Language Imperialism: The Journey of Indigenous Languages into Extinction (ii)
Ibrahim Adeigbe, B.A (Hons), PGDE (Ilorin) M.A (LASU)
(Continued from part 1)
The best way a child logical reasoning could be enhanced is to have an indigenous language as his mother-tongue; he will aquire this from childhood. Researchers have shown that a child assimilates and comprehends better if he is taught in his mother-tongue. Despite the recent emphasis on the learning of Nigerian languages, English is still the medium of instruction at all levels of Nigerian education system and it occupies more lesson periods than any other subjects at both primary and secondary schools. Gone are the days when registering one Nigerian language is a criteria for writing WAEC and NECO exams. Recent education curriculum dictates that science students should not study any indigenous language.
It is disheartening that Nigerians are indifference to the use of their indigenous languages and this is prevalent among the elite class. They are much more comfortable using a foreign language in their homes than speaking the indigenous language. Some parents even go to the extent of preventing their children from speaking the indigenous languages at home, let alone allowing them to study the language in the school. It will not be an over-statement if such parents are regarded as educated illiterates because the child would not have lost the features of his supposed mother-tongue alone but his societal norms, cultural values, civilization and education would have gone with it. Most of Yoruba cultural value is embedded in their language.
This is happening at a time when the numbers of white and black American adults enrolling for Nigerian Languages in American Universities is on the increase. The targets of the Americans are simple, they are aware we have thrown away our rich norms, culture and tradition and they have said in the next 30 years we will have to pay them to learn our Language. The last time I discussed this with a friend, he laughed and said ‘Americans will teach us our language, it is not possible! I was amazed at his level of ignorance. In my seven years experience as an indigenous language teacher, I have taught students from Europe, America and now a Canadian, and in fairness the enthusiasm with which the students from those foreign countries are learning the language is worthy of commendation and it should be a cause of concern for us.
If you actually believe the stated objectives of the Americans is far from reality. Then, ask yourself. Do you speak your indigenous language at home? Do you allow your children to speak the language? Do you send them to schools where indigenous languages are taught? Are you one of those that referred to your mother-tongue as ‘vernacular’? If your answer to any of the above questions is yes, you are actually one of those paddling the canoe of the indigenous languages to the land of extinction.
A child’s first language is very important not only because it is a medium through which he communicates with others, it plays a major role in cultural education and integration. A language is considered as a very important element of culture, mother-tongue can help to integrate a society or group. A child that is made to speak or acquire another man’s language within his own society will surely develop a character different from the norms and values of his society. A little wonder the developed countries placed high importance on their indigenous languages, they considered it a medium for unification.
It is pertinent to say at this point that English language enjoys more prominent status than our indigenous languages. This is as a result of faulty government policies on language and people’s poor attitude towards their language. This behaviour has not only affected our societal norms and values but it has also slow down the pace of our development.
From the foregoing, it is evident that indigenous language will go into extinction within a short period of time if care is to taken to take proper steps that will ensure their preservations. Therefore, education stakeholders, culture custodians, linguistics and literary scholars should as a matter of urgency evolves policies that will not only strengthened the use of indigenous languages but promotes their diglossic functions.
indeed …English language is a killer language