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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)
Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2017
Promoting Indigenous Language in Nigeria: Issues
and Challenges for the Library and Information
Professionals
OYEMIKE VICTOR BENSON
FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC NEKEDE, OWERRI, greatoyemike@yahoo
...
ANYALEBECHI
Medical Library, College of Medicine Chukwuemeka Odimegwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State,
ihechikwerelinda@gmail
...
com
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons
...
edu/libphilprac
Part of the Library and Information Science Commons
BENSON, OYEMIKE VICTOR; ANYALEBECHI, Linda I
...
Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)
...
http://digitalcommons
...
edu/libphilprac/1472
Promoting Indigenous Language in Nigeria: Issues and Challenges for the Library and
Information Professionals
Oyemike Victor BENSON
ICT/Virtual Library, Library Division,
Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State
greatoyemike@yahoo
...
com, +23408037931417
Linda Ihechikwere ANYALEBECHI
Medical Library, College of Medicine
Chukwuemeka Odimegwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Anambra State
ihechikwerelinda@gmail
...
com, aidprince@yahoo
...
The desk research approach involving
extensive review of literatures on indigenous language was adopted
...
The way forward for sustainable promotion of indigenous languages
highlighted in the paper are: grass root promotion of indigenous language, establishment of
centre for Advancement of Indigenous Language in Nigeria
...
The
paper concludes that library and information science professional occupy a central position in
the promotion of indigenous language in Nigeria
...
No culture can thrive without
language, just as no society can exist without language
...
It is through the instrumentality of language that people
communicate, interact and live together
...
Therefore, language can be acknowledged as the key driver of
meaningful development
...
For instance, if education is a basic
factor for development in any society, then language through which the education is passed to
the people is as important as the education itself
...
Language plays a great role in culture and societal
development because we use language everyday in many ways and to meet countless different
needs
...
The repository of a people’s identity and way of life is encapsulated in their
language as well as transferred to other people and newer generations, via the means of language
(Emeka-Nwobia, 2015)
...
Understanding the Content and Context of Language
Language is an integral part of human behaviour and it serves as the primary means of
interaction between people (Adedeji, 2014)
...
Language according to Odegbenle (2013) is a form
of communication which allow animal (both lower and higher) to engage in transaction and share
thoughts, beliefs, notions, ideas, experiences and so on which are presumably known to both
parties
...
It is important to the meaningful existence of the human race
...
It is the unique property of human beings and
all the developments of man, be it intellectual, ethical, political, social or economic revolves
entirely on the instrumentality of language (Ene, 2007)
...
Language according to Yusuf (2012) remains potentially a communicative medium
capable of expressing issues and concepts as well as moods, feelings and attitudes
...
Man needs language for the dissection and analysis of
material reality and spiritual experience as well as for formulation
of hypothetical statements, theories and belief as well as value
systems
...
The functional characteristics of language according to Emeka -Nwobia (2015) are not
just limited to communication or transfer of information
...
The Relevance of Language in National Development
The place of language in National Development was aptly underscored by Ayodele
(2013:2) when he asserted that:
…
...
No meaningful development
can take place in a human community without language
...
Human beings get equipped
5
for their maximum self realization and self development through
the use of language
...
Uzochukwu (2001) submits that, we cannot achieve
economic prosperity and technological breakthrough in foreign language
...
It holds the power to maintain national and cultural identity (EmekaNwobia, 2015)
...
Language therefore, provides means of accessing our thoughts
...
Ene (2007) submits that education through the indigenous languages in
Nigeria will stimulate learners for productivity more than the foreign language, and make
learning more functional
...
Indigenous languages are the tribal, native or local language spoken
...
Language being a potent vehicle of transmitting
culture, norms, values and beliefs from generation to generation remains a central factor in
determining the overall status of a nation (Yusuf, 2012)
...
They are languages that are aboriginal to the people
(Adeniyi & Bello, 2006)
...
As noted by Olafia (2014) many societies are faced with the challenges of language
loss, language shift or even language death and this to him, may be linked to the fact that a large
percentage of the languages are still not properly documented
...
Similarly, Adzer (2012)
avers that the government should give more attention to the development and promotion of
indigenous languages than it is presently giving to English, French or other foreign languages
being imposed on children to whom the mother tongue is alien
...
Justification for Promoting Indigenous Language
Adedeji (2014) citing Salawu (2014) notes that indigenous languages are not highly
esteemed just like in Nigeria, where English and western education remain the vehicles of power
and progress in life
...
Balogun (2013) contends that the loss of any language by a people is the loss of their
root and the loss of their identity and when a language is lost, such a people who experience the
loss continue to live in the shadow of other people’s identity and culture
...
Dooga (2012) affirmed that the loss of a language includes the loss of a people’s heritage,
their culture, and it takes away an important part of a nation’s history because as the language
declines, so do the cultural mores of the people who speak it
...
