The Role of Language and Communication in National Transfromation

The relationship between vocabulary and colloquy in the business of nurture encoding and dissemi domain apprizenot be over looked. Despite the fact that the devil concepts be several(predicate) in meaning, the berths they play argon complementary in some ways. wording is a answer by which information can be carried out from one(a) stir upy to an separate, while converse refers to the chain of activities that contribute it possible for information, ideas, emotions and experiences to be conveyed from one set offy to the separate. The solve of conversation starts with the ascendant that first puts the message information in a code or expression before it is sent to the receiver. The major focus of this work is to show how language and converse agree in achieving coreive information row for study Transformation. A documentary approach was applied.It was found out that the get along of language and talk is at the core of subject argona transformation in Nigeri a. Some variables that are relevant to this work are examined. These findings led to the completion that for Nigeria to move forward in its transformational strides in the 21st century, language and confabulation must be strengthened at sole(prenominal) cost. 1. 0 intromission Language plays a rattling vital role in kind-hearted society. The language of any gentlemans gentleman being society tells a plenty most that society. Therefore, it can be further emphasized that language and converse are inseparable.In any clementity society, language and converse occupy a very important seat, more than it appears to all. The functions of language and intercourse in any human community include the following looking at of thoughts, political, administration, commandment, well-disposed, religious, legislation and so on. It is shrill to note that of all the bring of conversation, language is the most important. This is beca map all other mean of intercourse bid gestures and halls are only needful in the face-to-face circumstance.Language plays a vital role in this and still the Great Compromiser the most in force(p) inwardness of discourse. Through language and colloquy, we can call in the heart of a sight. This implies that language makes it possible to express feelings, emotions, views, ideas, opinions, perceptions, as swell as judgment close to people, objects, places, things, information and situations, Obuh and Omenogor (2012). 2. 0 WHAT IS lyric? Language is a viable implement used by man for the intent of communication. It is human-specific and this differentiates man from other creatures.Language has contributed enormously to the great transformation of our society politically, religiously, socially and economically. For the sake of this paper, we need a definition of language. There is a plethora of definitions of the concept of language. Sapir (1963) asserts that language is the key to the heart of a people this elbow room t hat language is a purely human and non-instinctive type of communication. Moreso, Moulton (1974), figures language as a wonderful and rich vehicle of communication, which is expression of ideas, wishes, commands, conveyance of truths and lies. He excessively verbalize that only human beings have the attribute of direct and receiving an untrammelled result of messages. This implies that language is a feature common to human beings. Haugen (1974) explains language as a mans most characteristic and significant type of social behaviour learned anew by every minor. Language and communication are inseparably linked in the heart of a people. According to Allen and Corder (197327), language is purely a human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by message of voluntarily produced symbols.Hall (198016) defines language as the institutions where by humans communicate and interact with each other by means of habitually used spontaneous auditory sym bols. Bolinger (197514), views language as a system of vocal-auditory communication interacting with the experiences of its users, employing conventional signs composed of arbitrarily simulate sound units and assembled according to set rules. In another demotement, Essien (19982) sees language as A system of structured arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which human beings make meaning nd communicate with each other in a given community. These definitions recognize the communicative role of language which is specifically used by human beings for the purpose of interaction. By implication, language is in essence a perfect means of expression among every known people. It is important to note that language determines the world-view of a people. It is the tie-in between language and communication in information delivery for national transformation that is the fulcrum of this discourse.In as much as human beings use language, communication remains its primary target. 2. 1 FUNCTIONS A ND CHARACTERISTICS OF expression These can be seen as some special qualities and role that are common to a true human language. Human language is used in a number of functions and topmost among which is communication. In the aforementioned(prenominal) vein, language is known with the following straight-lacedties LANGUAGE IS A LIVING PHENOMENON This is attributed to a language because language just uniform other creatures can be born, grow, and die. Creating a language is like freehand birth to a language.A language grows when it undergoes a kind of structural and semantic expansion. A language dies when it is no time-consuming used or spoken by any group of people in any part of the world as a means of communication. IT IS ARBITRARY This implies that at that place is no logic or reasonable simile between words and expressions of a given language and their basic meanings or what they stand for. Example, the spoon is in the cup on the table does not logically look like what i t means because of the arbitrariness of each of its portions parts.In the same vein, human language is conventional. This is closely related to the arbitrariness of language, because a language is conventional in the sense that its meaningful usage is based on general opinion, consent, knowledge or acceptability of its various speakers Oluga (2006) EVERY LANGUAGE IS RULE GOVERNED This means that the acceptable and correct use of a giving language is usually guided at the various linguistic aims by set of an operating rules and principles called Grammar.Every language has its own grammar which may not be the same with those of other languages and any deviation from such grammatical rules leave render language use ungrammatical. IT IS SYMBOLIC This means that language also involves the use of various symbols which invariably aids comprehension of the meaning of language. However, symbols may or may not be physical. It is not physical if what is meant is the moral image already pi ctured in the language users listen which comes to mind whenever the signifier is mentioned.LANGUAGE IS PURELY HUMAN The school of thought who advocates these characteristics are those who view in the incomparability of the human language. To them, language is one of the main distinctive features by which human beings can be identified, hence, it is only the human means of communication that is highly complex and developed and which can explain virtually everything that they report as language. LANGUAGE IS COMPLEX BUT FLEXIBLE Language complexity means that language is make up of various, but logical related, constituent parts that can be properly combined to express unlimited ideals.While language flexibility means that language is not an unreasonably buckram source of communication but one that can be special in various ways to express various ideas. One can even say something and mean the opposite of what one says and yet the think meaning of ones message would be understo od. LANGUAGE IS all ACCQUIRED OR LEARNT Here, human beings are not born with language though the ability to speak language is inherent in them hence, no child starts to speak a language as soon as he/she is born.A language is either informally acquired from childhood through and through an unconscious process or formally learnt through a conscious erudition process or in a formal learning setting like the language sieve. However, acquisition of language is peculiar to mother tongue while, learning proper is peculiar to other languages other than the mother tongue. It is also carpetbag to note that an already acquired language usually influences or impedes learning and faculty in the second language usage. From the above, it is obvious that language is an essential part of human beings which they use for communication purpose.Therefore, every nation that wishes to have a meaningful transformation, must take the essence of its language very seriously. Nigeria is a typical exampl e of a nation that has not been taken the issue of language very seriously and this is part of the reasons for our backwardness in National Transformation. 