Ineffectiveness in the Use of English as a Lingua Franca in Nigeria

AUTHOR: OKOYE OGECHUKWU C.

DEPARTMENT: ENGLISH LANGUAGE & LITERATURE

AFFILIATION: NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY, AWKA

The present status of the English language in Nigeria is one identified by many, as a lingua franca. A number of factors militate against the use of this language in different parts of the country. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the problems hindering the effective use of English as a lingua franca in Nigeria. In order to achieve this objective, primary data were collected through the questionnaire. The research population consisted of students from three different higher institutions in Nigeria. The data were obtained by testing the research questions based on the interference of mother-tongue on the target language, learner’s mode of learning as regards the methods and exposure, individual’s attitude towards the language learning and the different ways the English language has helped to bridge the communication gap in Nigeria. However, the analysis revealed that mother tongue interfered with the use of English, just as the poor methods used in teaching and the learner’s incorrect exposure to the language affected the learning process. It was also revealed that English, being a language of wider communication, helped in bridging the communication gap in Nigeria. On the other hand, the influence of individual’s poor attitude to learning posed the major problem. This provided an available tested data for future investigation.

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