IMPACT OF PIDGIN ENGLISH IN TEACHING AND LEARNING ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

 CHAPTER ONE

Background of the study

attitude towards language or language behavior implicate social meaning relative to social norm in given speech community, as demonstrated in the literature language attitude study is not only a way of understanding how language is used, for example as a symbol of identity or in group membership, it also helped to illuminate the social importance of given code or language ( adigbija (1994; ihemere 2006; salami 1991). Attitudinal studies of language are also important to linguistics because they could help to explain language maintenance and shift, which are apparently influenced by whether the change or maintenance is favored or disfavored by members of the speech community (mann1993; 1998).

In Nigeria, Nigeria pidgin used to be seen generally as the code of the non-literate as well as a bastardization of English. And its use was, therefore ,considerd a mark of the level of one”s proficiency in English. Akande (2008) has noted, the sociolinguistic reality in Nigeria  today is such that Nigeria pidgin is spoken by university graduated, professors, lawyers and journalists. It has also been demonstrated that Nigeria pidgin is not used only in informal setting but also in offices and other formal setting (akande 2008). In other words, the claim that Nigeria pidgin is code of the non-literate does not seem to have validity as there are a lot of educated speakers in Nigeria who can use both standard English and Nigeria pidgin proficiently (akande 2008)

    It is quite interesting to note that what actually started as a contingency language between the white merchants, who later turned  colonial masters, and  their black traders has now become an elitist campus language-spoken among the teeming population of the Nigeria students in higher institutions of learning. thus, at common rooms, kiosks, gossip centres, viewing centres, play grounds, relaxation joints, movie grounds and a host of other meeting points where and when students are relieved of their academic routines, they are seen interacting lively in Nigeria pidgin.

         Nigeria as a multilingual nation is made up of different speech communities and diverse ethnic groups. Past studies on linguistic situation in Nigeria  have brought to the fore the complexity of the native language in the country. Bamgbose  and okike cited in ndiemele  

(2) put the figures of Nigerian  indigenous language to three hundered and seventy-four (374) and four hundred (400) languages respectively.

   Adegbiji claims that there are over five hundred (500) languages spoken in Nigeria (75). The glaring fact, therefore is that Nigeria is a community made up of different tongues’, and this to a great extent, necessitated the adoption of the English language, a colonial legacy, as both the official and second language of the country. Predominant among these languages, are Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa and Nigeria pidgin/creole. Apart from the first three major languages, pidgin/corele is very popular in nigeria. Ndimele estimates that nigeria pidgin now severs as a native language to approximately three to five million people in Nigeria and it is a second language (L2) for another 75 million people 

(4). Jowit  confirms the popularity of Nigerian pidgin thus; the situation today is that pidgin flourishes as a medium of inter-ethnic communication, especially in the lager cities with many non-indigenous residents ( bendel, port Harcourt e.tc) or throughout states with small many ethnic groups

  Nigeria as a multilingual nation is made up of different speech communities and diverse ethnic group past studies on linguistic situation in Nigeria  have brought to the fore the complexity of the native languages in country bamgbose and okike cities in ndiemele 

(2) put the figures of Nigerian indigenous language to three hundred and seventy-four  (374) and four hundred (400) language’s respectively. Adegbiji claim that there are over five hundred (500) languages spoken in Nigeria (75). The glaring fact, therefore, is that Nigeria is a community made up of different tongues’, and this to a greats extent necessitated the adoption of the English languages, a colonial legacy, as both the official and second languages of the country predominant among these languages are Igbo, Yoruba , Hausa and Nigerian pidgin/creole.

    Furthermore, it could be argued that Nigeria pidgin has enhanced the propagation of national ideas socio-cultural, linguistic and political development as well as peace and unity in the country since it is the only language that both the educated and uneducated, irrespective of their ethnic affinities, can identify with. The use of Nigerian pidgin by Nigerians, however, has led to the growing status of the code in the country. In other words, Nigerian pidgin has remand one of the language with vitality in the society despite its unofficial recognition. Nonetheless, it been observed that a lager number of people across various sector of the society including particularly those parents who are highly placed government official teachers, students in the universities tend to express disgust at its use by youth at home and school  premises.

    Pidgin is contact language and like all contact language comes into being under conditions of interaction among  people  of different linguistic backgrounds. Pidgin usually evolve  from the fusion of foreign language and indigenous crystal explained  that most the present day pidgin grew up along the trade routes of the world especially in those parts where the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch built up their empires. At the outset of pidgin, it has few words and few simple construction.

Statement of research problem 

Nigerian pidgin is a language just as English and there is enough room for both language to coexist and be mutually enriching. Despite this  and the fact that Nigerian pidgin English  appears to be the most popular means of communication  among diverse  groups and is easier to learn than  any other language in the country today – it is generally asserted that it is not the suitable language  for use in formal setting and  its in such setting is usually frowned at.

This research work will explore the potential of Nigerian pidgin English as a language. If Nigeria  pidgin English does have this potential, why its usage and status denigrated ? also, does the speaking of Nigerian pidgin affect the student’s academic performance answer to these question will enable us make useful recommendation for future studies.

Purpose of the study

This work intends to look in to the effectiveness and status of Nigeria pidgin English. It is inherent that for a long period of time that nigeria pidgin has been the means of communication among students in higher institutions. This research  will bring in to light if the use of Nigeria pidgin English has any effect on the students and their academic performance in federal university of technology Yola. the finding will be regarded to be generic, affecting also students in other institution who equally exalt Nigerian pidgin English above standard English.

Objectives of the study

this work intends to examine how frequent tertiary institution students use Nigeria pidgin and under what circumstances do tertiary institutions student frequently use Nigeria pidgin. Also the study seeks to find the extent tertiary institution student’s use Nigeria pidgin in communicating with staff and students.

      The study will also examine the gender difference in the use nigeria  pidgin among the tertiary institution students and determine if there is any significant difference among male and female students in the use of  NP in communication.

Research question 

Are there available qualified teachers handing /learning of English language?

Does pidgin English have any influence on the teaching and learning of standard English?

Is there any relationship between pidgin and standard English?

Significances of the study 

This study is important because its results can go a long way to finding out the causes of students’ negative or positive academic performance. If Nigerian pidgin English has contributed negatively or positively to the student.

        This work will in no doubt contribute to one’s knowledge especially in the department of English, federal university of technology Yola, as it will highlight some issues in educational system.

Scope and limitations;

This study examines the effect of pidgin English  on teaching English languages in tertiary institutions in Yola north Local Government Area Adamawa state.

There were other factors that didn’t allow for  thorough and comprehensive study this work.

There was a time constraints, lack of materials to play hold on for adequate execution of this project finance was also a factor that hampered more adequate proper execution of the study.

definition of terms

English: is the language, originally of England, now spoken of international communication throughout the world.

English language: is well a subject of study

Ligua franca: a share language of communication use between people whose main language are different

First language: (L1): The language that one learns to speak first as a child and usually one speaks the language best among other languages.

Second language (l2): a language that somebody learns to speak well and use at workplace or at school where it is learnt but that is not the language such user learns first.

Use: take, hold, or deploy (something)as a means as accomplishing or achieving something; 

Nigeria pidgin: is an English-based  pidgin and creole language spoken as a lingua franca Nigeria. the language is commonly referred to as “pidgin” or “broken”.

Student: is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution; children, teenagers, or adults who attend a school, but it,