A vernacular or vernacular language refers to the language or dialect that is spoken by people that are inhabiting a particular country or region. The vernacular is typically the native language, normally spoken informally rather than written, and seen as of lower status than more codified forms.
Many years ago, I had wanted to either study law or Mass communication at the University but some years later, I found myself in the University of Ibadan, studying Linguistics and African languages. It was a course that changed a lot about me-It changed my mindset completely!
It introduced me to the richness of our indigenous languages. Their beauty and uniqueness. It birthed in me the hunger to understand the rules guiding the languages and allow my tongue savor the velvety feeling of my indigenous language. Many indigenous languages are seriously endangered because our parents did not pass it down or because we are to ‘ashamed’ to learn the language.
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I was from a home where my language was spoken, so I understood the language but it was a situation of ‘Understanding the language when it was spoken’ but I couldn’t say a sentence without stumbling’, so, I made conscious efforts while in school, to learn and took courses to help me too. It was difficult because I didn’t have the background but due to the patience of people like Dr. Nweya, Prof. Herbert Ibeanusi and some amazing scholars like Emeka Onwuegbu and Ozibo Ozibo, it paid off. Many times, the department would organize field trips, where we would travel to interior communities across the nation to document languages that were highly endangered and were about to go extinct. These languages were being taken off the surface of the earth because it was not passed down to the next generation. The effect of those experiences still lingers in my mind today.
I still stumble when I speak my language but a lot improvement has happened and I’m super proud of my journey so far.
It is important to know that you will never be considered an ‘English man/woman’ by the Englishman, no matter how much of their language or culture you understand. What happens when you are neither an English man or an African? Just a pendulum.
The death of a language is the death of a people.The death of a language is the death of a culture. It is the death of the story, victory, races, tears and uniqueness of a race!
Understand the English language well, for your growth and development but never degrade your language or act like it an abomination. Be proud of your identity and promote it at every chance you get, who knows your language might be the next ‘English’ language.
The English language is a global language, so please teach your kids but never get to the point where you tell that them that, vernacular is prohibited in your house. Your uniqueness and Identity should not be treated with disgust!
Make that research.You might think others are reserving your language.You might be surprised that your language is highly endangered too.
I’ll be talking about this today by 12noon and 8pm GMT+1. Tune in and get value for time.
You can listen to the podcast on this topic here
© Christy Chris