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Original Research Article

Language as a Carrier of Culture: An Ethnolinguistic Study of The Tangale People in Gombe State, Nigeria

Abubakar Alhaji Shuwa, Abdullahi Garba, Hussaina Modibbo Abubakar

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Abubakar Alhaji Shuwa Corresponding Author

Department of Languages, Nigerian Army University Biu, Borno State, Nigeria

ORCID: 0009-0009-9477-6734

Correspondence: shuwaabu@gmail.com

Received
15 Aug 2026
Published
10 Sep 2026

Abstract

Language is widely recognized as a primary vehicle for transmitting cultural knowledge, shaping social behavior and preserving communal identity. This paper examined the role of the Tangale language in carrying and sustaining the cultural heritage of the Tangale people of Gombe State, Nigeria. Employing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 120 respondents, including elders, youths, and cultural practitioners, through structured questionnaires and oral interviews. Both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and ethnolinguistic content analysis of proverbs, folktales and idioms. The findings reveal that the Tangale language is widely used in storytelling, traditional ceremonies, proverbs, greetings and praise poetry, serving as a central medium for transmitting moral values, communal norms and indigenous knowledge. Chi-square analysis showed that knowledge of cultural expressions does not significantly vary across age groups, indicating effective intergenerational transmission. Despite the influence of modernization and dominant languages, the Tangale language remains resilient, with the majority of respondents affirming its importance in preserving cultural identity. The study concludes that the Tangale language is not merely a communication tool but a repository of cultural wisdom, social ethics and collective memory.

Keywords: Tangale Language, Culture, Ethnolinguistics, and Indigenous Knowledge.

How to Cite

APA

Shuwa, A. A., Garba, A., & Abubakar, H. M. (2026). Language as a Carrier of Culture: An Ethnolinguistic Study of The Tangale People in Gombe State, Nigeria. Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies, 1(7). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22683813

MLA

Shuwa, Abubakar Alhaji, Abdullahi Garba, and Hussaina Modibbo Abubakar. "Language as a Carrier of Culture: An Ethnolinguistic Study of The Tangale People in Gombe State, Nigeria." Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies, vol. 1, no. 7, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22683813

Chicago

Shuwa, Abubakar Alhaji, Abdullahi Garba, and Hussaina Modibbo Abubakar. "Language as a Carrier of Culture: An Ethnolinguistic Study of The Tangale People in Gombe State, Nigeria." Journal of Contemporary Academic Research and Methodologies 1, no. 7 (2026). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22683813

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ISSN 3139-7247
Tracking ID JCARM_AUG_26_040
Article No. 008
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Article Info
Journal JCARM
Volume Vol 1, No 7
Year 2026
Type Original Research Article
Licence CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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