English Language is eclectic and dynamic. It is listed as one of the UN’s six official languages of communication, the others being Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. “The correct interpretation and translation of these six languages, in both spoken and written form, is very important to the work of the Organization, because this enables clear and concise communication on issues of global importance,” the UN states. But is Nigeria on the right language use track? Dr. Samson Osariemen Eguavoen, lecturer and creative writer in the English Department, University of Benin, shares his views in this interview with Bernadette Idalu. Excerpts:
Does the use of voice notes and emoticons to express thoughts affect the quality of direct spoken English?
Yes, it does, especially for someone who is just trying to acquire the language. For someone who has become an expert user of the language, it is really debatable.
Minimizing words through use of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) short text messaging platforms has inadvertently led to a rise and carryover of such practices into formal writing and presentation. “Nd” is sometimes substituted for “And”, “Bcos” for “Because”, “Ar” for “Are”, and even “D” for “The” and “Wat” for “What” by well-read personalities based on societal standards. Some people now struggle with writing; they have to stop, do a mental rethink before writing.
What does this portend for the future of grammatical lexis and structure of the English language?
For students, this is a challenge. They fall victims of inappropriate code mixing. What this actually portends is an erosion of standard written English. But on a second note, this also reflects the fact that the English language is dynamic. It is very amenable to change and in addition, it reflects its open-ended nature. The English dictionary keeps getting upgraded to accommodate new words and expressions. After all, nothing is constant but change.
Can the Nigerian variety of spoken English be said to have overpowered standard spoken English in recent times?
Not really. Not yet. However, there are indications that this may be the case in the near future. In Nigeria, this variety is beginning to influence written English in students’ written essays and even in some official documents.
People view English Language more or less as a feminine course of study. As a lecturer in the Department of English, can you disprove this claim? What also is the ratio of male to female students in class, for instance?
The English Department is genderless, notwithstanding the obvious fact that the number of female students in the department is higher than the number of male students. This condition is not peculiar to the Department of English alone. We have the same recurring decimal in virtually all other departments in the Arts, Social Sciences, Law, Education and others. Do we then say they are feminine courses too? I would rather say that in our time and clime, no course is masculine or feminine; they are genderless.
It is usually said that the best way to hide information from Nigerians is to store such facts in book format due to the poor reading culture. Is this a myth or a fact? If otherwise, how has your department tried to correct this misconception?
A lot of people do not read printed matter anymore. It is no longer a myth. It is becoming a fact. The advent of the social media and the digitalization of almost everything is putting the last nail on the coffin of the tradition of reading in print. E-reading cannot really take the place of reading the printed matter. The smell of a new book still has its attraction, especially for me.
Teaching is a noble profession. How easy has it been getting across to people?
I love teaching. I know it is not easy to learn. So, I try very hard to be and stay patient with my students.
