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Cultural Influence On Language
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background of the Study
Generally, language is a distinctive code of communication. Language
according to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English is a system of
communication by written or spoken words which is used by the people of a
particular country or area. Agbedo (2003) puts it that language is the
pivot on which all human activities, ranging from the most prosaic to
the most profound revolve. What he meant is that language touches the
entire aspect of an individual’s life
Language provides the
unique medium through which the belief system, world view, moral values
and virtually all the basic ingredients of any given society are passed
on from generation to generation.
Every society has a set
of values and norms that governs the behaviour of the members and their
languages and as well ensure peace and order in the society. These
values and norms are cultural to the people. Culture which is the
people’s way of life provides order and guidance for social behaviour
and stability among changes.
Ohaozara Community in Ohaozara
Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has a unique and rich cultural
heritage which direct and guide the life and language of Ohaozara
people. Culture influence on the people of Ohaozara can be appreciated
in the tradition of the people’s taboos as moral restraints. This is
because their ancestors are too religious.
The people of
Ohaozara believe that the custodian of morality and the ancestors as the
agents of maintaining the moral laws is the earth goddess “Alaâ€. The
moral codes make known the do’s and don’ts of the community. The don’ts
are known as the “taboos or “Nso ala†by the people.
There
are things that are forbidden by the Ohaozara people. Therefore the
community hates and frowns at those things in order to live peacefully
among the community members.
One has to seriously observe
those don’ts because breaking them attracts punishments from the earth
goddess and their cohorts.
1.1 Historical and Geographical Background of the Study
The area of study is Ohaozara. It is a Local Government Area of Ebonyi
State, Nigeria. Its headquarter is in the town of Obiozara, Uburu. It
has other towns like Ugwulangwu, Uburu, Okposi in the Local Government
Area. It is located at the South East of Abakaliki. It has an area of
312 km and a population of 148, 626 as of the 2006 census.
The most striking physical feature of Ohaozara is the Okposi and Uburu salt lake.
For a living, the Ohaozara have two major occupations; farming (which
is strictly reserved for the men), and salt production (which is under
proscription in favour of the women) in the past, these two occupations
made Ohaozara self-supporting and contented.
It is obvious
from the position of the town that her alluvial soils would be rich. Yam
farming, became so highly developed that a piece of land was under
cultivation every year. Five months after yams are harvested, the land
was cleared for planting the alternative crop-cocoyam. Nowadays, it is
cassava that is alternated with yams. This attachment to yams continues
now in spite of a boost in rich farming.
Salt production
has supplemented Ohaozara economics since that discovery of the
so-called salt lakes by two hunters, Ekuma Chita and Uta Ano. Since
then, the women have produced salt by a process beyond the scope of this
work.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 3]
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The existence of taboo and sexism in Ohaozara dialect have be
established. It is in the area of describing how culture influences
language that constitutes issues of discuss in this research work. This
work serves as an insight into the behaviour of language as it is bend,
controlled and molded by the culture of Ohaozara people. Culture as a
crucial part of human life is the shared patterns of behaviours and
interaction, cognitive, constructive and affective understanding that
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