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Neglect And Dwindling Popularity of Local Languages

It is no more news that many teenagers and youths cannot speak simple "come" or "go" in their native tongues. It is now very common in cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt among other cities. One of the causes can be traced to inter-tribal marriages that have caught the entire country like love flu. It is a welcome development. Without mincing words, inter-tribal marriages promote, first and foremost, national unity apart from other benefits.

Another cause could be traced to class snobbery. Many people see speaking of their languages as condescending. Some even speak through their noses as if they have crossed the shore of Nigeria to Europe or USA. But they have not. These are the ones that are classified as class snobs.

Finally, some would have loved to speak but they cannot. The reason is that some hardly hear their parents speak it even when they have the same tribal affiliations. Besides, many have never for once visited their respective villages.

What do we do to stem this ugly tide. Or how can we stop this?

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Permalink Reply by Ashipa James Olashupo on June 26, 2009 at 11:52pm: This ugly trend is accentuated by our long colonial experience. We have been brain-washed to believe that another man's medium of communication is superior to ours.
To ameliorate the situation, our educational policy makers should understudy the Asian countries and learn how they have been able to preserve their language and culture even while embracing modernity. I am always amazed that they still use their chopsticks and practice acupuncture.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by swagga on June 27, 2009 at 2:16pm: we have to promote our local languages, shame on those fools who think od_wise. i was born abroad but i can speak my mother tongue and father tongue better than most born in niga. i can even scatter broken better than most. h/v I'm not sure i agree with ur views on inter-tribal marriage- but i leave dat for another day.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alvin Adewunmi on July 1, 2009 at 12:26am: If I am not wrong, there are more than 500 tribes in Nigeria which means more than 500 languages/dialects. How are we supposed to know all these languages? But English is the National language for Nigeria as a means for you to communicate with your brothers and sisters which means you are all unified under one roof and thus you all will be able to understand each other. Unlike America, a friend told me that they don't have a National language, even though they speak English.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ISAAC ASABOR on July 1, 2009 at 4:23am: The above contributor, Mr. Adewunmi has missed the point. The issue under discuss is not for a search of a national language. We are talking about individual native tongues. Given your surname, I know that you are a yoruba man. The issue under discussion is that you suppose to know how to speak yoruba as a native tongue. If on the other hand your mum is not yoruba but Idoma, you should be able to speak Idoma even if you cannot speak your father's own which is yoruba. The point is, speak a native tongue.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alvin Adewunmi on July 1, 2009 at 7:26am: Hi Isaac, I see your point. There are also Nigerians who are born and bred outside Nigeria and who never speak any of the native languages at all. Does that make them any less better than those who can speak a native language? As long as we all can speak English and undestand each other would be good enough for me, even though they don't speak a native language.; ▶ Reply to This