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Language performs a really important function in any human community-school, firm, group, group, dwelling and so on. the language of any human society tells loads about that society subsequently, it may be additional emphasised that language and any human society are inseparable. In any human society, language occupies a vital seat, greater than it seems to all. The features of language in any human group embrace the next; expression of ideas, political, administration, training, social, spiritual, laws and so forth.
We will nonetheless be utilizing Nigeria as case research. The purpose of any human group is to have peace and unity, many countries of the world at the moment are going through completely different levels of conflicts, and Nigeria sadly is one in every of such nations. This paper is ready to look at the function language has to play achieve nationwide unity in Nigeria. Individuals have prior to now expressed their varied views concerning the which means of language.
A lecturer of mine, Professor Fakuade.G. stated and I quote,” language is the devoted mirror of the society” in different phrases a language is what reveals the true nature of any society. This suggests that what a language is supposed to do in any society is to replicate to the world what that society is all about. The language of any society subsequently ought to give us an ideal data of what that society is all about this consists of; the tradition, beliefs, mode of dressing, marriage and each different sociolinguistic details about the society. Language can be imagined to be seen because the image of a nation simply because the flag, Anthem, Forex and so on. in different phrases, language is to be the window by way of which individuals can see into the society.
As considered by Bamgbose, English is the language of integration in Nigeria, amidst the compounding complexities of Nigeria particularly in relation to the language query, the one language that indexes the spirit of togetherness is English. This reveals clearly that to date in Nigeria, English Language has performed a vital half in conserving Nigeria collectively as a unified nation. Amidst our cultural diversities and variations in beliefs, English language has nonetheless performed a fantastic function in conserving Nigeria collectively and since it’s the connection between the assorted ethnic teams that exist in Nigeria, one can’t however give that plus to English in conserving us collectively to date. Out of the over 500 languages that we’ve got in Nigeria we nonetheless have a hyperlink and that hyperlink is nothing however English, this has served because the technique of communication between the completely different tribes which can be in Nigeria.
Of all of the heritage left behind in Nigeria by the British on the finish of colonial administration, most likely, none is extra necessary than the English language. It’s now the language of presidency, enterprise and commerce, training, the mass media, literature, and far inside in addition to exterior communications. Bamgbose (1971)
As a Language of Wider Communication (LWC), English is used for phatic communion, ceremonial goal, and instrument of conserving information, data dissemination, self-experiment and embodiment of thought among the many varied linguistic teams of Nigeria. The frequent linguistic foundation that constitutes a requisite for the existence of any nation is offered by English. So with English because the frequent tongue to all of the ethnic teams, the collective sentiment of belonging collectively regardless of the person or ethnic variations is cast.
It’s apparent from that the language that has held Nigeria collectively updated to a fantastic extent has been English language which was handed on to us by our colonial masters and to date it has performed that function effectively. In our official everyday communication it has tremendously enhanced the connection that existed between he varied ethnic teams we’ve got right here in Nigeria. An Igbo man who has by no means been to the western a part of the nation nor has any understanding of Yoruba will certainly see English and the most effective means to specific his emotion, thought or no matter he has to say in such a scenario.
One other space that language has been useful in conserving us collectively in Nigeria is within the space of teachers, it is because it has to a fantastic extent helped to bridge the hole between the wealthy and poor, the privileged and the much less privileged. Therefore we’ve got English because the hyperlink between the high-class and the low-class in Nigeria.
In faith the necessary function performed by language can by no means be overemphasized, in varied spiritual gathering; English has served because the medium of communication therefore bringing the folks collectively below the identical umbrella. Many spiritual gathering in Nigeria both makes use of English in finishing up proceedings and his in fact has contributed considerably to the peaceable co-existence in our beloved nation. Though, we’ve got had varied spiritual disputes and have had one battle at one time or the opposite.
As we’ve got earlier identified the assorted roles English within the attainment and sustenance of nationwide unity nonetheless, I consider it will have been higher if the function(s) performed to date by English had been performed by an indigenous language, that is no intension or try to disrespect English language, it has tremendously contributed to Nigeria’s nationwide unity. However I’m satisfied inside that the scenario would have been higher if that place had been occupied by a language that’s actually ours; if the language had been home-made.
