The following article from the Lagos paper This Day was seen on AllAfrica.com at http://allafrica.com/stories/200505020092.html (it was also posted on the ILAT list)... DZO
Nigerian Languages Face Extinction - Varsity Don This Day (Lagos) http://www.thisdayonline.com/ May 2, 2005 Posted to the web May 2, 2005 Omon-Julius Onabu Benin-City Many indigenous languages in Nigeria are on the path to extinction, unless urgent steps are taken to rescue it from imminent disappearance from the linguistic map, a university don, Professor Matthew Omo-Ojugo, has warned. Ojugo said the prediction on threat to many Asian and Nigerian languages made sometime ago by the United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), for the end of the 21st century, could come to pass if this warning is ignored. He expressed these views while delivering a public lecture at the launching of the "Esan Dictionary," edited by former Health Minister, Chief Christopher Okojie, at Ambrose Alli Hall, Ekpoma, Edo State, at the weekend. Ojugo said 23 of the languages classified by UNESCO as already extinct in Africa and Asia, were identified in Nigeria alone, saying that called for new and positive attitude to indigenous languages in the country. Delivering the lecture, titled "Revitalising Endangered Languages: The Esan Language as a Test Case," Ojugo said the ominous signs of the said threat was today visible with regard to the Esan Language, which is threatened by Pidgin English and English Language itself. He expressed regrets that encouraging words from the Federal Government on indigenous languages are not matched with concrete and positive action. The chairman of the occasion and former vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof Abhulimen R. Anao, described language as "an important part of the vehicle for transmitting the culture and socialization (and which) promotes harmony, unity and development of the people." In his speech, 85-year old Okojie regretted the many parents now find it fashionable not to pseak Esan language to their own children even at home in Esanland. "When I speak the language to many Esan children in the hospital, it is with anguish I hear the father or mother respond" that the children do not understand Esan, he said. -- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/rkgkPB/UOnJAA/Zx0JAA/TpIolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AfricanLanguages/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
