LANGUAGE VARIATION IN A MULTICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT: A CASE STUDY OF YORUBA SPEAKING COMMUNITY IN SABON - GARI, KANO STATE
Abstract
This study explores language variation within the Yoruba-speaking community in Sabon-gari, Kano State, Nigeria, a multicultural urban setting. The research investigates how Yoruba adapts to linguistic and cultural diversity, focusing on patterns of variation, sociocultural influences, and identity negotiation. Utilizing a qualitative research design, data were collected through structured questionnaires from 200 participants, selected via stratified random sampling to represent diverse demographics. Thematic analysis revealed that Yoruba remains dominant in domestic and informal settings but undergoes significant variation in public spaces due to contact with English, Nigerian Pidgin, and Hausa. Key findings include extensive code-switching, lexical borrowing, and hybrid linguistic forms, particularly among younger speakers, driven by urbanization, migration, and education. These variations reflect both cultural preservation and adaptation, with Yoruba maintaining strong symbolic value as an identity marker despite linguistic transformations. The study concludes that Yorubas vitality lies in its dynamic adaptability, offering insights for language policy and preservation in multilingual African contexts. Recommendations include enhancing Yoruba education, media production, and community initiatives to support its evolving role in multicultural environments.
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