Bilingualism and biculturalism: A study of English and Igbo in Ideato North and South Local Government Areas, Imo State, Nigeria

This paper studies the sociolinguistic influences and outcomes of two languages in contact- the English Language and the Igbo Language in Ideato North and South Local Government Areas. The study examined the culture of these people within the study area since language is essential in the transmission and propagation of culture. Data for the study were sourced through a customized checklist, by native intuition of the researcher as a native speaker of Igbo and by researcher’s participation in actual setting of communicative events. The sociolinguistic study showed the presence of such concepts as bilingualism, biculturalism, code-switching, code-mixing in the linguistic repertoire of the areas. Though, it is clearly evident that the Igbo Language is predominantly used in situational and contextual domains, English which is seen as “bread and butter” is used more in significant domains of human endeavors as revealed in most of the communicative events discussed. The research showcased the benefits of bilingualism and biculturalism such as speaking multiple languages helps in communicating with different people and understanding different cultures. The study also underscores the importance of economic, social, educational and political needs. The results of the research only apply to both local government area and the benefits to society at large .Against the fear that the rapid spread of the English language in the areas may possibly jeopardize the use of the Igbo language, the study proved from every cultural index explored and dissected that the Igbo language is still leading in the aggregate uses in the two Local Government Areas.