Linguistic Gaffes in the Nigerian Media Newscast: An Exploratory Discourse

Abstract

The Nigerian broadcast media has grown in leaps and bounds since the first radio re-diffusion station was set up in the early 1930s and the first television station (Western Nigerian Television) was established in 1959. Today, the number of radio and television stations in Nigeria is well over 200 and the principal language used in the communication of messages, particularly news broadcast is English. This calls for a proficient use of English as a language of communication in the Nigerian media, be it in the print or electronic broadcast. This paper busies itself with miscommunication as regards the former. It particularly explores cases of linguistic gaffes- wrong usage of English in newscast programmes which emanate from some Nigerian broadcast media stations. It argues that the identified cases are not consistent with the best global media practices as well as literate understanding of English as an international language of expression. Therefore, the paper recommends that broadcast media outfits in Nigeria should keep abreast of the constant changes in English through training and retraining of staff in relevant areas. Besides, it gives some suggestions to the identified cases of linguistic gaffes, with a view to making the Nigerian broadcast media healthier.