EFFECTS OF NIGERIAN PIDGIN ON STUDENTS’ PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH: A CASE STUDY OF MOUNTAIN TOP UNIVERSITY

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Language is a form of communication using words either spoken or gestured with the hands and structured with grammar, often with a writing system. Nigeria pidgin is a variety of language and an amalgamation of two disparate languages, used by two population having no common language as a lingua franca to communicate with each other, lacking formalized grammar and having a small, utilitarian vocabulary and no native speakers.

Nigeria as a nation is blessed with so many ethnic languages there are over 520 languages spoken in Nigeria, there are still some major languages in states such as Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, which have most speakers in Nigerian states. It is mainly spoken in the southern and eastern states like port-harcourt, edo, Lagos, and delta.

Nigeria Pidgin is a debased form of language, which has a corrupt form of English, with no definite structure and associated with illiteracy and low status.

In Nigeria, Nigerian Pidgin used to be seen generally as the code of the illiterates as well as a bastardization of English and its use was, therefore, considered a mark of the level of one‟s proficiency in English. Akande (2008) has noted, the sociolinguistics reality in Nigeria today is spoken by university graduates, professors, lawyers, and journalists. It has also been demonstrated that Nigerian Pidgin is not used only in Informal settings but also in offices and other formal settings. In other words, he claim that Nigeria Pidgin is the code of the illiterates 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 (Akande2008).

It is rather fascinating to note that what essentially started as an emergency language amid the white traders, who later twisted expatriate bosses, and their black merchants? has now become an exclusive campus language spoken among the crowded Inhabitants of the Nigerian undergraduates in advanced institutions of learning. thus, At collective rooms, kiosks, conversation midpoints, viewing centres, play grounds, convention grounds, recreation joints, movie grounds and a host of other consultations points where and when learners are relieved of their academic schedules, they are seen

intermingling active in Nigerian pidgin.

However, Nigerian pidgin is the lingua Franca mostly used in Nigeria. It is been perceived by some scholars as a prominent form of language. A close view of Nigerian pidgin is that it is a disjointed form of language, which consist of word-hoards from Nigeria Indigenous languages and European language. consequently, it is clear that Pidgin English is widely used by students during their interaction with ignorant people and uneducated people.

It has become a captivating means of interaction and communication among students themselves. Fisherman (1997) asserts that “no language considered inferior is aptly illogical. This is because, where two or more speech communities come in contact, a lingua Franca or common language of communication emerges. He further points out that it is the social situation use popularly known as context that affects the morpho -syntactic patterns of a language.

The term Pidgin English refers to a language that is developed in the situation where the speakers of another language have to communicate but do not have a common language to share with another (Ndolo, 2005).

Nigeria Pidgin English is a blend of English and local languages, which makes it easier for human beings to converse and interact with one another. It is equally verbal by individuals of a second language used for interface of diverse languages.

According to Linton (1982), he stated that „‟the culture of a society is the way of life of its people, the collection of ideas and habits which they learn, share and transmit from generation to generation.” These cultures, norms beliefs, ideas, can only be inherited from generation to generation through language. In grammar, every language is wisely weighed to signify the communicative needs of its folks and has to be recognized without any prejudice.

The existence of Pidgen English began because of the colonial masters coming into africa. well-respected philosophers noted that there is no language that is an island meaning that language can also be developed through a preexisted one. (Akinfeleye, 2008}. Nigeria Pidgin has brought the people of nigeria together regardless of their divergence in culture and language by creating a confined culture and language for itself, which blends from diverse cultures.

Furthermore, language is the most imaginative infinite instrument for conveying information and it benefits us to interpret and communicate with people of the same and different background. Having said this, we can concur that pidgin is a language of its own and not just a supplementary tongue as some people observe, since it serves as an instrument of social discourse particularly in multilingual environment as in Mountain Top University.

 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Several articles have addressed Nigerian pidgin from different perspectives. However, much attention has not been paid to Mountain Top University Student‟s use of pidgin and the effects on standard English. This study therefore will investigate the use of Pidgin by Mountain Top University students to ascertain whether there are negative or positive effect on Standard English.

 

AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The General aim of the study is to examine the Effect of Pidgin of Mountain Top University students and it‟s Proficiency in English.

1. To examine the effect of pidgin on student’s proficiency in English.
2. To show what extent and how frequent MTU students use Nigerian Pidgin.
3. To ascertain under what circumstances MTU students use Nigerian Pidgin in communication.
4. To find out why MTU students speak Nigerian Pidgin.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This work intends to look into the effectiveness and status of Nigerian Pidgin English. It is intrinsic that for a long period that Nigeria Pidgin English has been the means of communication among students in higher institutions. It is also important because its results can go a long way to discovery out the causes of students undesirable or optimistic academic proficiency and if Nigerian pidgin adds negative or confidently to the student social communication.

 

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Does MTU student‟s use of Pidgin have any effect on their use of Standard English?
2. To what extent and how often MTU students use Nigerian Pidgin?
3. Under what circumstance do MTU students speak Nigerian Pidgin?
4. Why do MTU students speak Nigerian pidgin?

 

SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This research work will scrutinize the effect of Nigerian pidgin on Mountain Top University students and their proficiency in English. It hubs mainly on students of Mountain Top University Ibafo, Ogun state. With the perspective of providing elaborated information on how pidgin serves as a means of interaction in Nigeria universities. This research is limited to Mountain Top University, even though the findings might be generic.

 

CONCEPTUAL FRAME WORK

Pidgin English: An amalgamation of two disparate languages, used by two populations having no common language as a lingua Franca to communicate with each other, lacking formalized grammar and having a small, utilitarian vocabulary and no native speakers.

Proficiency: The quality of having great facility and competence.

Language: A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols.

Standard English: The English language as it is spoken and written by educated native users.

Effect: The result or outcome of a cause.