LINGUISTIC DIFFERENCES IN LANGUAGE USE: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE USE OF IGBO LANGUAGE. A CASE STUDY OF NWANGELE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE

ABSTRACT

The investigation of this study is on gender differences in language use in Igbo. The study argues that the way men and women speak in Igbo language shows that gender inequality still operates in Igbo-land. The researcher adopts participant-observation technique. The methods of data collection used include oral interview and personal observation. The result of the study proves that sex is a strong linguistic variable that affects speech in Igbo-land and that women in Igbo land are constrained from using certain words or expressions, especially in social gatherings, comprising men and women. The study further reveals that the speech of men and women differ in Igbo land in the sense that there are many expressions that are peculiar to men which women are not expected to use. The study concludes that the differences observed in the speech of men and women in Igbo land serve as evidence of inequality between men and women in Igbo community as in most other societies despite the declarations, agreements, conventions and the commitments of the various governments aimed at putting an end to all sorts of discrimination.