The Effects of Nigerian English and Nigerian Pidgin English on the Academic Performance of Students in Standard English Language
Abstract
The main thrust of this study was to examine the effects of Nigerian English and Nigerian Pidgin English on the academic performance of students in Standard English in Ikono Local Government Area. This study had revealed that Nigeria is a multilingual nation hence has many languages owing to these varieties of English language; Pidgin English and Nigerian English emerge. This causes confusion in the education system since standard British English is the generally accepted language of education. The study also revealed that students performed poorly in English language in both internal and external examinations because of mixing of codes; Nigerian English and Pidgin English with Standard British English. The research carried out in this study pointed out that Nigerian English and Nigerian Pidgin English create bad effects or negative effects on the academic performance of students in Standard British English.
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Spread of English in Nigeria
The English language has undergone several changes, challenges and triumph throughout its history while several factors have influenced in its Anglo-Saxon and later British homeland, it spreads to other lands through trade, religion and the expressions of the British empire has brought to it, influences that could hardly have been anticipated by the inhabitants charters England etc.
Nigeria, one of the British former colonial territories has been influenced by the language (English) and its native speakers just as Nigerians have made what they can of the language. Owing to this Diri Tenlarayo (2001:2) rightly observed that:
“As this interaction goes on North America, particularly the United States which has almost consciously modified the language to suit its convenience and nationalist aspirations, has gained pre-eminence in science and technology, politics and globalization in Nigeria”
It is important to mention here that attention has been drawn by many socio-linguistics (e.g. Bambgose, 2004; 2007; 2009; Bavo, 2012 etc), idea that a distinct form of English language is evolving in Nigeria with prospect of becoming a national dialect.
The Effects of Nigerian English and Nigerian Pidgin English on the Academic Performance of Students in Standard English Language
Other linguists (e.g. Oji, 2005) have considered such Nigerianism and Pidgin English errors and indicators of complete or imperfect learning. It is therefore, our intention in this project to investigate these patterns of influence, on the use of English in Nigerian education system.
1.2 Background to the study
There are many types of local languages called dialects as there are varieties of English resulting from geographical dispersion. English language is Nigeria’s official language, language of education, language of commerce, etc. that is why it is used in both oral and written forms for effective communication.
To most Nigerians, it is a second language Ekong (2002:2) maintained that:
“The sole function of language is for effective communication, involves the successful production, transmission and reception of a message through the verbal medium of communication”.
The intelligibility and the various accents of English resulting from L1 influence is a problematic and sensitive issue.
Several factors contribute to this, and such factors include social background, individual peculiarities, attitudes, differences in locality and mother-tongue interferences.
Affah (2003:7) affirmed that “those factors account for the difference variations in pronunciation” but most of utmost important is it effect on the academic performance of students in our educational system in Ikono Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
1.3 Statement of the problem
Complex problems arise in multilingual countries particularly those in which English is a second language. Nigeria is in this kind of situation.
There is problem of disunity, problems of development of indigenous languages and Pidgin English as well as problems of evolving a National Language. Each of those problems is easily appreciated and each student is invited to apply his situation to avoid ungrammatical usage of the English language.
Suffice it to mention here that the language situation in Nigeria in particular has posed problems for all Nigerian mostly the students or learners of English language; the government and policy makers, linguistics and language specialist/planners as well as individual.
In an attempt to tackle the problems, a study of this magnitude is carried to investigate the effects of Nigerian English and Pidgin. English on the academic performance of students in some selected secondary schools in Ikono Local Government Area.
1.4 Purpose of the study
The main thrust of this research study is to investigate the effect of Nigerian English and Nigerian Pidgin English on the academic performance of students in Standard English language in Ikono Local Government Area. Specifically, this study is
- to find out some of the Nigerian English used by students orally or written and its effects on their academic performance.
- Also, to be looked into is the widespread of English based on Pidgin, its usage and its effects on students.
1.5 Significance of the study
This study will help to find out the meaning of Nigerian English language, its legitimacy as a subset and its effects on students performance in English language.
This study shall also help to investigate the use of Nigerian Pidgin in communication and its effect on the learners of English as a second language. In all, this study shall provide data that will be useful for linguists to accept the need to check the ungrammatical destruction caused by Nigerian English and Pidgin on the effective learning of English language.
1.6 Methodology
This study shall be limited to research on the use of Nigerian Pidgin and its effects on academic performance of students in Ikono Local Government Area.
It shall require questionnaire, it shall use data from Local Government Council in Ikono while library shall serve as its primary source of information.
It shall also source information from a text “Approaches to English Language Teaching by Maria Helen E. Ekah”.