ABSTRACT
This research work focuses on the Effect of Language Diversity on
National Development. It adopts descriptive and comparative approaches
in analyzing the nature of Language and the policy situation in Nigeria,
considering in clear terms the complex ethno linguistics setting.
Sequel to the look warm attitudes of both governments over the years,
the research therefore evaluates the value of an effective language
policy and implementation to the development of nations across the
globe.On the foregoing, the research identifies the low level of
technology and science development in Nigeria as a product of
purposelessness approaches in language policy making and implementation.
The study observes that, little or no functional language policy exists
in Nigeria even at the age of 50 years of independence.Recourse to
this, Nigerian languages ought to be central to national development and
should occupy an important place in the development discourse. In line
with these and many more, the study recommends that urgent attention and
responsibilities ought to be given to language experts (linguists) in
making language policies and possible implementation strategies for the
country. This research further advocates for a national language system,
however, calls for the adoption of respective indigenous languages for
vocational training at their given speech communities. The Nigerian
Pidgin English has the likely majority of speakers and need to be
developed to the status of a national language alongside English. These
positions can only be achieved if our central policy maker (government)
is sincere with the reality on ground and avoid mere political interest
and propaganda.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Title page- - - - - - - - - i
Declaration - - - - - - - - ii
Certification - - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication- - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgment- - - - - - - - v
Abstract- - - - - - - - - vi
Table of content - - - - - - - - vii-viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 background of the study - - - - - - 1
1.2 Statement of the problem - - - - - 2
1.3 Hypothesis - - - - - - - 2
1.4 Aims of the Study - - - - - - 2
1.5 Scope and Delimitation of the study - - - - 3
1.6 Significance of the Study - - - - - 3
1.7 Methodology of the Study - - - - - 3
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction - - - - - - - 4-5
2.2 Meaning of Language - - - - - - 5-8
2.3 Characteristics of Language - - - - - 8
2.3.1 Language is a system of speech sound - - - 8
2.3.2 It is acquired from childhood - - - - - 8
2.3.3 Language is dynamic - - - - - - 9
2.3.4 It is conventional - - - - - - 9
2.3.5 it is complex and systematic - - - - - 9-10
2.4 Multilingualism (Language Diversity) - - - 10-13
2.4.1 Plurality (Origin) - - - - - - 14-15
2.5 Strengths and Weaknesses of Language Diversity - - 15-16
2.6 National Development –(Different View) - - - 16-18
2.7 National Language - - - - - - 18-21
2.8 Theoretical frame Work - - - - - 21-23
CHAPTER THREE: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
3.0 Introduction - - - - - - - 24
3.1 Methodology - - - - - - - 24-25
3.2 Data Analysis - - - - - - - 25-27
3.3 Research findings - - - - - - 27-28
3.4 Strength of findings - - - - - - 28
3.5 Weakness of findings. - - - - - 28
CHAPTER FOUR
4.1 Summary - - - - - - - 29
4.2 Conclusion - - - - - - - 29
4.3 Recommendation - - - - - - 30-31
WORK CITED - - - - - - - 32-34
APPENDIX - - - - - - - - 35
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Human Beings are social animals and language is an instrument of the
society which is acculturated into a given society. Through the
instrumentality of language, man identifies and make finding about his
environment.
Thus, language, in the hand of man preserves, conserves, transmits
and appropriates functions and does so across space and time, thereby
enabling him to overcome those physical limitations to human endeavours
and achievements.
Armed with his linguistic tool, man appropriates all that others
before him have acquired, persuades and convince others to his line of
reasoning and action, deceives and dominates others, controls his entire
environment and exploits whatever is found therein, and also achieves
as much as it is within his capacity.
The problems of man's development and growth become increasingly
complex and intricate when the individual is not monolingual and
mono-cultural. The failure of any development programme becomes greater
and more dismal when the individual has got to operate within a
multilingual and multi-cultural community. It is these problems which
Nigeria encounters as a result of her multilingual and multi-cultural
composition that this research intends to highlight. At the end of the
exercise solutions will be proffered in order to help solve the
challenges we have as country.
