Language reorientation and policy implementation for nation building: the case for Igbo language

Abstract

It is possible to argue that language is the only cultural economy unique to human beings. It is a medium through which humans have expressed their thoughts, imaginations, creativities, aspirations, desires, emotions, among others. One can also say that nation building can be possible through language, especially when the language acts as a unification factor for most ethnic groups in a specific nation. While nations are products of the human will and imagination and the institutions that sustain their collective effort, local languages could act as valuable resources that need to be developed and managed properly and optimally. One devastating blow on the development of the Nigerian nation and its economy is linguistic imperialism perpetrated by the West and ignorantly being promoted by Nigerians. This gives the erroneous impression that foreign languages are superior to other languages, especially the local languages. This has led to the abandonment of native languages in favour of foreign languages. This paper therefore argues that for proper nation building to take place there is need for a proper reorientation of the mental consciousness of Nigerians especially the NdiIgbo towards the potential benefits of Igbo language. This could only be achieved through efficient implementation of language quality and policies.