A Discourse On Language Expressions And Ethnic Rivalry: Implications On Competition, Crisis, And Development In Nigeria

Abstract

Ethnic languages present forms that represent the consciousness of different regions in Nigeria and African societies at large. A discourse on language expression demonstrates how language is used to convey historical and social meanings, national identities, power relations, and inter-ethnic relationships. The multi-ethnic/multi-lingual makeup of the nation has contributed to the plurality of languages in use in Nigeria and has constituted various biased speeches, competitions, and rivalries in the linguistic, political, and social patterns of communication in Nigeria. People align with their ethnicities and demonstrate diverse linguistic and emotional loyalties and attachments to their various indigenous languages and cultures. This paper thus, uses examples of unhealthy language expressions from individuals of the three major ethnic groups, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, the minority regions, Ijaw (Niger Delta), and Nigerian Pidgin expressions; to highlight some of the speeches that are associated with ethnic group’s intentions and attitudes which beget competitions, rivalry, and crisis, that impede effective development in Nigeria. The theoretical framework for this study is based on Fairclough’s stages of discourse analysis which sees the text (speeches) as discourse, as a discursive practice, and as a social practice that shows how language has been used in identity construction and conflict generation. This article recommends that language expressions/speeches made in public domains should be that which provide and promote social change, equitable national policies, unbiased inter-ethnic representations, and development in Nigeria. It concludes by advocating for the use of neutral statements/speeches in national and ethnic communications, and the provision of adequate enlightenment to avoid hate speeches to achieve a unifying ethnic cohesion, peaceful coexistence, adequate distribution of power, and development in Nigeria.