LANGUAGE SITUATION AND LANGUAGE POLICY IN NIGERIA

• Main Authors: Anna A Borisova, Nadezhda Yu Ilina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University) 2017-12-01
• Series: RUDN Journal of Language Studies, Semiotics and Semantics
• Subjects: языковая ситуация; языковое планирование; официальный язык; автохтон-ные языки; средства межэтнического общения; нигерийский пиджин-инглиш
• Online Access: http://journals.rudn.ru/semiotics-semantics/article/view/17993

The article deals with the language situation and language policy in Nigeria which is one of the most polyethnic African states. Sociolinguistic situation in the country is very complex because there are more than 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria which speak 521 languages. English is the official language in the country and serves Nigerian peoples’ way of life. There are discussions about the development of local indigenous languages in a very complicated ethnic and political situation in Nigeria. The English language in Nigeria interacts with numerous indigenous languages and Nigerian Pidgin English. Nigerian Pidgin Eng-lish is a marker of identity and solidarity between the various ethnic groups. There is polarization of com-municative functions of English and Nigerian Pidgin. English has official functions and is on a higher social level and Nigerian Pidgin is on a lower social level and has everyday functions. English plays a major role in introducing Nigerians to modern knowledge, creating new types of thinking and contributing to the development of national self-awareness.