LEXICAL ATTRITION AND GENERATIONAL LANGUAGE COMPETENCE IN DAWOODI SPEAKERS

Abstract

This study examines lexical attrition in Dawoodi by analyzing generational differences in vocabulary retention, semantic depth, and lexical accessibility. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines elicitation tasks, structured interviews, and corpus-based frequency analysis derived from recorded speech data. The findings demonstrate a marked disparity between elder fluent speakers and younger semi-speakers, with the latter exhibiting significant gaps in culturally embedded vocabulary, particularly in domains such as kinship systems, traditional occupations, and oral storytelling practices. The study reveals that lexical attrition in Dawoodi is not merely a reduction in vocabulary size but involves a qualitative shift in meaning-making processes. Younger speakers tend to replace Dawoodi lexical items with borrowed or dominant-language equivalents, resulting in semantic flattening and loss of cultural nuance. This shift is closely linked to reduced exposure, changing language attitudes, and identity reconfiguration within the community. Furthermore, the research highlights the role of lexical competence as a key indicator of language vitality, arguing that lexical erosion precedes and accelerates broader structural decline. By situating Dawoodi within global discussions on language attrition and endangerment, the paper underscores the need for targeted lexical documentation and pedagogical interventions. The findings contribute to theoretical and applied linguistics by demonstrating how lexical loss functions as both a symptom and a driver of language endangerment, reinforcing the urgency of preservation strategies focused on intergenerational transmission.