BILINGUALISM AND PERSONALITY GROUP DYNAMICS: A NIGERIAN (IGBANKE) CASE STUDY

Abstract

In socio-psycholinguistics, the phenomenon of bilingualism is well known as a significant variable posing cultural, political, economic and educational problems at both personal and group levels. This paper addresses itself specifically to some o f the socio-psychological pro­blems experienced by a particular border-bilingual community in Nigeria — Igbanke in Bendel State of Nigeria. The historical antecedents as well as the current existential situation of “cultural am bivalence” and “political instrumentalism” of the Igbanke people are briefly ex­amined and analysed. It was also noted that this state of affairs is fairly common among border communities in Bendel State in particular and in Nigeria generally, and that further extensive as well as in-depth studies in this field would be useful for both research and practical purposes.