Towards a national language in Nigeria: problems & prospects
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Date
1985
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria
Abstract
This work sets out to find out why the issue of a choice of a national language for Nigeria has
remained elusive for so long. This state of affairs has been brought about largely by the fact that
the country suffers from an extreme form of linguistic complexity.
In highlighting factors that might be in favour or against both endeglossic and exoglossic
language choice for the nation we find that so long as issues of number, morality, bureaucratic
inertia on the part of the political leadership and the fate of the languages not considered remain
unresolved, so long shall the issue of a national language remain elusive.
We conclude that English will continue to play its role as the official language for a long time to
come; that the implementation of the National Policy on Education, with time, will promote
positive linguistic attitudes among the numerous ethnic groups in Nigeria and that because
language is a necessary factor but not a sufficient one for unity, other sources of promoting
national unity should be explored and exploited.
Description
95p
Keywords
Language, English language, Linguistics, Endeglossic, Exoglossic language, Morality, Bureacracy, Politics, Leadership, National Policy on Education, National unity