The use of indigenous language is central to the holistic development of any nation
...
Benson, Okere & Nwauwa
(2016) adduced reasons that underscore the need to promote indigenous language in Nigeria
...
The Place of Library in Language Development
According to Olaifa (2014), the importance of libraries in language preservation and
development is huge because libraries provides information in either written, electronic or audio
visual form, which play a key role in creating literate environments and promoting literacy by
offering relevant and attractive reading material for all
...
Library can
play a significant role in the documentation of indigenous language
...
g
...
Challenges to Effective Promotion of Indigenous Language by Library and Information
Science Professionals
Library and Information science professionals in Nigeria are likely to face the following
challenges when promoting indigenous language
...
1
...
It has been acknowledged that there about 400 indigenous languages spoken in Nigeria
with only few in written forms (Jibir-Daura, 2014)
...
2
...
In such
situation, there is a limit to the extent they can go in the promotion of indigenous language
...
Non-documentation of indigenous language: There is dearth of proper documentation
of indigenous languages both in oral and written format
...
It is therefore, difficult for library and
information professionals to promote indigenous language that has not been documented in
printed form
...
Preference for English Language: English language as noted by Yusuf (2012) has
emerged as that privilege language without which the unity of Nigeria as a nation is most
improbable, if not out rightly impossible, no doubt, majority of Nigerians go through the
primary, secondary, post-secondary schools being taught in English language
...
The Way Forward
In other for library and information professionals to promote indigenous language, the
following must be recognized
...
Grass root promotion of indigenous language: At this point, it is imperative that library
and information professionals should be actively engaged in the promotion of indigenous
language
...
If librarianship must remain relevant in this age of competition in
the information industry, librarians must take library services beyond the conventional library
practices
...
Establishment of Centre for Advancement of Indigenous Languages in Nigeria
(AILN): Library and information professionals can also play a significant role by partnering with
Ministry of Education in the various states to establish Centre for Advancement of Indigenous
Languages in Nigeria
...
The public libraries in the various states can be used as venues for this
venture
...
However, various stakeholders in librarianship in Nigeria like
Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), Nigerian Library Association (NLA), in
collaboration with public libraries can work out the modalities for the sustainability of this
venture
...
Promoting books written in indigenous language: Librarians should help to promote
books written in indigenous languages
...
Librarians should go beyond waiting for
11
people to come to the library to utilize such books
...
4
...
In line with this, library and information
professionals can take proactive and pragmatic steps in translating literary works written in
English to indigenous language either in written form or audio content
...
According to Benson, Okere & Nwauwa (2016), the school libraries
with copyright permission from authors can help in the translation of literary works into our
indigenous languages
...
5
...
This step would help to reposition library and information science
professionals with the fundamental understanding of at least one Nigerian indigenous language
...
Conclusion
12
Library and information science professionals occupy a central position in the promotion
of indigenous language in Nigeria
...
References
Adedeji, A
...
(2015)
...
Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review (OMAN
Chapter), 4(8): 35-45
...
& Bello, R
...
Nigerian media indigenous languages and sustainable
development
...
F
...
A
...
) Somerville, MA: Cascarilla Proceedings
Projects, pp
...
Adzer, V
...
(2012)
...
Journal Of Igbo Language & Linguistics, 5; 76-79
...
U
...
M
...
Second language acquisition, attrition of indigenous
languages in Nigeria: cultural implications, 13(4):1-5
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O
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K
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Reviving indigenous languages through teaching and
learning: the case of Igala language International Journal of Education, Learning and
Development, 3(7):35-46
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J
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UNESCO prediction on the extinction of Igbo language in 2025: analyzing
societal violence and new transformative strategies
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Ayeomoni, M
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(2011)
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Internal
Journal of English and Literature, 2(9):195-199
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A
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Language education: catalyst for promoting social stability, national
security and conflict resolution in Nigeria
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Balogun, T
...
(2013)
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African Nebula, 6; 70-82
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V
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V
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B
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The role of school libraries in the
promotion of indigenous language in Nigerian primary and post primary schools
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9;24-30
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T
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Nigerian languages: failing health and possible healing AFRREV
LALIGENS, 1(1):76-95
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U
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The place of indigenous Nigerian languages in National
development
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Ene, I
...
(2007)
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In: Nworgu, B
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(ed)
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(pp
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Nsukka: University Trust Publishers
...
(2014)
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Odegbenle, L
...
(2013)
...
Singaporean
Journal of Business Economics and Management Studies, 1(11):162-168
...
(2015)
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International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 5 (9): 154-160
...
P
...
Language preservation and development: the role of the library
...
Uzochukwu, S
...
The role of Nigerian languages and culture in National development
...
Yusuf, H
...
(2012)
...
International Journal for Cross Disciplinary Subjects in Education (IJCDSE),
2(1):898-905