Keyword : Language attitudes, language ideologies, ethnographic questionnaire, matched-guise test, stereotypes, small-scale multilingualism
Author(s) : Angiachi D. Esene Agwara
Abstract :
This study, informed by field research and results from an adapted form of matched-guise technique test, investigates whether stereotypes (i.e., social categorizations) shape language attitudes of speakers from the Missong village in the Lower Fungom area in rural North-West Cameroon, which is known to be a context of small-scale multilingualism. The study is based on data collected from both interviews and MGT. Semi-structured interviews were made using an ethnographically-informed questionnaire developed to capture information about respondents’ social affiliations and motivations for being multilingual. The matched-guise test sought to explore the evaluation reactions of listeners towards local languages, taking into consideration linguistic ideologies. Out of the 77 multilingual individuals from Missong interviewed, 31 (aged 23-92) were tested on their language attitudes using a culturally-adapted MGT test. Data were analyzed and interpreted on three axes: linguistic similarity, geographical proximity, and sociological factors. The findings of the study provide results about the language attitudes of Missong speakers and deal with some significant methodological insights. For the former, unlike what is found in the literature, the main factors shaping Missong speakers’ language attitudes are not stereotypical categorizations, but rather considerations of relational qualities. As for the latter, the inclusion of relational traits in the MGT captures locally salient features, calling for a deeper problematization of how to design MGT tests when targeting contexts of small-scale multilingualism. The study first represents one of the very few attempts to adapt the MGT to a small-scale multilingual context. Secondly, it shows how attitude judgments may not necessarily be rooted in social stereotypes. The results add to the body of language attitude research and question the validity of existing scholarly discourses on the importance of stereotypes as determining factors in people’s language attitudes
Patriarchal Stereotypes and Feminine Resistance in Flora Nwapa’s Efuru
Solomon Awuzie, PhD; Chilenwa Ignatius Metu• & Uche Benedict Uraih, PhD
Ontological Analysis of Gender Disparity Factors in Nigerian Sports Journalism
Pius Owoicho Ogwuche; Professor Cosmos I. Eze; Professor Shamsuddeen Mohammed & Mahmud Umar Muhammed, PhD
Influence of Television Messages on the Knowledge and Adoption of Agricultural Innovation among Farmers in Kwara State, Nigeria
Ucheanya Florence; Tsegyu Santas & Muhammad Sani Rabiu
Influence of Demographics of Age and Educational Attainments on Online Newspaper Readership among Civil Servants in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Sunday Jessie Antai; Prof. Church Akpan & Bassey Esuk Bassey, Ph.D
Perception of South-East Women on 2024 Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment’s Media Campaign Messages on Adaptation and Mitigation of Heat Waves
Obini Onuchukwu & Prof. Angela Nkiru Nwammuo, PhD
Evaluation of Social Media Influence on Benin City Residents' Perception of the 2024 Okuama Bloodbath in Delta State, Nigeria
Josephine Osatohanmwen Adeyeye, PhD•; Adédèjì Fred Aríjeníwà & Emeke Precious Nwaoboli
Comparative Analysis of Social Media and Church Influence on Obidient Movement in 2023 General Elections and its Diplomatic Impacts on Domestic and International Interest
Blessed F. Ngonso, PhD; Chioma Njoku, PhD; Amah Maclean Williams PhD; Onyedikachi Stanley Onovo & Uche Benedict Uraih, PhD
IJALMS Vol. 5, No. 1 2025 Preliminary Pages
IJALMS
Comparative Analysis of Social Media and Church Influence on Obidient Movement in 2023 General Elections and its Diplomatic Impacts on Domestic and International Interest
Blessed F. Ngonso, PhD; Chioma Njoku, PhD; Amah Maclean Williams PhD; Onyedikachi Stanley Onovo & Uche Benedict Uraih, PhD
IJALMS Vol. 5. No 1 June 2025 Preliminary Pages
IJALMS
Community Perception and Evaluation of Corporate Social Responsibility Activities by the Oil Producing Companies in Bayelsa State
Seiyefa Clifford Wilson; Andrew Asan Ate; Wilfred Oritsesan Olley & Ewomazino Daniel Akpor
Public Perception of Political Disinformation and Trust in Mainstream Media during Electoral Campaigns in Nigeria
Wilfred Oritsesan Olley & Okoro Ferdinand Eloke
Evaluation of the Public Relations Strategies Adopted by Candidates of Select Political Parties during the 2023 Presidential Elections in Nigeria
Abimiku, Monday Sunday; Josiah, Sabo Kente PhD & Muhammad, Sani Rabiu PhD
Employee-Management Relations and Productivity in Select Government Ministries in Akwa Ibom State
Blessing Ufot Urua
Journalists’ Perspective of Fact-checking Applications in Curbing Fake News in Nigeria
Arikenbi, Peter Gbenga & Ikharo Seluman