DIGLOSSIA GENDER-BASED BENDI LANGUAGE: THE UBANG COMMUNITY WHERE BOTH SEXES COMMUNICATE IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

Abstract

Language serves as a vital conduit for reflecting and shaping the sociocultural realities of communities. This study explores gender-based variation in Ubang’s unique linguistic structure, characterised by its dual gender-based lexicons. Existing literature suggests that while gendered language distinctions are common, Ubang represents a rare case where both sexes utilise divergent core lexicons that go well beyond gendered speech differences. Adopting a qualitative, ethnographic approach, data collection involved semi-structured interviews with 60 informants (30 men and 30 women), with observation across domestic and social contexts, and the compilation of comparative wordlists and syntactic paradigms to discern gender-based lexical and grammatical contrasts. The work facilitated triangulation and rich descriptive insights into the linguistic practices of Ubang speakers. Findings reveal that men and women use largely non-cognate terms across a broad spectrum of basic nouns, adjectives, and verbs, differences that permeate domestic, social, and ceremonial spaces. Socialisation is pivotal: children acquire their mother’s lexicon before transitioning to gender-specific speech as adolescents. The community perceives this system as a critical marker of identity and heritage, yet it also raises concerns as well as observations across domestic and social contexts. The compilation of comparative wordlists and syntactic paradigms was also conducted language shift amid modernisation. Immediate and sustained documentation efforts, encompassing audio-visual records, comprehensive lexical databases, and community-driven archiving, are recommended to protect and revitalise Ubang’s dual lexicon. Educational initiatives, such as curricular incorporation and language awareness campaigns, should be established to encourage youth engagement and cultural valorisation; further academic research is encouraged into the socio-psychological dimensions of Ubang’s gendered speech.