Interface between Language and Tiv Traditional Inquest

Abstract

Traditional inquests in the Tiv nation are conducted in the Ti language, so the study set out to examine the interface between language and the Tiv traditional inquest. The study used observations and consultations as the research instruments collection of data. The researchers observed death inquests, marriage inquests, conflict settlement inquests, and peer group inquests in Katsina -Ala Local Government Area of Benue State with a focus on the patterns and principles of these traditional inquests. based on the fact that traditional inquests among the Tiv nation have the same patterns and principles. The researchers also consulted four elders in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area on patterns and principles of traditional inquests among the Tiv people. The data collected for the study in Tiv were presented in Tiv and English versions, thereby analysed based on the objectives of the study. The findings of the study revealed that language and Tiv traditional inquests are interwoven due to the discovery that language is the medium through which the Tiv traditional inquest is carried out. Besides, the choice of language use is determined by the type of traditional inquest among the Tiv people.