The English Language and Politics in Nigeria (original) (raw)
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LANGUAGE POLICY: NIGERIA AND THE ROLE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Abstract This article examines the role of English in Nigeria as a medium of communication, political activities-social and academic guidance from its historical perspective, and the duration of gradual transition to the present status of bilingualism and its democratization of language in conformity with national unification. It shows how English occupied an influential role in the formation of the national expectations and integration of the Nigerian nation through its ‘‘official language" status. We find that even a decade after decolonization in Nigeria, English continues to enjoy its primacy, especially in the formation of political and educational systems as a medium of instruction. It highlights the transition from English monopoly to bilingualism in accordance with indigenous demands for language change in educational policy that could be the form in line with mother tongue languages. It also evaluates and shows the current relationship between language shift and language death in another case with the emergence of the Nigerian Pidgin English. Specifically, it critically analyses how language issues are politically motivated in educational, political and social life of the nation in pre- and post-colonial administration. This paper scrutinizes the current response from society on the language issues as it moves toward global democratization of the language situation in Nigeria. Finally, it suggests that despite politically driven forces behind the use of indigenous languages in Nigerian society, the prospects for the English language in Nigerian national affairs are extraordinarily slim, and if the English language survives, it could mean a Nigerian kind of African English as observed by Chinua Achebe: English language, ‘‘but in African tones.’’
Nigeria, a state with well over 367 indigenous languages and dialects had during the colonial domination before the 1914 amalgamation fallen under British Empire and had similarly from its amalgamation had its political, socioeconomic and linguistic settings of its various peoples, and nationalities altered, and or undermined. Those resulted in imposition of the English language over and above the numerous and indigenous ones. Since then English has become Nigeria"s official and to some extent indirectly national language. This paper examined the use, relevance, politics, connections and ins and outs of using English language in Nigeria with respect to its heterogeneous composition. The paper found that English language is a foreign and an imposed one, it has so far been the most expedient language for Nigeria"s politics, administration and lingua franca, has on one ways greatly helped to sustain the bonds of unity and cohesion in Nigeria, despite avoidable and unavoidable problems, English has also grown at the expense of other indigenous Nigerian languages, English is the most popular medium of communication among diverse Nigerians, it is, similarly gaining more ground and influence all over the world. The paper recommends the improvement and promotion of our indigenous cultural values, greater literacy in our local languages, filtering the influx of social media facilities to check infiltration of foreign and inappropriate practices, adequate attention should be given to our cultural preservation and promotion centres and institutions.
The National Question: Language Policy and the Quest for a Common Language in Nigeria
Policies related to language in Nigeria, which are otherwise known as language policies were introduced from the outset by the colonial government. These policies favored English Language thereby leveling The Indigenous languages as substrate. After independence, Nigeria still maintains these policies as they were being designed by the colonial masters posing a minute doubts whether or not Nigeria is still under British colonialism's. Some concerned citizens however laid down significant series of criticisms about the ineffectiveness of Nigeria's language policies as to call for the revisit and revision of all the language-related policies so that, perhaps, one or more indigenous language (s) will emerge as the National language (s). This write-up therefore, casts a look at the National language policy and the quest for a common language. It concludes with a clarion call for all and sundry to consider that National language question is not exclusive reserve for linguists but a collective task upon everybody. Key words: language, policy, language policy, national language, common language
Language Policy in Nigeria: Problems, Prospects and Perspectives
The need for a national lingual franca that indexes the national identity of Nigeria is one that has been theorized and debated through different lenses under language policy with the conflicting themes being the asymmetric relationship between an exogenous language – English – and the local languages. The gap that has not been given the needed attention is the intra-indigenous language dichotomy that exists between minority languages and the major languages – Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba – in the formulation of a more inclusive language policy for Nigeria. This paper argues for a multilingual language policy that takes into account the different tiers of languages in Nigeria, particularly, languages with lesser number of speakers than the major languages.
Language as a Tool for National Integration: the Case of English Language in Nigeria
In multilingual societies like Nigeria, language which can be used as an effective instrument for national development and the promotion of national consciousness and unity can also be used as a weapon for marginalization and or exclusion. The latter trend can destabilize a nation as it sets different linguistic groups against each other in an attempt to fashion out an identity for themselves and express their existence and or relevance to the society. This scenario can be found in Nigeria, where language has been the sole factor in group integration and atimes, disintegration. This paper addresses the language issues in Nigeria by exploring the unifying significance of the English Language in Nigeria. This unifying role and its allied issues are discussed in this paper with a view to showing that the imposition or adoption of any language apart from English as the Nation's official language will lead to a chain of socio-political crisis that could threaten the corporate existence of Nigeria. This paper suggests that the English language should continue to play its unifying role while we continue to develop and maintain our local indigenous languages.
