LANGUAGE CONTACT AND LANGUAGE SHIFT IN BEKWARRA

ABSTRACT
The goal of this work is to investigate the situation of language shift and language contact in Bekwarra as they occur amongst the members of Bekwarra language community. In the course of the investigation, we observed that there is contact between the Bekwarra and Obudu community.
This is as a result of inter-marriage and inter-trade situation and this is why there is similarity in spoken words between these two communities.
Ethnolinguistic vitality theory was employed in oyr investigation, this theory was adopted because it was considered the drive to maintain distinctive identities or otherwise, in group contact situation. Data were collected and used to test the assumption of vitality perception of members of the Bekwarra community and facts were revealed.