Between Survival and Shift: Hausa Language Dominance and Attitudes Toward Tangale and Fulfulde in Gombe State

This study examines how Hausa dominance affects the vitality and maintenance of Tangale and Fulfulde in Gombe State, North-Eastern Nigeria. Although the state is linguistically diverse, Hausa increasingly serves as the main language of inter-ethnic communication, commerce, religion, and public interaction, placing minority languages under sustained pressure. Guided by the UNESCO Language Vitality and Endangerment Framework (UNESCO, 2003), the study focuses on intergenerational transmission, speaker strength, domains of use, language attitudes, and literacy support. A descriptive sociolinguistic survey, complemented by ethnographic observation, was conducted with 55 Tangale and Fulfulde speakers, alongside interviews with 20 key informants. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Findings show that Tangale and Fulfulde remain strong markers of identity and cultural expression, but Hausa dominates wider public and inter-ethnic domains. Weakened transmission, especially in urban and mixed-language households, suggests an emerging shift that calls for community-based documentation, mother-tongue education, and media support.