1.1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Inspite of all efforts to unite and develop society such as Nigeria
politically, economically and socially, the state remains an under
developed state. This is due to her multilingual and multicultural
nature. Language pluralism has generated a lot of problems in the state.
Prominent among them include;
The communication gap between the various people, each sees his own
language as important, thus creating an impediment to commerce and
industry. A warped sense of nationhood whereby genuine unity becomes
difficult due to suspicion as various ethnic groups pursue selfish and
sectional interests. Picking a national language that is acceptable to
the people therefore, becomes difficult.
1.2 HYPOTHESIS
The hypotheses of study are
(a) Language is a hindrance to national unity
(b) Language is an instrument for National development
(c) How is language diversity a deciding factor toward national development?
1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY
The aim of the research is to discover the effect of linguistic
plurality in a given multi-ethnic society like Nigeria, particularly in
Nasarawa State where I live and the University of Abuja where I school.
It also intends to prove the success or failure of any society. And if
language diversity has helped in national growth and development, such
as economic, social, political, religious growth, and educational
advancement of mankind. The study also hopes to attempt in resolving the
issue of “lingua Franca”
1.4 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the research is on the use of language to achieve
national development especially in a multilingual environment which is
delimited to the sociolinguistics of language and society.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The importance of this study is that it will showcase how to promote
ethnic harmony among all linguistically and ethnically diverse
communities in Nigeria. The study is also significant because it will
contribute to many of the existing works in this regard especially for
both academic and social utilization respectively. It is also
significant because it will provide the picture of the issue in question
from the perspective of a university community.
1.6 METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY
The methodology of the research is empirical in nature, in which the
researcher intends to administer questionnaire as well as an observation
within the chosen area of the study being University of Abuja, FCT
The respondents to be administered with the questionnaire are
selected through single random selection method of one out of every ten
respondents in the delimited areas of the research.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 INTRODUCTION
The inadequate level of attention that has often been given to the
language situation in Nigeria tends to reflect on the level of general
development. Nigeria is one of the countries with the largest number of
indigenous languages. This situation should be seen as blessings rather
than a curse. Contrary to this expectation, countries of this nature has
rather turned into ethnic and religious struggles.
Considering the multilingual and cultural differences, the issue, of
adopting an indigenous national language in Nigeria is described as
complex in reality. The relevance of language to development of any
society cannot be over emphasized.Development cannot be achieved in any
society unless the linguistics reality of such a society is put into
play.
It is evident that different languages in Nigeria coexisted in peace
before the advent of the colonial masters which brought together the
diverse socio-cultural, backgrounds into one fold through the
amalgamation of Nigeria in 1914. This act resulted into the imposition
of English language as an official language in Nigeria Adenipekun,
(2010).
In reality, there are two possible reasons that neglect language
issues. The first reason is that development is often conceived of in a
rather narrow turn to the calculation of the Gross Domestic Product and
Gross National Product and other economics metrics of income.
The consequence of this quantitative approach to development are that
economic indicators are often erroneously equated with national
development and societal well-being. In this narrow sense, the role of
language in national development may rather be seen as a bit too
marginal to be taken into reality.
The second challenge is why the language issue has not featured well
in Nigeria’s development discourse. This is as a result of the nature
and role of language in the society which is often completely
misunderstood. Probably, it may be from the irresponsible declarations
of some Nigeria writers and intellectuals. However, Nigerian languages
can be used for effective expressions, irrespective of the diverse
cultural situation.
Contesting all these positions and challenges, this chapter therefore
reviews the concept of “Multilingualism” and other concepts relevant to
the topic of the research. It covers; Meaning of Language,
Characteristics of Language, Strengths and Weakness of Language
Diversity, National Development, National Language and Theoretical
Framework.
2.2 MEANING OF LANGUAGE
Language is considered to be a system of communicating with people
using sounds, symbols and words in expressing a meaning, idea or
thought. Language can be used in many forms, primarily through oral and
written communications as well as using expressions through body
language.Many animals and even plant species communicate with each
other. Humans are not unique in this capability.
