Skip to main content

LANGUAGE SITUATION IN NIGERIA AND THE ISSUES OF LINGUA-FRANCA


It is an anthropological and linguistics fact that language plays a unifying role in the beginning, development, belief, custom, norms and folklores of any groups of people or societies.

This issue will take us far back to the golden age during the era of empire and their kingdom before 1906 when the British colonialist came. That's the period when each of these epires have what is called lingu-franca.

But the question is: what language is Nigeria lingu-franca?

This question have been registered on my mind for a long period of time. Quite a number of people said it is "pidgin".is this true?

Let me put it this way,
● The America/British speak and understand English.
● The indians speak and understand hindi.
● Ethiopia speak amaharic.
- Is there no true lingua-franca in   Nigeria?
 - Is pidgen our lingua-franca?
What is lingua-franca?

Lingua-franca is a common language used by people of diverse backgrounds to communicate with one another, often a basic form of speech with simplified grammar.

It is a language that is peculiar to different peoples of different ethnic group at a particular time and particular place.

Language is the use of arbitrary signals such as vioce sounds, gestures and written symbols. It is a means by which words and expression find meaning. 

In 1914, the northern and southern protectorates of  a colony, an administrative boundaries set up by Sir Frederick Lord Lugard. This became the first political turning point and a milestone development. It brought the birth through the almagamation of a unit geo-entity and nation called Nigeria which is richly blessed with diverse of culture and language(over 521 languages). 

Consequently, Nigeria did not evolved through any known ethnographic origins. The almagamation was cosmetic and that can be seen in such because there were no element of homogeneity in the people that occupied the vast landmass. 

It is important to tell that Nigerian languages is suffering under the dangling edge of sword because of its dying state. The level at wich our indigenous languages is dying is too much and messure need to be taken.

Let's encourage ourselves in speaking our indigenous languages called dialects.  

Please drop your comment...


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

ABIA GOVT TAKE MADE IN ABA TO USA

As part of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's campaign for promoting Made-in-Aba products, Abia State government and Abia State National Association, U.S.A. and North America, ASNA-NA,showcased the potentials and quality of Aba products to the international community during the association's national convention in New York City, USA. The event saw many designers, such as Chumar, and thousands of products shipped in from Aba on display, with models on the runway, adorning Aba-made designs. According to the Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Diaspora Matters, Mr. John Ndubuisi, all the outfits on display were sold out and orders placed, noting that Made-in-Aba designs will soon be competing in the American market. He added that with the clamour for restructuring, Abia State Government is working to grow the local economy, provide employment, empower skilled artisans and boost internally-generated revenue, stressing that Aba, dubbed The Japan of Africa for its entrepreneurial ...

Insurgency: UN, FG launch $1bn 2021 Humanitarian Plan for North East

  The United Nations and the Federal Government along with development partners have launched the 2021 Humanitarian Response Plan for the insurgency-ravaged northeastern part of Nigeria.  The Humanitarian Response Plan represents a collective vision for humanitarian action in 2021, and requests US$1 billion to enable partners provide critical services to the 6.4 million most vulnerable people – from a pool of 8.7 million people in need of some form of humanitarian assistance in 2021 in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. According to the UN, a combination of escalating conflict, displacement, and disruption to and loss of livelihoods due to COVID-19 restrictions, could lead to hunger for millions of Nigerians living in the north-east.  The plan, therefore, is based on assessed needs and the realistic capacity of the United Nations and non-governmental organization partners to implement required actions.  Speaking at the event, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster M...

DJ CUPPY REVEALS TWO MEN SHE HAS EVER LOVED IN HER LIFE

Nigerian disc jockey, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy has taken to social media to reveal that she’s only ever loved two men in her 27 years of existence.