CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
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.Developmentcannot 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.Manyanimals 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 AdegbijiAdesoji (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.Languageis 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 ofcommunication that fosters exchange
and expression of thoughts feelings andideas 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.
TrudgillPeter (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 sakeof 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 Acquiredfrom 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 openended 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.
2.3.4. It is Conventional
All human languages are codified. They have a code, a kind of
unspoken or unwritten public agreement by the community which uses the
language that certain things should be done in certain ways. In other
words, every language has grammar. Grammar here is used to mean the
description of the ways in which the language uses patterns of structure
to convey meaning. The essence of language is communication, that is,
communication cannot take place where everybody insists on using his own
arbitrary names for things, objects or ideas. Every language therefore,
must have a code that is acceptable and meaningful to all users of that
language.
2.3.5 It is Complex and Systematic
Every human language is complex and systematic. Every language has
very complicated yet systematic multiple structures to enable it
communicate infinite number of messages made up of a small number of
vocal signals.
Human language is also unique in the sense that it has its own
structure, its own system of organizing its component units, into a
meaningful pattern. In other words, there are rules governing the
organization of sentences such as rule of tense and concord.Language as a
social phenomenon. Thus, it is considered in the social context as the
basic ingredient of social interaction, however, the importance of
communication to human has however been emphasized by American writer
Paul Goodman....... "Speaking is a commitment not only to a human
relationship with the one spoken to, but also to the existence of the
thing spoken about.
2.4 Multilingualism (Language Diversity)
Multilingualism is taken to mean the same with language diversity.
Multilingualism or language diversity is sociolinguisticallyused to
describe situation where two or more languages exist within the bounds
of one society.Elugbe Ben (1990) says multilingualism involves
balanced, native-like command of all the languages in the repertoire is
rather uncommon. It is a purely sociolinguistic and
socio-cultural phenomenon in which more than one language exists in
society.
The term given to the linguistic situation where two or
more languages co-exist within the bounds of one society, or are kept in
constant contact by politically and economically determined interest
(p170-176).
In line with the above definition, Akindele Femi and Adegbite Wale
(1992) see Nigeria as a typical example of a multilingual and a diverse
society. According to them, Nigeria is made up of "more than 250 ethnic
groups, with a conservative estimate of languages, each with its culture
and behavioural pattern". Despite a recent history of tribal rivalry
among some of the ethnic groups, they all continue to exist within the
bounds of the country. Based on this argument they conclude that Nigeria
is therefore a multilingual and multi-cultural speech community where,
apart from the different indigenous languages, there are foreign
languages and cultures such as English, French and even Latin (the
CatholicChurch Hymns).
Since ethnic lines follow linguistic diversity, the great variety of
languages in Nigeria tends to suggest that Nigeria is an assembly of
ethnic nationalities.
It is in recognition of Nigeria's multilingual and multi-ethnic
nature and attendant problems that a veteran Nigeria nationalist, late
Chief ObafemiAwolowo, advocated strict federation for Nigeria and
highlighted the linguistic factor in shaping the federal structure.
(16-17)
Dada (2001) quotes Awolowo further:
"We are not only diverse in language and in racial
affinity, but we are also diverse in manner of our political evolution,
there was not that political cohesion in our relationship, and there was
no relationship of a political type between all the ethnic groups and
linguistic groups in the country until the European came." (4)
Scholars and language researchers working within the field of
inter-group relations and speech variations have their own opinions' and
views about language and ethnicity. Fishman (1977) and Giles (1980)
contend very strongly that language plays a dominant role in inter-group
and ethnic relation. They assert that it is expected that members of an
ethnic-group seeking social and psycholinguistic distinctiveness will
invariable accentuate the ethnic marketers in their speech by
exhibiting remarkable speech "divergence" Instead of "convergence" in a
similar VIEW, lfeinKlevian (1979) further confirms the interrelation
between language and ethnic identity, He observes that members of any
speech community that share one common language usually have a feeling
of belonging to a particular ethnic group and all other speech
communities with whom direct linguistic communication is not possible
are automatically regarded as aliens.
