ABSTRACT
This study titled, Language Endangerment: A case of Ora, was aimed at ascertaining the level of vitality of Ora language. It was intended to enable us accurately determine the level of language endangerment associated with Ora language, and the factors that have significant impact on language endangerment.
Both primary and secondary data were used in this work, with a leaning towards the earlier source. A total of 80 questionnaires were distributed among the seven major locations of Ora-speaking people of Owan and the Diaspora. The analysis of data in this work was done through the use of simple percentages and chi-square. While the first represents descriptive statistic, the second is the inferential statistical tool that helped us to ascertain the percentage levels at which we could make conclusive judgment, and also to ascertain the relationship between some variables in the work.
We found that Ora is moderately endangered, but could slip into the category of highly endangered languages if the current trend is not halted. We also found that whereas the position on the urban-rural continuum does not have any significant impact on the level of language endangerment of Ora; the trio of language prestige, the domains of use and the frequency of code switching do. We therefore recommended that the community leaders should concentrate on increasing the domain of use of Ora, improve the prestige of Ora and discourage code switching among her people.
