A study of terminological creation in Igbo: Focus on farmers-herders crises-related terms

Abstract

The need to report the farmer-herder crises in the Igbo language since it gained prominence in 2015 has necessitated the development or creation of Igbo terminologies on the crises. This study documented English words/expressions or new uses of existing words/expressions on farmers-herders crises and provided Igbo equivalents. An inventory of farmer-herder crisis terms in English was designed through consultation with online and offline media databases. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with Igbo native speakers supplied a list of Igbo options of the farmer-herder crises-related terms, and drawing on focus group discussions and introspection, we analyzed the Igbo options and adopted some terms in line with term-creation principles/logic. The Igbo terms would enrich the Igbo dictionaries and glossaries, and enhance the teaching and learning of the Igbo language. This study offers original insights into Igbo terminology creation and advances discussions on Igbo language development.

Keywords: Terms creation, terminology, farmer-herder crisis, Igbo language, language development.

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