Ogbulogo (1991) views language diversity as a result of multiple
languages which Nigeria has and he further says that with the diversity
of language, it has brought unity to our country, because a Yoruba man,
who is from the western part of the country, can be accepted in the
eastern part because of his ability of speaking their language. He
further says that Nigeria could be a very great country, in any way some
persons have described her as the "United States of Africa" This is no
exaggeration, but often seems appropriate as a description of her
potentials in terms of resources, Nigeria is potentially one of the
greatest countries in the world The resources of men, languages,
materials and money are sufficient to place her among the top twenty
nations of the world.Unfortunately, she is not tapping her potentials.
This is because among other problems such as indiscipline, Nigeria has
language problems which have dwarfed and drowned her progress. This
negative aspect of Nigeria is well brought out by Professor Tamuno,
Tekenathe former Vice-Chancellor of the University of lbadan in his valedictory address;Kayode (1987)
"From one Institution to another, from one sector of our
national activities to another, from one community to another, we
observe this pathetic phenomenon all things bright and beautiful, all
creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, Nigeria kills
them all,”(1)
On Nigeria multilingual problems, Adejo(2002) in "Journal of
faculty of Arts Seminar Series" BSU, MakurdiVol 1, reviews Adam (2002)..
……
"God in His infinite Wisdom made our dear country a
rain-bow collection of tribes and tongues. The rainbow in the sky is a
thing of beauty. But we seem blind to the beauty in our rainbow
collection of tribes and tongues. Instead, we find mutual suspicion,
hate and fear in other tongue and tribes. Consequently several parts of
our country are today convulsed in inter and intra-ethnic conflicts
leading to loss of lives as well as the destruction of private and
public property. The gun is beginning to rule and ruin our country"
(248)
Indeed, the gun is beginning to rule and ruin our country as past and
present ethnic crisis have shown, for example, the Nigerian-Biafra War,
Plateau and Nasarawa and the subsequent invasion of Benue State by
Nigerian Army in 2001. The Udi problem and other ethnic Militias
disturbances, OduaPeoples Congress (OPC), ljaw-Egbesu, and lgbo'sBakass,
Boys are all signs of inherent tension in the polity.
2.4.1 Plurality (Origin)There are many myths and theories on the origin of plurality and some are discussed below.
One of the earliest accounts of the origin of language plurality is
the Biblical story of the "tower of Babel" According to this myth as
captured in Genesis Chapter II, verse I - 9, the whole world at that
time had only one language. The people then decided to build a tower
that would reach up to heaven, but this did not please the Lord who
reasoned that because the people had a common language, it was easy for
them to join together to do anything they wanted to. In terms of modern
political thinking maybe they could even have attempted a coup detat so
the Lord decided to confound their language and scatter them all over
the face of the earth.Bamgbose, Ayo (1994).
The second account of the origin of language diversity is captured by
Karl Marx and Fasold Engels (1949). In their work entitled "The origin
of the family, private property and the State", Engels lays down the
three stages in the development of man: savagery, barbarism and
civilization.(6)
Describing the lower stage in the development of human society vagery
(the infancy of the human race), Engels points out that the formation
of articulate speech was the main achievement of the period. The era of
barbarism followed, when more progress was made in production than in
all the previous stages put together. The emergent tribes came within
this period.
Under the tribal system, language was closely connected with the
tribe, the highest organizational unit of which the members were aware
of their mutual kingship. Engels points out that "infact, tribe and
dialects are substantially coextensive" and the tribe is identifiable by
its peculiar dialect.
At this stage there also came a rapid increase of the population and
dense population in small areas. In quest of a living, the tribesmen had
to go to other grey able and pasture lands. Those sections that have
severed relations with their tribe eventually began to speak a bit
different from their former kinsmen This split in tribes led to splits
in their languages (9-12).
2.5 STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF LANGUAGE DIVERSITY
Since Nigeria is a diverse state in terms of language and culture, a
language in a diverse society like "Nigeria" also performs both
administrative and official needs. Where people working together even
though they are not of the same ethnic background, but because of the
speaking of other languages which is not their own, they can communicate
without using English language.
Language diversity brings unity, increase awareness, it foster
understanding and encourages partnership both economically and
politically.
