OPTIMAL INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE USE AS STRATEGY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Language occupies an important position in any meaningful dialogue in African development as it is pivotal to our understanding of development conceptions of economics, politics and governance, human right etc. Away from the dominance and use of ex-colonial languages by most African countries in communicating national development policies, there is the need to improve the visibility and usage of Africa's multilingual heritage in matters of national development, in other to facilitate development processes especially in rural communities. The under-utilization of the indigenous languages in national affairs, as seen in their exclusion in national participation and discuss, has led to slow transformation of some African communities. Apparently, it is because of the adoption of an exoglossic language policy that placed the ex-colonial language as official language and in some cases also serves as national language. Seen as development asset, this paper, argues for the utilization of Africa multilingualism through optimal indigenous language use approach. Also, a review of the language policies to promote the use of the major and minor indigenous languages is central to this indigenous language use. It concludes that indigenous languages of Africa can be vehicle of national development if put to proper use.