Language Situation in Nigeria

Written by Aniefiok Jacob

INTRODUCTION

Language is a human social phenomenon utilized by people in their everyday life. People often wrongly perceive the term in an abstract way. However, on the contrary, much of our understanding of reality is dependent on language. Language determines our models of the world and the way in which we represent the world. It is in view of this reality of language that Victoria, et al [2007:407], quoting whitman, warns that “language is not an abstract contraction of the learned, or of dictionary makers, but is something arising out of the work, needs, tress, joys, affections, and tastes of long generations of humanity”. This phenomenon undoubtedly permeates every aspect of man’s life.

The qualities of language, as highlighted above, aptly apply to the English language. It is now universally accepted that English is a world language. The language is used in all corners of the globe. Multi-ethnically, like language is a term very much associated with the modern society. It is nowadays a part of the much used vocabulary of the people. Multi-ethnicity, as a factor, has generated several social, political, economic and linguistic issues that affect the life of the people all over the world. In Nigeria the diverse ethnic backgrounds of the people is the source of much confusion.

The paper focuses fully on language impasse in Nigeria and also language as a tool for cultural domination and essential tool for unity.

LANGUAGE SITUATION IN NIGERIA

The amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates of Nigeria in 1914 by the British colonial administrators lumped together people of diverse ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds into what has now become the Federal Republic of Nigeria. With over four hundred mutually unintelligible linguistic groupings [according to Ayo Bamgbose]. Nigeria epitomizes a Babelic Scenario. In most cases, linguistic groupings correspond to ethnic groupings making Nigeria about the most ethnically diverse country in Africa.

Given the problems often associated with ethnic diversity, it is not surprising that adopting an indigenous Nigerian language as lingua franca became a major preoccupation among Nigerian linguists, language planners and the government in the 1970s and 80s. Since linguistic homogeneity often entails nationalism, an indigenous national language was seen as one way of ensuring the continued oneness, or national integration, of the many ethnic groupings that make up the country. Many believed differences between indigenous languages keep the people apart, perpetuate ethnic hostilities, weaken national loyalties and increase the danger of separatist sentiments. This is because each local language is intimately related to or equates an ethnic group, thus the use of a local language reinforces attachment to ethnicity thereby going against the current of national sentiment. But the adoption of a national language for Nigeria, and indeed any multilingual society, is a volatile issue. Several proposals were considered for Nigeria. The most widely debated is the adoption of one of the three major languages [Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba] as the national language. The problem of course, became determining the criteria for adopting one over the others. One incontrovertible criterion for this choice would be language dominance. But as Myers Scotten noted one of the reasons for official language dilemma in Africa is that there is usually no single group with both enough numerical and political dominance over the others to make its language the natural choice. This is exactly the case in Nigeria.

To create an artificial Nigeria language for Nigerian was also another alternative. Wazobia a concatenation of Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo was an excellent idea and a lot of fuse was made about it in the media. But in reality, Wazobia faces a lot of insurmountable problems. First, it was far from being developed and the linguist who could work towards the development were too cynrea to bond their effort towards this goal. Second, its further marginalizes the minorities. If a hybrid language is to adopt it might as well incorporate most of the existing languages. This was not practicable. Third, a language requires a zealous population to propagate it and Wazobia had none. Not perhaps the greatest impediment to the growth of Wazobia was the fact that it was not an emergency and Nigerians had a choice, English language of the colonial master. Thus Wazobia stood no chance.

Apart from the three major languages, another candidate for national language status is the Nigerian Pidgin English [NPE]. Not only is it considered a language of solidarity, it is considered a neutral language. Ayo Bamgbose, however, points out the major drawbacks of Nigerian Pidgin English. First, its language development status is almost non-existent since there are neither serious works nor a standard orthography. Second, just like Wazobia, there is no more large population to back it up. Even though it is the unofficial language of the armed forces and the police and is popular in costal areas and urban centres. It is virtually unknown in large areas of the country. Third, it is likely to be unacceptable to the majority of the people who argue that English might as well be retained rather than replacing it with an English-based pidgin, much like going from the frying pan into the fire. It is then this difficulty in choosing an indigenous language as the official v that has resulted in the continued existence of English as the official language of education and administration in Nigeria long after the colonial circumstances that gave rise to it has been dismantled. English is considered to be acceptable as an official language by many because of its neutrality. Therefore, most people would rather say let the sleeping giant lie.

In addition to its neutrality, the social and political elite who were generally highly educated in the colonial language have a major stake in its propagation since its continued use allows them a major share of lucrative jobs and advances their social position and power. The same can be said of the developed nations, especially the ex-colonial masters since the continued use of the colonial language provides a good market for their product.     

LANGUAGE: TOOL OF CULTURAL DOMINATION OR ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR UNITY

Nigeria has a hierarchy of official languages. English is the national language and is used for government business all over the federation. A number of important regional languages such as Hausa and Yoruba are widely used in specific areas and a third hierarchy of languages are those officially designated for further redevelopment, the number of languages adopted for media broadcast and orthography development is significantly larger. Despite this, Nigeria has no language policy that is encapsulated in a single body law. Instead any policy must be extracted from national policy on education, cultural policy for Nigeria e.t.c. constitutions of the Federal republic of Nigerian.

The relevant sections of the constitution relating to language and culture are as follows: ‘section is when says government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy, 21, the state shall; a) protect, preserve and promote the Nigerian cultures which enhances human dignity and are consistent with the fundamental objectives, b) encourages development of technological and scientific studies which enhance cultural values, 55, the national business of the National Assembly shall be conducted in English, and in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba when adequate arrangements have been made therefore’. It will be evident at one that these are of surpassing generally, that they do not commit the state to any concrete policies or actions. Although the government will strive to eliminate illiteracy, it does not clarity in which language the child should be made literate. No specific provision deals with minority language, and to date no consistent policy in this area has even been outlined.

The consequences has been the English has become the defacto language of communication, the language of broadcast media, schooling and increasingly the language of urban residents who have lost their maternal tongue, often as a consequence of marriages between individuals from different ethnic groups. An interesting consequence of this is Nigerian English itself has developed quite distinctive forms, both in terms of the spoken language. Whether this is desirable or it is highly controversial. It is obviously desirable to have language of national communication and a single language of government.