Introduction
Recent developments in geopolitics and foreign policy have refocused minds on the significant role language plays in influencing and modifying expectations. Even the most powerful players in the scene are very mindful of their audiences and duly address them in languages they understand. For example the opening session of the ongoing Geneva II conference exemplified the fact despite that geopolitical giants, it is an Arab affair. So much for English as the global language! My grudge is the difficulty in understanding and dealing with lack of linguistic nationalism in those who represent constituencies in and of Nigeria.
Who Speaks?
I used to take it for granted that English language is the medium of public communication despite experiencing and participating in my local parliamentary deliberations in the good old days. In those parliaments usually lead by the senators, all legal, economic, social and even spiritual matters are dealt with thoroughly in Igbo. For the most part majority population most times, nearly 100% of residents of the parliamentary jurisdiction are fluent in Igbo. I am certain this is or was the case in other Nigerian nations. Nevertheless within the same space, one was/is confronted with state/federal government communications undilutedly transmitted in English. The 1970s/1980s is poignant as majority seek for interpretation of messages behind martial music; coup d’état. Apparently this is increasingly the case at the state levels where majority population exists whose language is also vehicle of public communication. Somehow the recent gate crashers of governance & representation have turned into unwarranted zombie-apostles of English Language. I hear some weak mind arguing its incentive for cohesion or questioning its strategic usefulness!
I hear you!
While political independence conveys many things, the most important of its meanings are relegated and denied. Majority of Nigerians speak more than one Nigerian language. One would naturally expect that medium of public communication between representative/leaders and the people will be the ‘global’ majority tongue of the geography i.e. state and sub-state levels. They peoples have not rejected or discouraged listening to budget, anniversary message or holiday message in Igbo, Nupe, Ijo, Yoruba, Efik and so on. There is nothing puritanical in such expectation. Rather they are increasingly shorn of their patrimony as English language is ruthlessly re-imposed. This ontological assault has created confusing personalities who live in conflict of linguistic disequilibrium. For many, priority is given to the English with all sorts of unarticulated justifications.
All No be Zombie
One may argue if choice of language will bring food to the table. It will do better than that by reinforcing collective ontology and essence. It will force a re-thinking on our understanding of the function of language. Some of many leaders like Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, General Emeka Ojukwu and others appreciated and assimilated these values in their learning and speaking at least 3 languages of Nigeria with clinical fluency. Before the entity and concept called Nigeria emerged, interaction of peoples under its umbrella was active and sign-language was not the lingua franca. There were significant progress in trade, exchange and learning between various nations and empires, a case which is easily dismissed by those who claim peoples of Nigeria had nothing in common. At least they are all Africans! Various communities across the land have citizens of whose genetic origins are distances or nations away. Even today the multinational and plurinational characters of the peoples cannot be denied but their interaction is no incentive for evangelisation of imposed imperial language(s).
Diplomatic Wahala!
Openness, greater interaction and reduced cost of travel have brought more exposure to wider use of language. It has also enabled appreciation that linguistic struggle of Europe, perceived as the epitome of development, remains unfinished business. European Union may be questionable in delivering neo-liberal economic agenda; however its language policy is active in broad representation of peoples. At least over 15 languages are used as official medium of communication, presentation and documentation.
Nigerians are still struggling to articulate the reason for its existence talk less of finalising its policy on language. In the meantime they’ll continue reading the ‘gospel according to st English’. It is now business-as-usual observing Nigerian officials quibbling, struggling and faff around with English language for international media. The initial striking point is enormous energy, massive strain, discomfort and above all dislocation with the language each claims to be his/her own. There is no law that says that an official must communicate in a imposed language of difficulty, there is no code that banish using other languages (with interpreters) to communicate in diplomatic/international fora. By the way who is the audience? In most cases anyone speaking on international platform have his/her domestic audience in mind.
As a collorary, it is more likely that a Nigerian young woman in UK or US will scan and dismiss Nigerian young man for approaching ‘her majesty’ in their national tongue or questionable English accent.
Our Arab brothers/sisters in North Africa have greater clarity in the subject. Even the current president for all his qualification in formal education can at times appear like a rabbit before a head lamp in confusion, oral pugilism and mandibular contortion. For what? To live an examined life? Is speaking Ijo (with interpreter) anathema on international scene?
Lessons in Ignorance
Our Asian brothers/sisters have made greater strides in the language sphere and they have babels of it. They have contentment, maturity, metaphysical astuteness and confidence to deal with anyone in their own tongue when it matters. Time has passed when eloquence and command of English language is a measure of intelligence, actually in many cases it is a measure of stupidity and ontological dislocation. Those who erroneously harbour in their mangled minds that many Nigerians who relish their national languages anywhere are inferior only ignorantly express their comfort in the mire of arrogance. This is more so with those who are brain-washed with a virulent type of religious abuse that diminishes, retrogresses and distorts essence and origin in various forms of suffocated christianity.
If one don’t know himself/herself, cannot communicate trully with oneself and to other in teh confidence of his/her original tongue where applicable, doesn’t examine his/her live thoroughly, I doubt his/her life will be worth living. I am doubtful that the descendants and successors will easily reverse what was lost in language in an intergenerational quagmire.
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