Investigating Language Shift Among Efik Speakers in Calabar: Causes and Sociolinguistic Implications

This study investigates the causes and sociolinguistic implications of language shift among Efik speakers in Calabar, Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Efik, historically a prestigious trade and literary language in the Niger Delta and Lower Cross River region, is experiencing accelerated shift toward English and Nigerian Pidgin, particularly among younger urban residents of Calabar. The research employs a descriptive survey design guided by the theoretical framework of ethnolinguistic vitality. Data were collected from 180 participants across three age cohorts using a structured questionnaire and supplementary ethnographic interviews. The questionnaire assessed patterns of language use across social domains including home, peer interaction, religious practice, and formal education. Findings reveal that language shift is most pronounced among participants aged 18 to 35, with English dominating all formal domains and Pidgin replacing Efik in most informal peer interactions. Parental language attitudes and the absence of Efik in secondary school curricula are identified as the most significant drivers of intergenerational shift. The study further identifies the Efik literary and cultural association as a significant but under-resourced site of language revitalisation. The research contributes to the documentation of language shift dynamics in the South South zone and recommends formal inclusion of Efik in the Cross River State school curriculum. Keywords: language shift, Efik, Calabar, ethnolinguistic vitality, Cross River State.