The Place of English Language in the Development of Nigeria
2020
The target of every good government is to provide her citizenry with the basic amenities of life. Such has not been fully realized in Nigeria and cannot be realized at least for now, through her numerous vernaculars since none of them unites the nation. It is only a language which the peoples of Nigeria can use to relate with one another that can be used to build the nation. This role falls on the English language which is the nation's official and second language, as well as her lingua Franca. Consequently, this paper sought to highlight the roles the English language performs in the building of the Nigerian nation. The English language developed from Germanic and Romance (Latinate) sources and is traced to the Indo-European language family. It is spoken as a native language in Britain, America, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Ireland, and the Caribbean and as a non-native language in many other nations of the world. In fact, Rogers (2000:17) stated that "En...
Language Teaching and Language Policy in Nigeria
Social Science Research Network, 2011
In recent years there has been renewed interest in the study of languages in Nigeria. There is no doubt that we have multiplicity of languages among different ethnic groups in Nigeria with each group guarding its language jealously, yet there has not been a separate language policy, other than the bits and fragments in the National Policy on Education (1977) revised in (1981). This paper therefore tries to examine the language situation in Nigeria, the need for the language policy that will address the national language question and the pedagogical relevance of such policy. The paper does not lose sight of the efficacy of the English language in the advancement of the nation's technological, social, economic, educational and in fact, all round development. The language, which is being used by a large percentage of the world population, has come to stay in Nigeria. However, there is also the need to develop our local languages even though the task of evolving a national language in Nigeria is a Herculean one. The paper therefore agrees with Banjo's suggestion of a gradualist approach since a lot of operational factors will be taken into consideration in a pluralistic nation like Nigeria.
Issues in Language: The Nigerian Perspective
Issues in Curriculum and Language Education, 2017
This paper examines various issues involved in language situation in Nigeria. It takes a critical look at the multilingual nature of Nigeria and the unifying role supposedly played by the English language. The paper establishes that the acceptance of English language has led to gross neglect of our indigenous languages thus placing them on the endangered list. The paper canvases that the English language should not be allowed to supplant our indigenous languages in order to preserve our rich cultural heritage. The paper also establishes that the elusive but much desired national integration and unity can only be achieved by promoting our indigenous languages. Issues raised in the paper are discussed under the following sub-headings: multilingual nature of Nigeria, unifying role of English language, subsequent neglect of indigenous languages, language policy to the rescue, implementation of the policy, challenges of implementation, implication of non-implementation, conclusion and recommendations. Key words: Indigenous language, multilingualism, language policy, National Policy on Education.
English Language as a Catalyst for Integration in Nigeria's Multi-ethnolingual Context
English language predates Nigeria and its utility is equally up-to-date in Nigeria. Given this significant and age long role of the language, the paper examines the privileged role of English in Nigeria project. It beams its searchlight on permeation and influence of the language on 1 sociolinguistic domains of politics, administration, education, media, judiciary and culture. Also, the paper captures the general attitude to the language in Nigerian polity. The paper submits that as Nigeria lingua franca and language of inter-ethnic communication, the English language has contributed in no small measure to national cohesion and integration in Nigeria. To this end, the paper concludes that giving Nigeria's multi-ethnolingual context and her chequered political history, English language has become indispensable for enduring national integration and survival.
English Language Dominance and the Fate of Indigenous Languages in Nigeria
The blind glorification of English language by the elites as well as the defective National Policy on Language has conspired to undermine the local languages and rob them of their importance in national development drive. This paper examines the reason(s) for the continued dominance of English language and its widely accepted usage in all spheres of life, including the social media, in Nigeria. It then evaluates the contributions and the levels of involvements of key stakeholders namely the government, the media, the parents and the youths in the marginalisation of indigenous languages. The paper suggests that to break the tenacious grip on the colonial master's language which has made it difficult for the vast majority of the Nigerian population to participate in the overall national development, the stakeholders, most especially the government and the media, need to review their attitude towards the indigenous languages.