Critical Evaluation Of The Effect Of Pidgin English On Students In Nigeria University

Critical Evaluation Of The Effect Of Pidgin English On Students In Nigeria University

Chapter One

Preface

Nigeria is a multilingual country with over 400 indigenous languages, three of which are considered prominent, specially Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, which represent the three major geopolitical zones, North, East, and South, independently. Despite this, Nigerian Pidgin is extensively spoken throughout the nation and has come a lingua franca for numerous, although it’s a Creole in several Southern and Eastern countries similar as Rivers, Lagos, Delta, Edo, and Cross Rivers. Marchese and Schnkal( 1980) affirm this following a substantial development in the Delta area of Nigeria, saying”. in a specific portion of Nigeria, the areas girding Warri and Sapele, Nigerian pidgin is further of a Creole.” Creole is a first language that combines a European language with a original language. Some consider it a shoptalk of English, while others consider it a separate language. A study at the structure of Nigerian pidgin( NP) reveals that it has its own structures and patterns of geste . NP was formerly allowed to be the language of individualities who could not speak proper English, but numerous people now know else. It’s no surprise, still, that it’s not just employed by undergraduates at Nigerian institutions when conversing with the ignorant public, but it’s also come a fascinating medium of informal cloverleaf among scholars themselves. According to Fisherman( 1997),” no language judged inferior is adequately rational.” This is because a lingua franca or common language of communication evolves when two or further speech communities come into touch. He goes on to say that the social circumstance, frequently known as environment, influences the morpho- syntactic structure of a language. Because pidginisation is a” complex process of Sociolinguistics,” according to Hymes( 197184), we will now look at the operation of Nigerian Pidgin English among scholars at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto.

Background To The Study

The term pidgin refers to a language that emerges when speakers of different languages need to communicate but don’t partake a common language. When a pidgin emerges, it’s generally learnt as a alternate language and used for communication between individualities who speak colorful languages.

Language is the most creative and measureless tool for social communication, and it enables us to comprehend the profound social significance, artistic engagement, and mortal relatedness of language. Having said that, we can each agree that pidgin is a language in its own right, not simply a supplemental lingo, as some people believe, because it serves as a measureless tool for social communication, particularly in a multilingual nation like Nigeria.

According to Linton( 1982),” the culture of a civilization is its members’ way of life, the collection of ideas and habits that they acquire, partake, and pass from generation to generation.” Language is the only way for these societies, ideas, and actions to be passed down from generation to generation. Linguistics holds that any language is competent to express the communication conditions of its people and, as similar, shouldn’t be poisoned.

This can not be true about Nigerian Pidgin, despite the fact that it’s a language, because several groups have tried to abolish the operation of Nigerian Pidgin English. These attempts, still, have been ineffective because of the language’s high value to its druggies. It’s a language that has brought people together despite difference in ancestral culture and language by fostering a original culture that integrates generalities from several societies.

likewise, the operation of Pidgin as a lingua Franca impacts numerous Nigerians in academic careers, particularly those scholars who appear from areas where it’s spoken.

Statement Of The Problem

It’s important to note that what began as a” exigency language” among white merchandisers to grease communication with natives has now evolved into” an potty lot language” spoken among the bulging population of Nigerian scholars in advanced institutions of literacy, thereby lapping standard English to the point where the scholars’ capability is bloodied.

Aim And Objects Of The Study

This exploration is carried out to examine the effect of Pidgin English on scholars ’ capability. It’s a fact that scholars diverge from the morals of codified English in utmost of their essays and dispatches.

The following are the set of objects to be achieved

1. to determine the extent to which pidgin English affect the academic performance of tertiary scholars.

2. to determine the factors enhancing pidgin English amongst tertiary scholars.

3. to determine the relationship between pidgin English and standard English and its goods on the academic performance of tertiary scholars.

4. to proffer possible result to the problems.

Exploration Questions

1. What’s the extent to which pidgin English affect the academic performance of tertiary scholars?

2. What’s the factors enhancing Pidgin English amongst tertiary scholars?

3. What’s the relationship between pidgin English and standard English and its goods on the academic performance of tertiary scholars?

4. What’s possible result to the problems?

Significance Of The Study

This study is significant because its findings can help to identify the reasons of scholars’ faculty. This work will really add to one’s understanding, particularly at the Department of English at Usmanu Danfodiyo University in Sokoto, since it’ll punctuate colorful enterprises with written English. It’ll serve as a roadmap for an effective educational system.

Apologies For The Study

previous to this time, a lot of workshop and exploration have been done on NP as a language of wider communication in Nigeria. still, its impact on the scholars is worth probing. This work will essay to reveal the fact that the Nigerian pidgin which was originally used as a medium of communication by particular group of people and for specific purpose has gradationally come to be used in institutions of advanced literacy

Compass Of The Study

This exploration work will essay to probe the impact of Pidgin English on the University community, though it focuses on the scholars of UDU, Sokoto( 300level MELL) with a view to furnishing detailed information on the impact of NP on the performance of the scholars.