A. Evbayiro

The aim of this study was to examine selected Igbo proverbs with a view to understanding how cultural and thematic meanings are embedded within them. The objective of the study is to identify common themes in Igbo proverbs, and explore the cultural messages they convey. Using semiotics and ethnography of communication approaches, the data for this study were collected by oral interviews with native Igbo speakers. The findings of the study reveal that Igbo proverbs are rich in cultural values, moral teachings, and traditional wisdom. The study shows that the themes embedded in the proverbs reflect societal beliefs on truth, social control, wisdom, hospitality and patience. It concludes that Igbo proverbs serve as linguistic tools for preserving culture and transmitting moral values across generations. Most of the proverbs carry deep meaning that comes from the Igbo culture and are used in everyday interactions to teach, correct, and advise, thereby reflecting the worldview of the Igbo people.

This study investigates the sociolinguistic patterns of greetings in the Ngwà dialect of the Igbo language, with the aim of identifying, documenting, and analysing the various forms, functions, and social variables influencing their use. The motivation for this research stems from the growing concern over the gradual erosion of indigenous communicative practices in Ngwà society due to modernization, language contact, and urbanization. The study adopts a qualitative ethnographic approach, involving participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and natural speech recordings from native speakers across different age, gender, and occupational groups. The analysis is grounded in Hymes’ (1972) Ethnography of Communication theory, which provided the framework for understanding the cultural, pragmatic, and interpersonal dynamics of greeting exchanges. Findings reveal that greetings in Ngwà dialect serve vital functions beyond mere phatic communion; they reinforce social hierarchy, express respect, and sustain kinship solidarity. Moreover, factors such as age, gender, and situational context significantly determine greeting choices and strategies. The study concludes that preserving Ngwà greeting traditions is crucial for maintaining both linguistic and cultural identity within the broader Igbo community.

The study aimed at investigating the revitalization of the endangered Urhobo language. The goals of the study are to develop a comprehensive revitalization plan for the Urhobo language and to preserve and promote Urhobo cultural identity. This study is motivated by a desire to preserve the indigenous Urhobo language and explore the sociolinguistic phenomena of language shift, endangerment, and revitalization. The data for the study was gathered through responses to a questionnaire conducted with 50 native speakers of the Urhobo language. For demographic information, the respondants were categorized into various age groups, gender and educational level. The data were analyzed using the Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (GIDS) framework. The findings of the study are that the Urhobo language is not well-represented in formal domains such as education,
government, and media and that data from Stages 5 and 6 indicate that while some families encourage children to learn Urhobo, the frequency of use within homes is declining. The study recommends that language immersion programs are to be implemented to enable children to learn the Urhobo language in a natural environment and implementation of community-based language initiatives is required to preserve the endangered Urhobo language.