| Abstract: |
This study investigated The Language of Food Production in South-East Nigeria in a Digital Society,
guided by four objectives. A mixed-method design was employed, with data collected via validated
web-based questionnaires across five states (reliability coefficient = 0.79) and analyzed using
descriptive statistics and thematic interpretation within the framework of Ethnolinguistic Vitality
Theory (EVT). Findings reveal that indigenous agricultural vocabulary and oral traditions remain
central to cultural identity and food production, with terms such as Ji (yam), Akpu (cassava), and Ogu
(hoe) embodying symbolic values of prestige, food security, and agrarian ethics. Proverbs and farming
songs continue to transmit ecological consciousness and cooperative values. At the same time, digital
platforms, social media, online communities, archives, and video-sharing tools, are reshaping food
communication, offering opportunities for preservation but also posing risks of linguistic erosion.
Technology plays a dual role: recording devices, archives, and storytelling tools support preservation,
yet reliance on English and limited local-language content threatens indigenous vocabulary.
Respondents recommended strategic interventions including local-language mobile applications,
digital literacy training, multimedia documentation of festivals, and institutional advocacy through
government and NGOs. These strategies highlight the potential of digital tools to sustain indigenous
knowledge while promoting agricultural innovation. |
EBONYI JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
