A Contrastive Analysis of Cultural Differentiation in Ìkále and English Dialects

Some dialects in Nigeria are gradually facing extinction due to advertent or inadvertent neglect of their essential cultural and linguistic components. Addressing this concern, this study conducts a contrastive analysis of the cultural differentiation between Ìkál?? (a dialectal variety of the Yoruba language) and the English language (Nigeria’s official language). Data were collected from adult native speakers of the Ìkál?? dialect, aged fifty and above, utilizing structured interview methods. Grounded in Lado’s Contrastive Analysis Hypothesis as the theoretical framework, the study systematically examines the areas of similarities and differences between the Ìkál?? and English dialects across specific semantic fields. The findings highlight significant cultural differentiations between the two linguistic systems, particularly in the conceptualization of colors, seasons, and greeting patterns. This paper delineates these cultural variations and discusses their pedagogical implications, aiming to enhance the teaching and learning of English as a target language among Ìkál?? speakers.