The 115th Inaugural lecturer of the University of Calabar(Unical), Prof. Bassey Andian Okon has urged Nigerians to strive hard to preserve their native languages by speaking them to their children or watching them die in the nearest future.

Prof. Bassey stated this at the institution's International Conference Centre while delivering the 115th inaugural lecture of the institution on the topic, '' Language, Culture and Communication: The Societal Triumvirate''.

 

 

According to her, there have been outcries about the endangerment and extinction of our indigenous languages hence the need to keep them alive.

While describing language and culture as hallmarks of our identity, she said Nigerians should be bothered that their languages might go into extinction, a cogent reason, they must make conscious efforts to preserve them.

Bassey Okon, a Professor of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages further charged Nigerians to wake up and make useful contributions towards the survival of their languages and cultures, adding that, '' looking down on your relatives who speak your native tongue because you speak perfect English is stupid.

        

DVC Admin, Prof Eno Nta

"Can the non-native speakers of English speak perfect English no matter how they try? Please pause, think, and reflect on this question".

The inaugural lecturer who described language as a thread with which the fabric of society is woven said the survival of indigenous languages should not just be the duty of government and linguists but should be everyone's duty to make sure our languages are developed, especially those with no orthography.

 

Her words: "Whether we are linguists or not, we should be bothered that our languages might go into extinction. It is not about the number of speakers, after all, languages with a substantial number of speakers can be endangered.

'' For instance, some linguists say that languages such as Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo are endangered in one way or the other. How much more other Nigerian languages? This portends that the culture of the people will also go extinct since language is the vehicle for the transmission of culture"

Prof. Bassey stressed that, if given the desired attention, language, culture and communication will become the building blocks that will keep society together.

This came as she commended the Federal Government for instituting a language policy which recognizes 520 indigenous languages as national treasures.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Florence Obi, in her remarks, described the inaugural lecture as a forum for learning and urged everyone to see it as an opportunity to acquire more knowledge.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Eno Grace Nta said language is useful in communication and stressed the need for Nigerians to always embrace and preserve their indigenous languages.

She also thanked the inaugural lecturer for delivering a 'rich' lecture, even as she called on upcoming academics to tap from her wealth of knowledge.

Highpoint of the lecture was the presentation of a memento to the inaugural lecturer by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) on behalf of the Vice Chancellor.