The first problem of language diversity is that, it kills indigenous
language, it causes regional variations in language, it destroys the
tendencies of Lingua Franca and there will be no ethnic unity. When a
society has many languages and dialects like the tower of Babel, mutual
understanding becomes very difficult. This has been one of the causes of
bitterness and suspicion in almost every part of Nigeria, as what one
says, is often misinterpreted and misunderstood by his neighbours It
also breeds faviouritsm, nepotism, tribalism and other social ills which
will result to disunity, because many in Nigeria have the propensity to
favour their own linguistic group No wonder, it is a common place to
see and hear people greeting an occupant of an office in their native
language in an attempt to win favour.
2.6 NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (DIFFERENT VIEWS)
Recent events across Nigeria's geo-political zones have shown
anIncrease in ethnic agitations activism and militancy. The ethnic
minorities in the multi-ethnic Nigerian nation have suddenly found fresh
zeal to express their long standing grievances. National development is
one of the improvement in a country, is an umbrella term which is used
to mean a situation where we can adequately utilize our diverse
resources.
Most times, it could be natural or human resources with the aim of
benefiting things. It is a situation where people have the resource at
their disposal to have a meaningful development, the people may be from
different cultural backgrounds with diverse language and different
values sentiments are put aside in a bid to work together towards the
national development for the betterment and growth of their economy.
Scholars in the field of language have variously defined development,
and one of such definitions is that which sees it "as economic growth
and social change" Opubor (1985) views development in human society as a
many sided process. At the individual's level, it implies increased
skill and capacity, greater freedom, creativity, self discipline,
responsibility and material well being.
The achievement of any of those aspects of personal development is
very much tied to the state of the society as a whole. That means
national development has much to do with how people are united in a
country.
Economic development is an improvement in material welfare,
especially for persons with the lowest incomes the eradication of mass
poverty with its correlates of illiteracy Kindleberger and Herrick,
(1977). And in social development, we see how it has improved the social
wellbeing of the citizen especially as a nation. Although, national
development used to be measured in terms of increase in the Gross
Domestic Products (GDP) of a country.Emphasisis now placed on the
content of the GDP as well as other indicators of the quality of life to
see how and whether our economy has increased or decreased such
indicators. Manley, (1991), summarizes development as constitutes about
development as it has to do with the development of the productive
forces. It has to do with the harnessing of those forces to build viable
societies. National development rangesfrom growth in areas of politics,
economy, science and technology, education, health and securityand also
the aspect of language.
Language plays an important role in national development as it
fosters understanding, unity and sense of belonging among the various
members of the different ethnic and social groups that constitute a
nation.
Language development is a multi-disciplinary field that has as its
central question how is language learnt because language is highly
complex yet universally acquired; the answer to this question has
profound implications for understanding the essential nature of the
human mind.
2.7 NATIONAL LANGUAGE
Writing on the importance of a national language in the educational
development of a nation, Umaru .B. Ahmed in his article entitled: "the
cultural content in Nigeria Education: The Language Curriculum in Ekeh
Peter and Ashiwaju, G. (ed), Panel on Nigeria since independence History
Project (1989) quotes SekouToure, the late President of Guinea as
saying that:
The use of national language is the most efficient means
to make it educationally operative the use of national language
makes it possible to extend education to all people. (32)
Similarly, he quotes Babs Fafunwa, a onetime Minister of Education in Nigeria as saying:It
is universally accepted except in most African countries that a child
learns best in his mother tongue and that mother tongue is natural to
him as the mother's milk. (32)
It is in line with this belief that the education of the child is
meaningless without his mother tongue that the federal government of
Nigeria came out with some pronouncements as evidenced in the National
Policy on Education. According to (NPE 1989), the government appreciates
the importance of language in the educational process and as a means of
preserving the people's culture. (19)
A nation without a language of its own will lose its self-respect in
the eye of the world. If this is anything to go by, then Nigeria should
be the most respected country in the world, because of her many
languages for a nation to function properly she has to choose a national
language, this is what Nigeria has failed to do since independence
because of her multilingual and multi-ethnic composition. The mechanisms
for implementing national policy on education are only sound, their
successes are unrealistic in the face of multiple languages to choose,
secondly, the use of all the languages simultaneously is not possible,
thirdly, if the choice is easy to make in the rural areas, it is
not possible to do that in urban centers because of the multilingual
nature of the society that reflects in the society that reflects in the
urban schools population.In the face of this dilemma, coupled with the
reflection of colonial English, many Nigerians have proposed Pidgin
English as an alternative, but pidgin has its own problems. For one, it
lacks standardization ordinarily, the pidgin spoken in Lagos has a
Yoruba flavour, while that of Enugu differs from that of Kaduna
according to Akinyele, R. F. (2000), DejiOlaiya's love for "pidgin
English" once compelled him to compile and publish "A Dictionary of
Broken English in 1995. But while reviewing it, TaiwoAmodu, the reviewer
said "the text, though enduring, generates some linguistic puzzles".
