LANGUAGE PLANNING AS A SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLE: THE NIGERIAN CONTEXT (original) (raw)
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LANGUAGE AS A TOOL FOR NATIONAL INTEGRATION IN NIGERIA B
Since independence, Nigeria has witnessed only moderate level of national integration and development. The predominance of regional/ethnic animosities generally tended to militate against the realization of such development. Nigeria is not alone in this predicament, examples from other countries abound. The emergence and resurgence of ethno-cultural, religious, political, economic, and a plethora of other tensions and conflicts in Nigeria have continue to undermine concerted efforts to achieve the desired national integration in Nigeria. The objective of this paper is to identify and analyze those features of language which militate against proper national integration within a single polity. A second aim is to look at the relationship between social and economic factors and the choice of language; and how this can lead to a successful language policy. The paper contends that against the normal methods that have yielded next to no fruits at achieving national integration in Nigeria, people from diverse backgrounds and views can always co-exist harmoniously if only they agree to emphasize on the common element that foster unity, understanding and development. It therefore concludes that the functions which language is expected to perform in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual country like Nigeria may not be obtainable except the nation utilizes some of the indigenous language for national integration.
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