INTRODUCTION
This unit deals with the introduction of the English language into Nigeria. Nigeria had many of his own indigenous languages before the coming of the English language, and it is believed that every language is adequate for users in every culture. How then, you may wonder, did the English language come to occupy such a vantage position in Nigeria? In this unit, you will learn more about this phenomenon that is, how the English language was introduced into Nigeria where it is now playing very important roles.
Factors Responsible for the Implantation of the English Language in Nigeria
The traditional home of English is Britain from where the language was transported to the different parts of the world. The transplantation of English to different parts of the world has led to the emergence of many geographical varieties of the language e.g. Nigerian English, South African English, and Caribbean English and so on.
The actual date the English language entered Nigeria is not yet known, but scholars like Adetugbo (1978), and Banjo (1966) believe that the language must have been introduced to the area in the 16th century. Some factors can be held responsible for the implantation of English in Nigeria. These factors include trade or commerce, religious activities, colonialism and education.
3.2 Implantation through Trade or Commerce
The English language was brought to Nigeria by the traders who had established active trade contact with the West African coastal region as far back as the 16th century. The type of English that was introduced around this period was Pidgin English.
In addition, the trans-Atlantic slave trade also aided the implantation of the English language in Nigeria. This was so in at least two ways. One, during the slave trade period, the slave traders must have used some form of the language to transact business with the local intermediaries. Two, when the trade was abolished, some of the freed slaves, especially from Sierra-Leone and Liberia, were said to have found their way back to such places as Badagry, Lagos, Abeokuta and so on, where they helped to spread the knowledge of English which they had acquired. Some of these freed slaves functioned as clerks and interpreters to missionaries and colonial administrators.
3.3 Implantation through Religion
The series of exploration activities into various parts of Africa helped to open the continent to the outside word. Notable among these exploration activities were those of Mungo Park, Clapperton and Lander Brothers. Immediately after these explorations, Christian missionary activities began. These missionary activities contributed immensely to the implantation of English in Nigeria. The missionaries had to train some Nigerians to become clerks and interpreters. And in doing this, the people were exposed to some form of English. Missionary activities started in places like Badagry and Abeokuta, where Churches were established and schools opened to train people as catechists and so on.
3.4 Implantation through Education
With the Christian missionary activities came western education. In fact, the coming of the Christian missionaries can be said to be the beginning of the formal acquisition of the English language in Nigeria with the establishment of schools where English started to be taught and learnt as a subject on the curriculum.
During the days of the European Christian missionary activities in Nigeria, the type of education that was introduced gave prominence to language-related activities like reading and writing. This was to aid the missionaries in their activities.
3.5 Implantation through Colonialism
Missionary activities and colonialism can be said to work hand in hand on the Nigerian soil. It also seems that the missionary efforts prepared the way for colonialism. The British came to Nigeria to colonize it just as they did to many other parts of the world. One of the major legacies that Nigeria inherited from the British colonial government is the English language
Self-Assessment Exercises
1. What do you understand by language implantation?
2. State three factors that were responsible for the implantation
of the English language in Nigeria.
4.0 CONCLUSION
Considering the various means through which English was introduced to Nigeria, it will not be wrong to say that the language was brought to Nigeria through diplomacy rather than force. Since its inception on the Nigeria soil, the language has been playing many vital roles; its impact is felt in almost all facets of life in our society.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this unit, we have discussed briefly the implantation of English in Nigeria. It has been shown in the unit that factors such as commercial activities, Christian missionary activities, western education and colonialism contributed seriously to the introduction and development of English in Nigeria. Today, English is so important in Nigeria that its impact is felt in almost every area of life.
6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT
1. What do you understand by the process of language implantation?
2. Identify and explain four factors responsible for the implantation of English in Nigeria
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Adetugbo, A (1978) “The Development of English in Nigeria up to 1914: A Socio-Historical Appraisal.” Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. ix (2) pp 89- 103
Banjo (1996) Making A Virtue of Necessity: An Overview of the English Language in Nigeria. Ibadan: Ibadan University Press
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