VARIATION AND LANGUAGE CHANGE IN EDO

ABSTRACT

This study examines variation and language change in Edo the case study of Benin and Esan. Two research objectives were setup for this study which are; to determine the pattern of variation and linguistic change in the Edo culture and to examine the factors influencing variation and language change in the Edo culture. The research design adopted for the study is qualitative approach. The data was collected through interview and focus group discussion. Snow ball method is predominantly used to get the sample for study. Data was analyzed using frequency table. Data collected from the interview, revealed that Socio-cultural contacts, Influence of Neighbouring languages, Personal Needs, Educational Status and age and Locations are the factors responsible for the variation and change in the Benin and Esan and language. Application of Utterance Selection Theory of language change which deals with sound alteration and change to the data obtained revealed that dynamic sound change observable in contemporary Edo language, is due to relatively weak alveolar lateral approximant and is currently being outright deleted in any position of the words in which it occurs, seems to be supported by the relative stability of the strong forms in contemporary Esan language.