Dear nairaland,

Is it possible to forget your mothertongue?
In Nigeria, we have many languages but English is our  official language. There are however sadly people who cannot speak their native languages. Although some of the Nigerian languages are included in the subjects offered at secondary scholls, you still find people who cannot speak their native languages.

These people most cases are better in English than ttheir mothertongue.

Would it be right for them to consider English as their mother tongue even though they are not perfect in English compared to American or British native speakers of English?

Are we losing our languages?

Of course they are. Simple reason being, we have adopted the "English" language as the main Language in Nigerian institutions. We do not have a written form of any of our languages to be taught in Nigerian schools. We sure can't teach algebra, forensic science or aviation in Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba can we?

So the languages only have one option--die out. It is sad though. Many children cannot speak one Nigerian language. Migrating to foreign countries in droves does not help either. But it can't be helped.

almondjoy:

Of course they are. Simple reason being, we have adopted the "English" language as the main Language in Nigerian institutions. We do not have a written form of any of our languages to be taught in Nigerian schools. We sure can't teach algebra, forensic science or aviation in Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba can we?

So the languages only have one option--die out. It is sad though. Many children cannot speak one Nigerian language. Migrating to foreign countries in droves does not help either. But it can't be helped.

Yes, agreed. When being asked what your mother tongue is, would say it's e.g. Yoruba or would you rather say it's English even though you're not fluent in both languages

@AJ
true, some words in english can't even be turned into yoruba

well most the only languages that are not dying are the major three languages;hausa, yoruba and igbo