Language Shift and Maintenance: A Case of Ahanta Language

This paper adopts mixed method research design which aims to study the factors responsible for the shift of Ahanta language to the other contact languages such as Fante and English. It also seeks to suggest systematic ways of maintaining the Ahanta language from hitting language death. The paper adopted Batibo’s (2005) causality–based theory as underpinning theory to do a rigorous analysis of the phenomenon. With this in mind the researcher is set to test the hypothesis of language shift on Ahanta language, identify factors that are responsible for the shift of Ahanta speakers, and if possible, how their language (Ahanta) could be maintained for posterity to come meet the language alive. Sociolinguistic data was collected from forty natives of Ahanta who have lived in Ahanta communities for the past fifteen years through open-ended questionnaire, participant and non-participant observation. The paper concluded that ‘language shift’ as a phenomenon is prevalent among the Ahantas and that Fante as a contact language is used alongside the Ahanta within the Ahanta speech communities which in effect had created diglossia within Ahanta communities. The paper suggested at the level of maintenance that natives of Ahanta should develop positive attitude towards Ahanta and also to sensitize natives on the repercussions on failure to pass Ahanta language to the younger generation. The paper recommends Auburger’s proficiency resistance model by using strict diglossia situation as well as encouraging natives of Ahanta to be in united front in making Ahanta a dominant language within their speech community.