Language As Capital
Conference: ISA 22nd Annual International Conference (2025)
Presenter(s): Egwunwoke Chibueze Obi
Tags: 2025 Egwunwoke Chibueze Obi Ladder Press Nigeria Limited Lagos Ogba Ikeja
Abstract
Whereas language is a constant in every community or environment; even the society at large, and so it is irreplaceable, since we have to communicate and exist and live, it could be said to be a social capital, as Igbo language is one of them. It is cultural capital useful in negotiation with speakers of other languages. The Igbo language as capital is considered an inherited wealth for native speakers and an object of desire for foreigners. It is also advantageous in the language politics of published books sold in the international market. A thought is a silent word and a word is a thought spoken or manifested. Language could be taken to mean chosen words, sounds and styles of communication between people in a given environment or society. It is a means of connection, understanding and unity between people as they relate to each other. This paper would seek to show what is inherent in the Igbo language as a capital and what we should do to preserve it. Conscious efforts should be made by Igbo people and communities to see how to remedy the decline of the language and up our games in preserving it. If the above is true and could form a discourse, why then are Igbo homes which should be natural language achieves be converted to havens for English language and their teachings?
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