Language Use Patterns in Igbo-English Bilingual Homes in Enugu State

The vitality of indigenous Nigerian languages in urban bilingual households is increasingly challenged by the prestige and institutional dominance of English, making the study of home language use patterns a matter of both linguistic and cultural urgency. This study investigates language use patterns in Igbo-English bilingual households in Enugu State, examining which language is used in parent-child interaction, sibling communication, and household religious practices. A survey questionnaire was administered to one hundred and twenty households selected from urban and peri-urban areas of Enugu metropolis, supplemented by follow-up interviews with twenty family heads. The study draws on recent language maintenance and shift frameworks applied to urban African contexts. Findings reveal a pronounced age-related pattern in which parents over fifty report predominantly Igbo use in domestic communication, while those between twenty-five and forty-five report predominantly English use with their children, particularly in educated middle-class households. Sibling communication among children shows the highest rates of English dominance, with Igbo appearing mainly in ritualized greetings and interactions with elderly family members. Religious practices show the greatest Igbo retention, with traditional ceremony contexts maintaining Igbo almost exclusively. The study argues that current patterns, if maintained, are consistent with incipient language shift among urban Enugu youth. It recommends a family language policy approach that empowers parents to make deliberate decisions about home language transmission. Keywords: language maintenance, bilingual households, Igbo, Enugu State, language shift.