Pidgin, SMS threaten English language — Lecturer

A Professor of English Studies at University of Uyo, Prof. Luke Eyoh, has said the use of pidgin in schools and SMS is a threat to English language study in the country.  Speaking yesterday in Uyo during the 63rd inaugural lecture of the university on ‘Nigerian Literature and English Language in the Task of Nation-Building: […]

A Professor of English Studies at University of Uyo, Prof. Luke Eyoh, has said the use of pidgin in schools and SMS is a threat to English language study in the country. 

Speaking yesterday in Uyo during the 63rd inaugural lecture of the university on ‘Nigerian Literature and English Language in the Task of Nation-Building: Revisiting Chinua Achebe’s Vexed Issue of Leadership’, Eyoh said English language is affected by the use of pidgin in writing and speaking. 

He said English alphabets are now distorted with Arabic numerals even in official communication, adding that the practice does not augur well for English orthography.

“In the skill of speaking, English language continues to receive pressure from English-based pidgin at school, on television and on radio in Nigeria, the don stated.