Nigerian Pidgin in a Multicutural Nation: Challenges, Reflections and Realities

Abstract

Languages in multicultural societies (such as Nigeria) have always been an issue of great concern to scholars. Nigeria is a country with linguistic fragmentation, it is made up of diverse ethnic groups with three as major groups (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) and the majority of the other groups have the minority status. The smaller ethnic groups often do not accept other tribe’s indigenous languages as a replacement of theirs. There is thus an inducement in the use of Nigerian Pidgin (NIGP) for ease of interaction/communication. Nigerian Pidgin was acquired from foreigners in an attempt to communicate with English language speakers. It was used by few people who had contact with the colonizers. Thus the contact between English and the various indigenous languages in Nigeria increased the use of this language. In order words Nigerian Pidgin developed as a result of the need for communication between two or more groups without a common language. This paper therefore examines the linguistic situation in Nigeria, the Nigerian language policy, language contact, Nigerian Pidgin and multilingualism and concludes by reaffirming the need to encourage the continuous use of Nigeria Pidgin for those in multicultural societies because every language is important and has survival right.