The knowledge of English, the nations official language, is a fast fading culture among the younger generation, and the introduction of new technology has been fingered as one of the key contributors to the problem. Rotimi Ige, in this report, examines the reasons for this problem and the possible solutions.Sandra (not real name) was the cynosure of all eyes as she led the choir in one of the new generation pentecostal churches. She sang choruses and danced vigorously.At the end of the worship period, she led the church through a short prayer session in Igbo. She spoke with authority and raised some prayer points. Rumours had it that eligible bachelors in the church had asked for Sandras hand in marriage but one thing had constantly barred her from settling down; the failure to speak and write correct English.Her problem is one which is fast becoming the predicament of many Nigerians all over the country.Since the adoption of English language as the nations official language, the government has invested a lot to ensure that it is taught at all levels of education. In most schools, English, over the years, has been used for teaching and disseminating information. It is also used during tests and examinations.English language, as a subject, has become so important, that it is a pre-requisite for entry into the institutions of higher learning. It is for this reason that educators have opined that the failure of any individual to speak or write good English may be due to other factors.The problem, according to social watchers, has been traced to some factors, among which are the lack of proper education, lack of interest, and most recently, the misuse of English owing to the introduction of new technology.In Sandras case, she had, over the years, applied for various jobs and failed the interview of every one of them.Though educated as she claims, her problem of speaking and writing in good English is one which has made it increasingly difficult for youths to gain credible accolades from the public which has constantly labelled them as unemployable.The problem of speaking and writing English, has been attributed to the influx of new technologies, especially the internet and mobile telephony. Initially, with the introduction and popularity of the internet and mobile telephones, communication became easier and less stressful. People could send messages across thousands of miles from the convienience of their homes without having to travel far distances.Through this, lots of lives were saved and the nation heaved a sigh of relief.But along the line, as mobile phones and internet connectivity became more availabile, especially to youths, so did the breakdown of culture and communication.Communication between people, with technology, became faceless such that information was passed without physical presence. This, according to critics, is partly responsible for the problems of bad communication in English owing to the use of abbreviations and slangs which has become very popular especially in text messages as regards mobile phones. Words like Thank you have been replaced with tnx , take care replaced with takia, picture became pix , something became smtn, your became ur, thousand was reduced to k, and so on.Over time, and with more youths having access to these facilities, they have imbibed the culture of abbreviation, especially in text messaging as all phones can only accommodate 160 characters per text. This, according to social watchers, is mostly responsible for the inability of the younger generation to command the good use of the English language.It is not uncommon to receive a text message from ones ward reading thus,Gd mrnin ma, hw r u I hp als wel @ home. Pls ma, am low on cash n crdt. pls snd my frnd cmin home ds wknd. Ill need like 10k for my hndouts ds mnth ma. Tnx ma. Gd 9t.But how did this come to be, people ask Speaking with Nigerian Tribune, the proprietress, Pethil International School, Mrs Adenike Olayinka, attributed the bad trend to the laxity of youths in paying attention to the importance of writing and speaking good English and the recent get-rich-quick attitudes of youth which has made them see formal education as irrelevant. She said that all that the youths want nowadays is to purchase the latest electronic gadgets so that they can impress their peers.Said she, youths nowadays no longer aspire to be like the role models that we emulated in our time. The Awolowos, the Azikiwes, the Balewas etc...Nowadays all you hear is Jay-Z, Dbanj, Tuface etc. Yes, these people are accomplished in their various endeavours, but not everyone cant be like them because we all have different talents. The English they speak is sometimes annoying. Our youths need to refocus. Not all that glitters is gold.According to social analysts, a lot of youths, these days, find it hard to concentrate on their studies due to the glamour and razzmatazz showcased in the entertainment world. Reports show that the entertainment business, in Nigeria for instance, is fast becoming a goldmine as the industry is currently a multi-million naira spinning machine.But, as a matter of fact, most of the entertainment artistes have, on several occasions, advocated that youths should go to school and study to an appreciable level before they venture into the arts because it refines their behaviours and helps them to be better individuals.Henry Aderibigbe, a compere and comedian said, Artistes who attained enviable educational status have been proved to excel better in their endeavours. The likes of Naeto C, who is a masters degree holder, Lagbaja, Tosin Martins, Eldee Labiri, Asa, Banky W, Styl-plus etc... are artistes who have been relevant to the music industry, producing best selling albums. This is basicly because they have added value to their talent in the form of formal education.When you talk to them, you discover that they are deep minded people who know their onions. So, if anyone aspires to be in the business, they must be formally schooled so as not to be a flash in the pan.So, the question on the lips of many is, what can be done to stop the trend of abbreviating, speaking and writing bad EnglishMrs Olayinka proferred a solution, stressing that the younger generation must deal with peer pressure and the urge to pursue worldly pleasures adding that they must embrace formal education and ensure that the mastery of spoken and written English is topmost on their minds so as to reap its future benefits and make them better citizens.She encouraged parents to make sure that their wards are taught the language vis-a-vis their native tongue from a tender age, while also advising youths to cultivate the habit of spending less time on frivolous activites, stressing that they should invest in books i.e novels so that they can master the English language.She discouraged the use of abbreviation and slangs as she said that this could impair the correct pronounciation and understanding of the language.
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