Another Perspective to a Common Local Language for Nigeria

Abstract

At last the three major Nigerian languages have been prompted via the constitution and the National policy on Education as national languages. The term,national language is misapplied (cf. Mbagwu and Obiorah, 2007). The languages are better described as regional official languages (wardhaugh,1998:449): they are largely spoken in the regions where they are native. That is, there are a negligible number of Nigerians who speak the three languages. This paper explains, with reference to a study reported here, that most Nigerians have not accepted the languages and might not accept any other because of their high regard for foreign languages, especially English. The paper expresses hope that this negative attitude could change if Nigerians are made to appreciate that the mother Tongue is very important in computation, perception and interpreting and that all the Nigerian languages belong to one phylum. In other words, any of the local languages would reflect shared origin and sentiments and is therefore better than any borrowed (foreign) languages.