Govt neglect, parents’ attitude killing Yoruba language - AAUA Don

A Professor of Yoruba Language and Dialectology, Temitope Olumuyiwa, has raised concerns that the Yoruba language is sliding towards extinction due to government’s failure to enforce the National Policy on Education and the dismissive attitude of Yoruba people themselves.

Delivering the 47th Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, on Tuesday, Prof. Olumuyiwa said it was disturbing that while Yoruba parents continue to stigmatise the use of their mother tongue, non-Yoruba, including foreigners, are embracing the language and culture.

He spoke on the topic: “Changing the Change: Yoruba Language and Dialectology in a Changing Society.”

The don identified non-implementation of the education policy as a major setback. 

The policy prescribes the use of indigenous languages as a medium of instruction from early childhood up to primary six, establishment of universities where teaching should be in Nigerian languages, and inclusion of local languages in General Studies programmes.

He listed other challenges as the derogatory branding of Yoruba as “vernacular,” conflicting theories about the language, and negative attitudes of some teachers, all of which have led to low enrolment in Yoruba-related courses in higher institutions.

“It is unfortunate that the younger generations are drifting away from the Yoruba language in preference for foreign tongues,” he said. 

“Parents abhor speaking their dialects and discourage their children from doing so, not realising that their culture is gradually going into extinction.”

Prof. Olumuyiwa also lamented that publishers are losing interest in producing Yoruba books, blaming it on poor economic returns and a waning reading culture.

According to him, this has resulted in weak orthography standards, as seen in misspellings on billboards and in films.

According to him, “The reasons for this are not far-fetched. Some of those teaching the language are neither trained nor qualified. It is therefore unsurprising that they are unfamiliar with the symbols and conventions of Yoruba writing. This deficiency impacts the students’ mastery of spelling conventions, which in turn undermines their writing skills.”

He urged Yoruba parents to take deliberate steps to safeguard the language by speaking it at home and encouraging their children to do the same. 

“Every Yoruba parent must cultivate the habit of teaching and speaking Yoruba to their children, while also developing a positive attitude towards the study of the language,” he urged.

The don noted that despite local neglect, Yoruba is gaining international recognition. 

He cited the BBC Yoruba channel, the inclusion of Yoruba as one of the languages required for recruits by London’s Metropolitan Police, and its translation of the Arafat sermon in Saudi Arabia.

Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, who chaired the lecture, described the event as a platform for academics to showcase the outcomes of years of research. He commended Prof. Olumuyiwa for his scholarship and contributions to the university.