THE USE OF HOME BASED LANGUAGES: AS A TOOL FOR EFFECTIVE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND COGNITIVE ABILITIES

Abstract

This paper, tries to accentuate some of the sociolinguistic elements in the Nigerian communities to serve as situation for highlighting the use of our home based indigenous languages in our educational enterprise at all level. Conversely, some scholars, researchers, and the like established that one of the superordinate problems deterring emphasis in the use of these languages in our schools is the lack of worthwhile policy devoid of political, social and religious issues. However, among other things derived from the use of our home based languages include, given birth to the kind of students who are very much appreciative and empathic of their cultural set-ups and boost their cognitive abilities. To this end, some Nigerians agitate for the teaching and learning using our indigenous languages. Like-minded academics, other intellectuals, also develop a considerable interest and seek for implementation of this plan. Notably, some academics at various conferences national and international organised by several Associations and Societies concern with indigenous African languages and their future status, such as; WALC, LAN, ESAN, WALS, LAG and WOCAL, to mention but a few. Therefore, interviews were conducted with two hundred people from different institution of learning for their responses, and a Likert scale used, showing percentage of acceptability or otherwise. The result shows that appropriate and everyday use of our home languages in schools, will enhance and improve teaching and learning and would depend pre mature language death or extinction for lack of rigorous use. Part of the recommendations are the need to resuscitate National Institute for Nigerian Language, held with the responsibilities to train teachers in Nigerian languages to curve shortage of specialist in language in the education enterprises.