ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND GLOBALISATION: THE SUPERSTRATAL INFLUENCE ON NIGERIAN LANGUAGES

ABSTRACT

The global importance of English has endangered indigenous languages in Nigeria. Many parents no longer consider it important to educate or communicate with their children in their mother tongue. This work sets out to ascertain if the Nigerian Languages are truly endangered by the emergence of globalisation or the people are responsible for the endangered languages. The findings show that the English Language as a global tool has impacted negatively on Nigerian languages, and has contributed enormously to the endangerment of such languages. This is achieved by sampling opinion of different levels of respondents through the use of questionnaires and interview. It is believed that the English language enjoys greater prestige followed by major Nigerian language for glaring political, demographic and economic factors. The various government efforts aimed at sensitising, developing and preserving especially the major languages in Nigeria have not been successful, due to lack of proper implementation of these efforts. Furthermore, the inability of many renowned Nigerian authors to write in the local languages and the publishers lack of interest in accepting and publishing material in the local languages are quite detrimental to the development of the indigenous languages. It is sufficient to note therefore, that the continued use of the English language as a medium of instruction in schools, as well as in seminars, conferences, workshops, media and churches will continue to discourage the development of Nigerian language and culture.

Table of Contents

APPROVAL PAGE .. ii

CERTIFICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv

DEDICATION v

ABSTRACT .. vi

LIST OF TABLES vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS viii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the study... 1

1.2 Statement of Problem.. 6

1.3 Objectives of the Study... 7

1.4 Significance of the study 8

1.5 Research Questions. 8

1.6 Limitation of the study ......... 9

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELEVANT LITERATURE

2.1 Conceptual Framework 10

2.2 Theoretical Framework . 18

2.2.1 The Utilitarian Function .. . 20

2.2.2 Value Expression Function 20

2.2.3 The Ego Defensive Function. 21

2.2.4 Knowledge Function 21

2.3 Empirical Review .. 21

2.3.1 Globalisation and English language .. 22

2.3.2 Place of English in Nigerian . 24

2.3.3 Emerging varieties of English in the face of

globalisation . 27

2.3.4 The Global Functions of English 30

2.3.5 The National Function of English 31

2.3.6 The State of Nigerian Languages 34

2.4 Summary . 36

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 Research Design .. 39

3.2 Area of Study . 39

3.3 Research Population . 40

3.4 Sampling Technique .. 40

3.5 Research Instrument . 41

3.6 Method of Data Collection 41

3.7 Method of Data Analysis .. 42

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS

4.1 Demography 43

4.2 Research Questions and Analysis .. 47

4.3 Interview Questions and analysis . 55

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Discussion of Findings... 57

5.2 Conclusion 62

5.3 Recommendation 63

WORKS CITED 66

APPENDIX . 70