Pidginization as a bilingual concept: Its roles in education and nation building

Abstract

This paper investigates the nature of Nigerian Pidgin and its roles in the nation. Pidgin English currently performs many important functions in the country via; unification of the people, improved literacy for the average Nigerian, enhanced communication among people with different native tongues /  educational levels, and increased linguistic opportunity for all to  participate in socio – political and economic programmes. This is not unconnected to  its current status as the only parlance which is mutually intelligible by members of almost all the various speech communities across the nation. The  study which is descriptive in nature ex- rays divers experts‟ views on the acceptability and functionality of pidgin and its contribution to development  within the different sectors of the country. The work equally recommends that the Nigerian Pidgin be standardized and regarded as a major Nigerian  language owing to its contributions to the nation‟s advancement so far.