Empirical Analysis of Hausa Language Attrition Among Second-Generation Migrants in Lagos

Language attrition in diaspora communities is a complex process influenced by inter-generational transmission patterns, dominant language pressure, and the strength of ethnic community institutions. This study conducts an empirical analysis of Hausa language attrition among second-generation Hausa migrants in Lagos, examining the linguistic and social factors determining the degree of attrition observed. A cross-sectional sociolinguistic research design was employed, collecting data from 280 second-generation Hausa individuals between the ages of 18 and 35 across Sabon Gari, Mushin, and Ojota communities in Lagos. A battery of Hausa language proficiency measures encompassing vocabulary knowledge, oral production fluency, grammatical accuracy, and pragmatic competence was administered. Sociolinguistic background questionnaires captured variables including parental Hausa proficiency, frequency of Hausa interaction in the home, attendance at Quranic schools, and social network composition. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors of Hausa proficiency scores. Findings reveal significant attrition across all measured domains, with pragmatic competence and idiomatic knowledge showing the greatest attrition relative to basic communicative vocabulary. Parental Hausa proficiency and frequency of home Hausa use are the strongest predictors of retained proficiency, while Quranic school attendance contributes positively to formal register maintenance. Peer social network composition significantly predicts proficiency level, with those embedded in predominantly Yoruba peer networks showing faster attrition. The study contributes original empirical data to the understudied field of Hausa attrition in southern Nigerian diaspora contexts. Keywords: Hausa language attrition, Second-generation migrants, Lagos, Sociolinguistics, Language maintenance.