Reflections on “Democratic Choice” in the History of Linguistics in Nigeria

Abstract

Last year the speakers of the different Nigerian languages had every justification to join in the celebration of ten years of democracy in the country, for democracy has created the enabling environment for them to exercise their freedom of choice in their use of their language without feeling intimidated. Although linguistics in Nigeria has been a strong aid in this development, it however does not seem to present a similar picture of democratization in its own history. This paper uses some issues in the history of linguistics in Nigeria to argue that the term “democratic choice” has not really been realized in linguistic theory in the country. The conclusion is that different linguistic theories should be allowed to offer what they can to the development and uplift of Nigerian languages.