Joyce Terumbur Dankaro1* and Patricia Hembadoon Agoom2
There has been an appalling use of Tiv language among some of its younger generation of speakers and writers, as evidenced in their attempts to use the language on social networks and other media. This development could be attributed to the absence of the oral culture, where families no longer spend quality time in telling moonlight stories, which has been overtaken by other forms of relaxation. The position of this paper was to highlight the Tiv oral poetry and the benefits that accrue to children who are exposed to very rich oral language backgrounds in their mother tongue and in learning a second language. Towards reviving the oral culture, it was recommended that debates should be organized on topical issues in Tiv language, screen plays should be made out of popular Tiv folktales. An annual folktale competition for families and individuals should also be considered as a way of rekindling interest in the oral culture.
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