LANGUAGE VARIATION IN GENDER RELATIONS IN URHOBO LANGUAGE

ABSTRACT

The study is on Language Variation in gender relations in Urhobo Language. In Urhobo speech community, there are consistent characteristics of male and female language use depending on the context of situation. Date for this study was collected between 2021-2022 from competent native speaker of the language in Warri, Delta State. The theoretical framework for this study is dominance theory findings revealed that men are more direct, less polite and brief of sentences while women, are of emotional reference, high politeness and longevity in speech. The study, therefore, recommends equality of language amongst the Urhobo people no matter the context.