Dialect Variation and Standardization: A Case Study of Fulfulde in Northern Nigeria

ABSTRACT [he study was concerned with the dialect variation and standardization of Fulfulde in ~4igeria. It was guided by three (3) objectives; to show lexical variation of Fulfulde in ~4igeria, to work out a proposal for standardization and to test the acceptability of the roposal to standardize Fulfulde in Nigeria. The study used cross sectional research design vith a sample size of 105 respondents. It also employed qualitative and quantitative echniques to analyze the collected data by used of SPSS pack and the researcher used luestionnaires to collect data from respondents. Two sets of questionnaires were used; for cctures and students. The study found out that lexical variation of Fulfulde exists in Nigeria. ~Iowever, the respondents had unanimously accepted Fulfulde to be standardized, and the roposal for standardization had been worked as follows: The Fulfulde curriculum should be ~eviewed to contain only the Adamawa dialect; the Adamawa dialect should be enforced to ~e the language for the media as well as literary work and a National seminar should be held n Fulfulde to adopt the proposal for standardization. The study concluded that Adamawa ~lialect should be the dialect to be standardize and it major recommendations where ~overnrnent should review the National policy on education in respect of Fulfulde curriculum and to make it mandatory for all the dialect areas to adopt