Also in 1982, one Mr. Alex Igbineweka of the Nigeria Television
Authority (NTA) Lagos, invented an artificial language called GUOSA and
hastily recommended it for Nigeria in his belief, that GUOSA could
redeem the nation from oppression, tribalism, sectionalism and hatred,
Punch 22nd October, 1982. But an expert opinion suggest that the energy
expended on "GUOSA" was misdirected, Bamgbose (1985). The observation is
thatGUOSA is an amalgamation of words of existing language and that the
author fails to indicate that each time we want to form new sentence or
pronounce words, we have to run helter skelter, looking for Mr.
lgbineweka, the language originator.
In the language debate of 1977, Wole Soyinka also suggested "Swahili"
as the lingua franca for Africa during the festival of Arts and Culture
for Black Africa (FESTAC). His argument was that since "Swahili" is not
associated with any ethnic group in Nigeria, the danger of ethnic
domination is automatically eliminated Bamgbose, (1985) has observed
that the superimposition of the proposal is not compatible with the idea
of policy of education in mother tongue (100). It is also in the belief
that Nigeria would not make any meaningful strides without adoption of
an indigenous language, or national official language that calls .have
also been made by more Nigerians to adopt one. In the National House of
Assembly, debate of 21 November, 1961 M. Al-batanYerima, called on the
federal government to introduce Hausa, Yoruba and lgbo and other
languages into institutions of learning with a view to adopting one of
them as a national official language. The motion was seconded by Mr. G.
D. O. Eneh who stressed the role of a national language in promoting
harmony in "multilingualand multicultural society". The same
consideration encouraged M D. N. Orosanye and Baba Shehu Ibrahim to
propose the adoption of Hausa as a language of unity. But these
parliamentarians had hardly finished the proposal when opposition reared
its ugly head. The minority ethnic members of the House feared that the
majority ethnic groups were planning to dominate the country. Chief
Anthony Enahoro, a minority champion vehemently condemned the majority
of the proposal extolled the value of English language as a unifying
factor.
2.8 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK. .
In linguistics, different approaches are used in the study of
language. Those approaches include the functional approach, systemic
approach, traditional approach and the socio-linguistic
approach.
We believe that no one framework can be ideal to a study such as
this. Thus, much as we may want to adopt an ecleptic approach to this
research, we are however better placed to accommodate or use the
ethnography of communication theory whose main proponent is Dell Hymes
(Babatunde and Adeyanju, n.d.)
According to Dell Hymes (in Babatunde and Adeyanju, n.d. the ethnography of communication theory is:
how the conventions of language use relate to other
aspects of social behaviour. It refers to a speaker's knowledge of what
variety of language to use in what situation, how to vary style with the
audience addressed, when to speak or remain silent, when and what kinds
of gesture are required with what speech. P(32)
Furthermore, looking at the theory, we would see that language and
culture are inseparable, they are interwoven. This of course, is the
major preoccupation of this field of sociolinguistic, to which this
theory is one among others that are used to discuss sociolinguistic
findings (see Babatunde Shola and Adeyanju, Dele(ed)(527 —534).
According to Babatunde Shola andAdeyanju Dele(ed): (2002) the
ethnography of communication theory revolves around the various factors
that affect speaking a language in an ethno-linguistically diverse
society like Nigeria. Therefore, the theory is encapsulated into the
word SPEAKING which is seen as an acronym for the following:
S - Setting of a speech event, i.e. the time and place of the
communicative event.
P - Participants in the communicative content i.e. speakers and
hearers (interlocutors).
E - Ends i.e. the conventionally recognized
outcome of a linguistic exchange as well as the goals of
interlocutors in a particular communicative context.