Language Attitude and Nigerian Pidgin

Abstract

Studies in language attitude, a socio-linguistic phenomenon, exhibit language users’ disposition towards languages. The disposition could be negative, positive, ambivalent or lackadaisical, depending on social, psychological, historical and political factors associated with the languages. There could also be a shift in users’ attitudes towards languages in certain situations. This study investigates the general attitudes of Nigerians from different social strata towards Nigerian Pidgin/Creole (NP). The subjects’ attitudes to NP are elicited through library and ethnographic research. The findings of the study reveal that Nigerians have positive, negative and ambivalent attitudes towards NP. However, positive attitude is dominant. The study also reveals that adequate attention has not been given to NP by language policy makers and linguists in Nigeria. The paper, therefore, advocates a language policy that will recognize NP as lingua franca in Nigeria, as well as the development of its linguistic features.