NAN-ELS-3
Languages
By Justina David Auta
Abuja, Feb. 21, 2017 (NAN) Prof. Harrison Adeniyi of the African Languages, Literature and Communication Arts Department, University of Lagos said the use of indigenous languages in schools would improve the nation’s technological status.
Adeniyi, who is also the National President, Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday during the 2017 International Mother Language Day celebration in Abuja.
“ If Nigeria wants to develop technologically, we have to embrace our indigenous languages.
“ All these nations that have developed technologically, they do and are still doing that on the wings of their indigenous languages like China, Japan, Germany, France even the Asians tigers are all doing that in the wings of their indigenous languages, ‘’ he said.
He said that education and information in the mother language would further improve learning and develop confidence and self-esteem of the people, which he added was a powerful ‘’engine of development’’.
“ It is a known fact that no nation can develop technologically using a language that is non-indigenous to the citizens.
“Teaching these pupils in foreign languages is not only inimical to the growth and development of Nigeria, but also a flagrant abuse and disobedience of the National Policy on Education (2014 edition).
“Also, whatever technology we are aspiring to achieve will always be a fluke and total mirage if these scientific concepts are not delivered in the languages that the children understand most,’’ he said.
He, therefore, stressed the need for a total change in the mindset and psyche of the public to appreciate, learn and speak indigenous languages and cultures as well as develop materials and books on indigenous languages.
Adeniyi also harped on the need to strengthen and adequately fund departments of Nigerian languages in tertiary institutions, give incentives such as scholarships, grants and loan to encourage students to study indigenous languages.
He called on legislatures at all levels to urgently amend the aspect of the Nigeria’s Constitution on the use of English and other three languages for deliberations.
He urged that Nigerians should also be encouraged to learn languages different from their own to enable them communicate effectively with people from other ethnicity.
“We should not run away from our languages. If we do so, we are running away from our future, identity and without these we are nothing,’’ he said.
The theme for 2017 International Mother Language Day Celebration (IMLD) is “ Sustainable Futures through Multilingual Education.’’ (NAN)
JAD/GY
=======
Edited by Grace Yussuf