ABSTRACT
Previously, the area of language shift and attitude has received a lot of attention by linguists and scholars. The focus of most of such endeavors has been to establish the extent at which language shift from one language to another by bilingual speakers is determined by the attitudes given to the languages.
This sociolinguistic study in same vein is aimed at examining how various language attitudes determine language shift. The various attitudes towards language range from positive to negative. This research is posed to establish how the language attitudes given to Edo by the language speakers in Benin City determine the status of the language.
In this study, the researcher adopts the descriptive theoretical framework. Using this framework the researcher describes the language samples collected using the questionnaire method of data collection.
Through this linguistic investigation, the researcher discovered that the attitude of Edo speakers in Benin City towards the language is that of negativity hence there is a high degree of shift from the use of the language to Nigerian pidgin and English.
This research concludes that there are many factors that determine language shift however language attitude is one of the most effective determinant of language shift. It is stated in this research that if immediate steps are not taken towards the revival of Edo language use in Benin City, there will be a total language shift to Nigerian pidgin and English by edo language speakers in the city. This will consequently result to Edo language loss or language death in the nearest future.
