors in China. Based on the previous studies on culture teaching and materials evaluation, the paper has examined the textbook and found out that it is aimed at introducing western cultures, especially American culture to Chinese students. Although the textbook has a strong orientation towards American culture in the selecting of texts, it takes an intercultural point of view in the designing of some activities and exercises. The paper emphasizes the intercultural approach to textbook writing and EFL teaching.
Keywords: Culture, Intercultural View, Language Course, Textbook, Treatment.
Translating Arabic Proper Names: A Foreignising Approach (Published)
The recent increase in random approaches to translating Arabic proper names into English has led to serious discrepancies in their transliterations as well as difficulties and problems in identifying one’s identity. This paper is an attempt to shed light on this phenomenon and to investigate the many problems and difficulties encountered in transliterating Arabic proper names in birth, marriage, passport and other personal documents. Venuti’s Foreignisation Approach, a theoretical framework for standardisation of the transliteration of Arabic proper names, was used for analysis and discussion. Results of the analysis and discussion of samples in this paper have indicated that there is an urgent need for a mechanism in order to help use a standardised profile for transliterating Arabic proper names all around the Arab world. To achieve this objective, a list of suggestions was made for use by those in authority and those interested in carrying out further research in this field.
Keywords: Arabic Proper Names, Authoritative Standardization, Culture, Domestication, Foreignisation, Problems, Transliteration
Representation Of Changing Indegenous Values In Pakistani Society: An Analysis of Raffat’s Poetry (Published)
This study deals with the post colonial analysis of Raffat’s poetry and it shows how he used hyberditity, mimicry, of colonialism, imperialism and effect of colonial era and colonizers on the native culture, education and their historical roots. His poems show deep glimpse of colonial effects and he highlights them through symbols and similes and other literary forms. This study aims to analyze Raffat’s portrayal of the colonial experience touching upon the issues of colonial ideology and the link between culture and imperialism, mimicry, hybridity and the representation of changing indigenous values of Pakistani society. The study aims to establish its intention that Raffat’s poetry plays an integral role to unveil the condition of Pakistani people after colonization.
Keywords: Colonialism, Culture, Eastern Images, Hybridity, Indigenous, Mimicry, postcolonial
Literature as Instrument for Development: A Survey of Sembene Ousmane’s Guelwaar (Published)
That there is a relationship between literature and a society, which produces it, is no longer news. However, the extent of the perceived interconnectivity between literature and its milieu remains a serious argument among literary theorists, historians and other practitioners of creative arts generally. In an attempt to contribute to the debate on the meeting point between literature and the environment which paves the way for its creation and production, we examine Sembène Ousmane’s Guelwaar with the view that Art is not only for its own sake and purpose but also for the development of the society, which it claims it is a product of. This paper therefore is premised on the pragmatic approach which stresses that literature performs certain functions. The paper concludes that literature is a potential tool for sustainable developments in various human societies.
Keywords: Corruption, Culture, Development, Empowerment, Literature, Society, Woman Emancipation