Assessment of Dialect Use in Agricultural Message Dissemination in Ogun State, Nigeria
10 Pages Posted: 19 Aug 2012
Date Written: August 19, 2012
Abstract
The study was conducted to assess the use of dialect in agricultural message dissemination in Ogun State; and examine farmers’ understanding of language as currently used by extension agents. A total of 84 extension agents and 140 farmers were randomly selected from a list of extension agents and farmers provided by the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP). Experimental procedure was adopted to assess extension agents’ use of dialect during agricultural message delivery. Data was collected on personal characteristics of all respondents; extension agents’ perception of essentiality of dialect use; as well as farmers’ understanding of extension agents’ language use. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that all but one of the extension agents did not use dialect in message delivery. However, majority (71.4%) of them were in positive agreement as to the essentiality of knowledge of dialect to effective agricultural message dissemination. Results further revealed that a large proportion (91.4%) of farmers have high understanding of language as currently employed by extension agents. The study recommends that the Extension Department of Agricultural Development Programme should identify, compile and teach peculiar technical dialect terms of agricultural interest, in common use in each linguistic community area. This will enhance easy interactions with farmers and ensure easy and quick understanding of agricultural messages, while extension agents are encouraged to speak the dialects of their target farmers, if only to demonstrate their identification with the farmers and improve ease of acceptance by the farmers.
Keywords: Dialect use, Agricultural message, Dissemination
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