University of Nigeria Virtual Library Serial No ISBN 978-8046-18-5 Uguru Joy O. Author 1 Author 2 Author 3 A Common Nigerian Language: A Prerequisite for National Title Identity and Development Keywords Description Category Humanities Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Publisher Fulladu Publishing Company, 22 Osadebe St. Ogui New Layout Enugu, Nigeria Publication Date 2003 Signature A Common Nigerian Language (Revised Edition) Joy 0. Uguru A Common Nigerian Language A Prerequisite for National Identity and Development (Revised Edition) Joy Oluchi Uguru Humanities Unit School of General Studies University of Nigeria, Nsukka O Joy Oluchi Uguru 2003 First published 2003 Fr~llucluP ublishing Company 22 Osadebe St Ogui New Layout Enupu, Nigeria P.O. Box 954 Nsukka. Nigeria Revised ifr 2008 University ol' Nigeria Press Ltd. Bookshop/Bank Building Complex, UNN Nsukkn. Enugu Stnte , Nigeria All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in il retrieval system, or ~ransmitted.i n any form or by my means, electronic, ~nechnnicsl,p hotocopying, recording, or otherwise. without the pe~rnlssiuno l' the copyright owner. ISBN 978-8046- 18-5 Printed in Nigeria Dedication To a United Nigeria Contents Foreword . ' Preface Introduction 1 National Language and Identity National language /official Language National Identity Language Identity Language Identity and national Identity Language, ethnicity and nationalism Language and unity 2 Language as a tool for development Language as Man's Sole Property 3 Multilingualism and national development Language Loyalty and Conflict Merits and Demerits of Multilingualism 4 The Language Situation in Nigeria Language families in Nigeria 5 Language Usage and Language Policies: examples from other nations Language policy in India Effective Language Policy for Africa 6 In Quest of a Common Nigerian Language 7 Nigerian Pidgin in Usage The Origin of Pidgin Origin and use of Nigerian Pidgin 8 Prospects for Nigerian Pidgin Pidgins and negative attitudes NATIONAL LANGUAGE AND IDENTITY "Tel Nigeria~iss ay cri dee knrnkpe". - Tell Nigelians that I am very well. Also, in his survey on the use of Nigerian Pidgin in Effurun, Obrorindo (20055) reports that a primary school teacher proved the extent of pidgin usage in her school in the following statement: Thc students in my class speak more of Pidgin English than their mother tongue and even our official language. So if I really want them to understand more, I speak pidgin to them. With my fellow teachers, we do speak Pidgin English cspccially if we are talking about our- families in the staff room. Since Nigerian Pidgin plays very important roles in communication in Nigeria, it will be beneficial to make it official (that is, co-official with English) in order to enhance the participation of all c.itizens in the economic, social and political development of the country. Many countries of the world have been able to solve their language problems by making their pidgin or creole languages official. Some of these languages are used solely or in addition to other official languages with which they share the official status. Patrick (2005) has outlined a number of such countries as can be seen below (Table 1). A'case for Nigerian Pidgin 76 Varieties of Nigerian Pidgin 8 1 Standardization of Nigerian Pidgin 84 Nigerian Pidgin as Nigeria's official language 89 Nigerian Pidgin and English as co-official languages 91- Nigerian Pidgin and indigenous Nigerian languages 92 9 Conclusion References Index iii Foreword Language is a powerful tool for the promotion of unity, national identity and the homogeneity of a people. For nationalism to thrive in any nation there must be an enabling environment facilitated through a common medium of communication: language. In this book, A Conznlori Nigerim Dmglrcqy, Joy has brought to the front burner, the need and urgency for a homebred and mutually acceptable choice, Nigerian Pidgin. An indigenous language such as Nigerian Pidgin makes learning generally simpler and can promote home-grown technological development. Other countries of the world have successfully used their national languages as instruments of unity, industrial development and for state security. This can also be achieved in Nigeria by Nigerians if our policy makers and language specialists take steps to give Nigerian Pidgin an official status. The publication of this book is timely and should be seen as a clarion call to the people of Nigeria for a review of thc country's language policy. This effort should not be allowed to end up on the shelves or as mere classroom excrcisc. Let Nigerians talk about their future, their hopes and aspirations, and this is the starting point: A Common Nigerian Laizguctgc. Professor O.K. Oyeoku Dean, Faculty of Arts University of Nigeria Nsukka.