The Effects Of Nigeria Pidgin English On Students Of Tertiary Institution

The Effects Of Nigeria Pidgin English On Students Of Tertiary Institution

Chapter 1

Introduction:

Man’s capacity to communicate verbally and make others understand him is one of the most significant distinctions between him and other animals. Language is only conceivable when members of each civilization concur on how to interpret a specific sound pattern. For instance, the term “water” is understood in all English-speaking nations. Akindele and Adegbije define language as:

A human phenomena with form that can be characterized in terms of words, morphemes, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or discourse (1).

This definition demonstrates how language has frequently been cited as being the most distinctive quality of man. Humans are able to grasp and transmit reality from one generation to the next through the use of language. Blakar, who claims that “we actually live and behave in a world of language” (4), supports this point of view. Noam Chomsky was quoted by Victoria Fromkin and Robert Rodman as saying:

We get closer to what some people could refer to as the human essence when we study human language. the mental abilities that are, as far as we can tell, exclusive to humans. (1).

The primary method of human communication is language, which Oyewo Yinka defines as “the medium or vehicle for conveying ideas, a system of arbitrary vocal symbol based on social cooperation; the totality of meaningful utterance in any given society” (15).

The main subject of this study is how Nigerian Pidgin English affects students. The history of linguistic interaction, subsequent borrowing, and code-mixing in Pidgin varies. The first contacts between multilingual coastal populations and Portuguese traders—who were later joined by the Dutch and the English—are said to be the source of Nigerian pidgin. Nigerian Pidgin English is actually rising to prominence across the nation, particularly at secondary schools and universities, as well as in official events and in workplaces. It serves as a unifying language for the nation’s many ethnic groups in terms of social integration.

Pidgin English from Nigeria has advanced to the point where it is used for literary communication. “Dis Nigeria Sef,” a poetry by Ken Saro-Wiwa, “No Food No Country,” a play by Tunde Fatunde, and “Grip Am,” a play by Ola Rotimi are a few examples of works that use Nigerian pidgin as a means of expression, albeit some people think it has a poor social rank. As the primary language used for communication among the many diverse speakers in Nigeria, Nigerian Pidgin is here to stay. As said by Jowitt:

Currently, pidgin is in great demand as a means of interethnic communication, particularly in the south and in big towns with a sizable non-indigenous population (Bendel, Benin, Port Harcourt, etc.) or in states with a wide variety of tiny ethnic groups.(13)

In this scenario, the normal linguistic pattern has been altered but is nevertheless widely used to communicate meaning. The language is not only constantly changing; it also developed through a fusion of various tongues. Experiences have demonstrated that Nigerian Pidgin English has achieved a wider audience among the students for whom this work was intended in all sectors of the economy, especially the educational sector.

History of the Study:

A language that emerges when speakers of different languages need to communicate but do not speak the same language is referred to as a pidgin. Once a pidgin has developed, it is typically studied as a second language and employed for interlanguage communication.

Language is the most expressive and unrestricted tool for social interaction, and it aids in our comprehension of the profound social significance, cultural significance, and human resemblance of language. In light of the foregoing, we can all agree that pidgin is a language unto itself and not merely a second language, as some see it, as it provides a limitless means of social contact, particularly in a multilingual setting like Caritas University.

In the words of R. Linton, “the culture of a society is the way of life of its members, the collection of ideas and habits which they learn, share, and transmit from generation to generation” (12). Only language allows for the transmission of these cultures, beliefs, and customs from one generation to the next. According to linguistic theory, all languages are sufficient for expressing the interpersonal communication demands of their speakers, and as such, they shouldn’t be subjected to prejudice.

Even though Nigerian Pidgin is a language, this cannot be said about it because numerous attempts have been made by various factions to ban Nigerian Pidgin English usage. However, due to the language’s high value to its users, these attempts have been unsuccessful. Because it has developed a local culture for itself that incorporates concepts from several civilizations, it is a language that has united people despite their differences in ancestral culture and language.

Problem Statement for the Research:

Both English and Nigerian Pidgin are languages, and there is space for them to coexist and benefit from one another. It is generally accepted that Nigerian Pidgin English is not the appropriate language for use in formal settings, and that its use in such settings is generally frowned upon. This is despite the fact that it appears to be the most popular means of communication among various groups and is easier to learn than any other language in the country today.

The potential of Nigerian Pidgin English as a language will be investigated in this study project. Why are Nigerian Pidgin English’s usage and status disparaged if it has tremendous potential? Does the student’s academic performance suffer if they speak Nigerian Pidgin? We will be able to provide relevant suggestions for future research after we have the answers to these questions.

The goal of the study is:

The purpose of this investigation is to examine the state and efficacy of Nigerian Pidgin English. It goes without saying that for a very long time, students in higher education have communicated with each other in Nigerian Pidgin English. This study will reveal whether students’ academic performance at Caritas University is impacted in any way by their usage of Nigerian Pidgin English. The conclusion would be seen as being general, affecting students who similarly value Nigerian Pidgin English above standard English in other institutions.

Important Findings of the Study:

This study is significant because the findings may help identify the factors that influence students’ academic success or failure. Whether Nigerian Pidgin English has benefited or hindered the students.

There is little question that this study would advance knowledge, particularly in the English department at Caritas University in Enugu because it will draw attention to various problems with educational planning. The federal government will use it as a reference when developing an efficient educational system.

Range and restrictions:

This project’s focus is on how Nigerian Pidgin English has an impact on the campus community. Its usage in different contexts will be evaluated. Despite the possibility that the results are general, this study is only conducted at Caritas University in Enugu.

Research Techniques:

In my case study at Caritas University in Enugu State, one hundred (100) students were given surveys, and all one hundred completed, collected, and returned the questionnaires.

The yes/no formatted result/total of responses from the respondents is tabled. Data collection was divided into two stages. the primary and secondary sources. The questionnaire serves as the primary source, whereas books, journals, and other materials are considered secondary sources. Benue State University and Caritas University libraries were used for the research on the items.

One hundred (100) questionnaires were issued in total, and the method utilized to determine the various responses was the percentage system.