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Africa Knows! It is time to decolonise minds

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Accepted Paper: D27b-08. To panel D27b.

Title of paper:

Author:

Franca Attoh (University of Lagos).

Long abstract paper:
Language is made up of several symbols to which humans attach meanings often shared by members of the society. The verbalized symbols among humans are very essential for smooth social relationship among people. Social relations enhance political, economic and other activities carried out for the progress of the society. This paper aims at analyzing the need for a universal national language configured out of the major languages in the country often referred to as 'WAZOBIA' and its effects on the Nigerian society as a whole. This paper is based on ethnomethodological perspective with the assumption that social order is embedded in the conversational process. The conversational process involves the use of words which have different meanings in different contexts of social relations. A hybrid of the differing language structure helps the conversational process. The paper is based on the use of secondary data involving desk review of literature, books and internet resources. The paper surmised that language diversity without a universal language derived from the indigenous languages affects the social health of the country. Also, Social harmony would be fostered by an indigenized universal language which is capable of reducing misunderstanding of issues which often lead to conflicts in the country. Moreover, the paper reveals that an indigenized universal language gives a social identity that is capable of unifying the populace in contrast with the high rate of disunity currently being witnessed in the country.

Keywords: Indigenous, Language, Social Relation, Universal, WAZOBIA.

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