Misrepresentation of concepts and expression is without doubt one of the main purpose for battle that we’ve got around the globe at the moment originated from the usage of phrases/utterances, the place concepts supposed have been wrongly offered. You possibly can by no means attain the extent of proficiency a local speaker would in his language and this has triggered lots of people what they by no means bargained for, it has despatched many to their premature grave. A person’s language is seen because the software that helps him specific his ideas sadly for a person by utilizing one other man’s language which is claimed to be his L2; he succeeds in misrepresenting his concepts. In such a scenario he makes use of a phrase out of context and a few folks could possibly be so delicate to the usage of phrase. Lots of the conflicts and ethnic dispute we’ve got had prior to now might have been averted if our official language had been an indigenous language. The reason being that many individuals have orally misrepresented their concepts, views and intentions on account of their low degree of proficiency, they’ve chosen the improper phrase on the improper time and this has led to sad testimonies. We have now chosen English as our ‘official language of everyday” operation and actions and this has led to a scenario whereby our indigenous languages occupy the again seat. English language is the important thing to any necessary door, nobody who can’t talk in English language is predicted to occupy an necessary place in any group.
The New Worldwide Webster’s Complete Dictionary of The English Language (Encyclopedic version), defines language as, the expression and communication of feelings or concepts between human beings by way of speech and listening to, the sounds spoken or heard being systematized and confirmed by utilization amongst a given folks over a given time frame.” From the above view, it suggests {that a} language is meant to speak the interior (authentic) thought and specific what a selected speaker has inside. However this isn’t all the time so in a case the place a selected speaker shouldn’t be proficient within the language he’s utilizing as a medium of communication at a cut-off date as an example, an Hausa man who desires to speak with a Yoruba or an Igbo man must use English the place his degree of proficiency is low in comparison with his L1 there may be seemingly chance that such an individual could be very prone to misrepresent a few of his intensions throughout communication and such is probably not taken seemingly by the opposite social gathering and will result in battle between them. In such case would one say that language has been capable of play it function effectively? This has positively not justified the which means of language and the essence of communication.
The best way a selected thought is conveyed is essential throughout communication; therefore the essence of any communication is to current precisely the interior thought a speaker. Many Nigerians suppose of their MT and attempt to talk their intentions in English and in some circumstances concepts have been misrepresented, they do not have the proper phrase to symbolize their ideas. The scenario shouldn’t be the identical when interlocutors from the identical ethnic background and the place they each have correct data of the language.
The place there’s a comparable language background and higher understanding (and decoding of concepts is correct), there shall be discount within the degree of battle we’ve got in Nigeria. We might make us of our model of the English language, the Pidgin English. I consider it will go a great distance in lowering the extent of the reoccurring battle in our beloved nation, Nigeria. For the reason that supply of most of those conflicts have been the way in which and method our varied concepts have been wrongly expressed or interpreted, we must always search a greater manner of communication and that is the explanation I consider everybody has a job to play. We must always start to hunt a greater manner of expressing ourselves and keep away from pointless battle by utilizing a language that we’re not attain an encouraging degree of proficiency, and work on our communication abilities.
To this finish, let the federal authorities search the recommendation of language knowledgeable on easy methods to attain this aim and provides whole consideration to this course. Let all effectively which means Nigerian come collectively and see how we will discover and exploit the wealth in our language as we drive in the direction of nationwide unity. And make each Nigerian notice that language can play extra that the function of communication. Allow us to evaluation our language coverage in different too keep away from the demise of our language, which is our image.
It’s pressing for us to start to see language as an important agent of unity in our beloved nation, Nigeria and start to see how we will use this software as an agent of unity to make Nigeria a extra unified nation and push apart all ethnic and tribal variations. Language is a software that may be in our quest for nationwide unity and must be dealt with with whole dedication and seriousness. Each Nigerian ought to start to suppose and see how language can contribute to the expansion of the enormous of Africa.
Our tradition is embedded in our language. Allow us to embrace our language with enthusiasm and pleasure and promote what we’ve got collectively after which our variations will turn into a factor of the previous. It is a name to nationwide unity however this time round it’s coming by way of an unpopular medium, allow us to use this priceless software of ours in the direction of one Nigeria. Language has a really important function to play in our quest for nationwide unity. Allow us to embrace it simply as we’ve got achieved to soccer. Language has an important function to play in our quest for nationwide unity.
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Source by Bamisaye Adeniran