Language Attitude and Language Conflict in West Africa

Front Cover
Herbert Igboanusi
Enicrownfit Publishers, 2001 - Foreign Language Study - 212 pages
This varied collection of essays explores the vast, complex and contentious subject of language in West Africa. The essayists adopt the perspective that languages - indigenous African and European - and the attitudes of their speakers are inseparable from social and historical identities and wider debates about political cultures. A major aspect of the work covers the attitudes of Nigerians of differing linguistic identities and social profiles to foreign languages vis-a-vis indigenous languages. Other contributors examine the conflicts resulting from the situation of a multiplicity of languages - e.g. Igbo as internal conflict, against English as external conflict; language attitude in market transaction; and attitudes towards pidgin. One essay branches out into philosophies of cultural relativism, human communication and intercultural relations, presenting a critique of Anta Diop and Kwasi Wiredu. A final piece considers the utilisation of information for development in Nigeria, and cultural shock.

From inside the book

Contents

Language attitude patterns of Nigerians
1
Attitude to foreign languages and indigenous language use in Nigeria
14
the case of German students
30
Copyright

9 other sections not shown

Common terms and phrases

Bibliographic information