Linguistic Insecurity among High School Students in Ghana: A Structural Equation Modelling Analysis

Abstract

Using structural equation modeling method, this study examined factors that promoted linguistic insecurity among high school students in Ghana. Data were obtained from 560 high school students in the Cape Coast metropolis. The results show that language attitude (β = -0.240), parental coercion (β = 0.303), and student victimization (β = 0.479) statistically predict students’ sense of linguistic insecurity. The R2 value of 0.322 indicates that 33.2% of the variations in linguistic insecurity were accounted for by the three predictors. We recommend, therefore, that policymakers consider prohibiting certain school-related practices that threaten the maintenance of children’s inherited languages.