Language Endangerment : The Example of Yoruba and Igbo Languages in Africa

This paper explicates how societies thrive amidst a multiplicity of languages in particular cultural, social, economic, political and religious contexts, resulting, invariably in linguistic inequality which affects language attitude, language shift and subsequently, language endangerment. Using 2 major Nigerian languages, namely Yoruba and Igbo, the paper picks the UNESCO (2003) overview of language endangerment, among others; underlying ideology; attitude of the speakers of both languages; and a checklist modified for the purpose of this study to place language endangerment in its proper perspective.  Literature reviews cover historical, cultural, religious and social aspects as well as selected previous studies on this subject. The peculiar challenges presented by religious-cultural and socio-political practices to language use in a country like Nigeria are highlighted particularly when the society is expected to ensure that languages change to outwit change in terms of adequate allocation of functions. The paper observes that indigenous languages in Nigeria have become endangered while English language continues to flourish.