Language is the means by which man communicates his thoughts and
ideas. It is man's most efficient means of communication it is central
and most integral to humanity and as Adegbiji Adesoji (1989) puts it, …
“lt is the skin in which aspirations are couched, the skin of thought
and the flesh of the mind.” (3) That means language as we can see, is a
double edged sword capable of keeping a people together as well as
tearing them apart.Language is therefore both a uniting and disuniting
force.
According to Bloch Bernard and Trager George (1942) “Language is a
system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group
cooperates' this definition stresses the unifying function in the
society. (5)
To William Labov (1968), language is the institution whereby humans
communicate and interact with another by means of habitually oral
auditory symbols. (158)Sapir cited in David (2008)
Language is purely human and non-instructive method of
communicating ideas, emotions and thoughts by the means of the system of
voluntarily produced symbols. (4)
That is, everyday use of language involves several different senses.
At its most specific level, it may refer to the concrete act of speaking
emotional and thought in a given situation language, however, is a
distinctively human system of communication, based on oral and written
symbols. It is a Pan-human development a behavoural aspect of human
beings which serves as a point of differentiation from animals.
Sweet, cited in Obisakin, (1993) describes language as the expression
of ideas by means of speech sounds combined into words. Words are
combined into sentences. This combination answering to that of ideas
into thought. (17)
Aristotle, cited in Obisakin (1993)
Language is the universal code of
communication that fosters exchange
and expression of thoughts feelings and
ideas among humans (17)
On his part, Obisakin, (1993) defines language as a mode of
expression, a manner of expressing thought or feeling which make
communication possible (18)
Harold (1981) sees language as the medium through which thoughts are conveyed from one person to another.
Trudgill Peter (1974) argues that:
Language is not simply a means of communicating
information about the weather or any other subject It is also very
important means of establishing and maintaining relationships between
other people (Pp16)
Atchison cited in Yusuf (2006) describes language as
a patterned system of arbitrary sound symbols, whose
characteristic features of displacement, cultural
transmission, productivity and duality are rare or absent in animal
communication (106)
Although, language is a means of communication yet it is not
secondary to It but equally important, Kenneth Kaye, an American
paediatrician views language as a vital tool for communication.
Language does not exist merely for the sake
of naming things. Nor does it exist for the sake of
propositions about the world it consists of interpersonal communication
about shared and sharable intentions
Communication, which is a social need, an economic requirement and a
political necessity, is partly achieved through language It may be
difficult to precisely communicate ideas without a vocal language, as it
may be difficult to achieve development without communication. Hence
language is the basis instrument for any recordable development
2.3 CHARACTERISTIC OF LANGAUGE
By characteristic of language we mean the peculiar features or
properties by which language can be identified, and how language is seen
as away or a medium of communication, Harold (1981) clarified the
characteristics of language as follows
2.3.1 Language is a System of Speech Sound
Language is primarily a speech act. One of the basic features of all
human language is vocalization that is, production of meaningful
organized "noise" or sound verbalization or talking is therefore a
feature of all human language. In fact, language can even be seen as
"the speech of man" different from other systems of communications.
2.3.2 It is Acquired from Childhood
Another important characteristic of every human language is that it
is acquired as the child grows from childhood to adulthood. It is an
acquired behaviour from generation to generation, in other word,
language behaviours has to be acquired, although researches have proved
that humans are born with innate ability to learn any language without
being taught. The belief is that nobody is born with the ability to
speak a particular language. For example, no child has the ability from
birth to learn Hausa language.
2.3.3 Language is Dynamic
Like all other aspects of human culture, language is subject to
change. Our material culture like tools, utensils, cloths, does change
with time. The non-materials aspects like language will also vary from
one generation to another. Change should be seen therefore as a general
attributes of all language In other words, all languages are creative
and open ended New words come into being and some die out Thus language
indeed is dynamic, this change is sometimes fast or slow, radical or
superficial but it goes on all the time.