Politics and the Use of the English Language in Nigeria.

Abstract

Language plays a vital role in the way a society’s political structure is built and sustained. Beyond the obvious fact that it is the vehicle through which political thinking is expressed, it is also the means by which its very essence is defined and understood. The legitimization of political process occurs primarily through discourse and vivid representations. The language used conveys both the semantic meaning as well as the political beliefs which underpin any given statement. Closely bound up with the function of language, is also the question of choice including ethical concerns and matters of social responsibility. Therefore, since society is ordered according to dictates of dominant political ideas, the language used in politics needs to be examined for the impact and influence it exerts. History has determined the fact that English is the medium of official communication in Nigeria thus it is important to explore the interplay between the English language and politics. This article focuses on strategies employed in language manipulation, the ethics of practice and the resultant effect on the nation’s thinking. The argument here is that there is an essential link between the decline of the English language in Nigeria and political situation that presently exists.