Author(s)

Onuh Nneoma Christiana

Department of English & Literary Studies, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of bilingual attributes on self-identity of English learners among Igbo speaking senior secondary students in Owerri, Nigeria. The study sampled 540 students, randomly selected from some secondary schools in Owerri. The study used a questionnaire as means of data collection, and the data were analysed by using quantitative method of descriptive statistics. Results showed that the subtractive and additive attributes of bilingualism influenced the self-identity, and status of the L1 among respondents. Results also showed that high percentage of the respondents strongly agreed that the subtractive attribute has made them to acquire English more than Igbo, their mother language. However, high percentage of the respondents also agreed that the additive attribute of the bilingualism has enable them to acquire better the language and culture of Igbo as well as the English. From the findings in the study, it is important that there should be strong policy by government to emphasize adequately on the additive bilingualism, so as to protect Igbo language from going into extinction.

Subtractive, Additive, Bilingualism, Self-Identity, Igbo, Mother-Tongue, English, Language

Christiana, O. (2022) Impact of Bilingual Attributes on Self-Identity of English Learners in Owerri, Nigeria. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 12, 537-547. doi: 10.4236/ojml.2022.125039.