Hausa Language

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In northern Nigeria, the home of Hausawa, such socio-cultural values predominantly remain a blend of Islamic and Afro-traditional practices. The fusion of Arabo-Islamic culture among Hausawa has equally affected their language such that substantial parts of the current lexicon of the tongue is a mélange of Arabo-Islamic (religious) terminology and elements of (non-religious or secular) Arabic words existing side by side with native Hausa words through borrowing. This is attested to in the use of everyday speech by Hausawa. Single words and phrases deeply rooted in Islamic faith like the name of God (Allah) as in Don Allah/Saboda Allah (For God’s sake or Please), words of swear like Wallahi (whose short-form in certain Hausa dialects is Walla …show more content…

(b) What do you say to a Hausa person when you see something astonishing, shocking or surprising?
(c) What do you say when you learn about the death of someone?
(d) Which Hausa word or phrase is the equivalent of ‘Please’ in English?

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Hausa - name of language and ethnolinguistic group Like many other people around the world, Hausawa are by and large defined by their language. This language, which Hausawa feel so dearly about and are strongly attached to, is the lifeblood of their composite cultural and demographic developments. Hausawa believe their language is so easy that learning it takes no time, and this is reflected in their saying: ‘Hausa Ba Dabo Ba Ne’, meaning Hausa is not (a) magic (language); in other words, it is easy to learn. The idea of the ease with which Hausa can be learned by non-Hausa seem to confirm the centuries-old cultural as well as sociolinguistic trends in which numerous non-Hausawa ethnic members easily cross over into mainstream Hausa group, largely upon learning the language and/or adopting Islam as a way of life. However, the belief that Hausa language is easy is equally shared by some non-Hausa people, as Abraham (1946) clearly points out below in respect of a question: is Hausa an easy

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