Examining the Relevance of Language to the Making of the Educated Person and the Implications thereof to Relevant Education in Nigeria

Abstract

Language makes a person: the Biblical parent was exalted to a person by his referential nomenclatures given to other created creatures; Francis Bacon.s dictum enunciates the principles of making of a person via language: reading makes a man; conversation/debate, a ready man, and writing a/n complete/exact man. The making of a man, the readiness of a man, and the completeness of a man are language determined. This paper gives a bird.s-eye view of the relevance of language to the making of an educated person and the implications thereof to relevant education in Nigeria. The implications however hinge on the recognition of the teacher as the actual educated person who knows about his language, understands language teaching methodologies, listens and observes much, reads, speaks, writes well and is informative in their choice of words. These sterling qualities are cyclically inculcated in those who reflect knowledge of language in relevant superstructure of society for the ennoblement of peoples and cultures.