2. 2 LANGUAGE AND NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION Transformation has to do with a complete change, usually into something with an improved appearance or usefulness. Transformation implies that on that point is an improvement of the well-being of the people.Transformation can be seen from two major angles, that is from human and physical. For human, transformation should be seen in raising the levels of their backup standard in price of good income. Physical transformation is an aspect of transformation that does not necessarily change the living standard of the people like grammatical construction skyscrapers, modern expressways and so on. Many people are poor because they cannot go into their citizens basic necessities of life. National Transformation is the growth of the nation in terms of unity, education and so on.It involves a coordinated and concentrated transformation of all aspects of the society, Elugbe (1990) as quoted by Okoye and Okafor (2011). For National Transformation and social changes to take a positive stand, the organisation should share most of her favourable policies to her target consultation through the accessible mediums with acceptable language. The economic transformation of any nation also helps to define its transformational processes. As it is, the process of industrialization entails a oscillos bang study of the nature of the environs and its suitability for the industry.This cannot be achieved without the use of language to transmit the ideas to the people concerned Unegbu (2011). The unity of a nation has to do with the need for the various ethnic groups in that nation to see themselves as one. It is certain that Nigeria as a nation is a geographical entity that is made up of several different groups ordinarily unrelated. I stand to said that there cannot be real national unity and transformation without a strong and genuine linguistic policy that is geared towards uniting the country 3. 0 WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?Communication is the process of sharing ideas, feelings, thoughts and messages with others. The heart of communication is the dissemination of effective messages to the audience and this may involve writing, speaking, gestures, disposition and facial nerve expressions, among others. Communication has been given several definitions by various scholars. For instance, Little (19654) defines communication as a process by which information is passed among individuals and organizations by means of previously agreed symbols. Lyons (196532) views it as an intentional transmission of information by means of some established signaling system.Book, et al (19808) sees communication as a transactional symbolic process which allows people to relate and talk terms their environment by establishing human contact, exchanging information, re-enforcing the at titudes and behaviours of others and changing the attitudes and behaviours of others. By these definitions, communication because is a means of touching others through sharing of information in agreed system. 3. 1 FORMS OF COMMUNICATION Forms of communication have been derived for the sake of thingummy to simplify the process of communication.Communication is very vital to keep the environment level-headed and peaceful. Imagine a world where no one understands one another. Wouldnt it be chaotic? Think about it. Communication of information, messages, opinions, speech and thoughts can be done through different forms of modern communication media, like Internet, bid and spry. Some of the basic ways of communication are by speaking, singing, sign language, body language, touch and eye contact. These basic ways of communication are used to transfer information and for the sake of this paper it shall be change down into four ?First is verbal communication, it is essentially the typ e of communication which uses words. It uses sounds in addition to the language, gestures and body language, while communicating. Verbal communication helps in expressing thoughts, emotions and sentiments. A phone conversation, chat with a friend, an announcement made or a speech delivered are all verbal forms of communication. For most of us, it comes with ease. As children, we learned verbal communication through the sounds around us. We soon develop and start understanding the language which helps us to communicate verbally as we grow older. Another is non-verbal communication. It is a process of communication without using words or sounds. Non-verbal communication uses gestures, body language, facial expressions, eye contact, clothing, hairstyles and every part of the body to communicate with the audience. Dances or a gesture made by a mother to a child, are the perfect examples of non-verbal communication. ?Written communication is another form. This is where you write the word s which you want to communicate. Good written communication is essential for business purposes. Written communication is practiced in many different languages.E-mails, reports, articles and memos are some of the ways of using written communication in business. The written communication can be edited and revise many times before it is communicated to the second party to whom the communication is intended. This is one of the main advantages of using writing as the major means of communication in business activity. Written communication is used not only in business but also for informal communication purposes. Mobile SMS is an example of informal written communication see Daramola (2003). ?Fourthly is oral communication. This is the communication process conducted through spoken words.Oral communication is defined as the effective interpretation, composition, and presentation of information, ideas, and values to a specific audience. In todays world, the emergences of different forms o f media have led to the communication process through different channels like telephones, tele-conferences, video conferences and what have you. Earlier, face-to-face pertainings and speeches were the only forms of communication see also Daramola (2003). 3. 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMUNICATION According to Daramola (2003), the characteristics of communication are as follows oCommunication is dynamic, not static. It is continuous since there is no beginning and end to it in person life oIt is a complete process as it occurs at many levels and reflects many influences. oIt is irreversible. Once any message is sent and received, it produces effect on later messages. oIt is non sequential in that the elements are not stiff patterned in a linear or circular manner. 3. 3 COMMUNICATION AND NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION National Transformation in Nigeria is a phenomenon that has so many meanings to different people though, all gear towards enhancing the living standard of the masses.Society as a whole cannot survive if the people are not properly informed of the way forward. And communication constitutes one of the instruments that precedes the education and re-education of the people providing changes in the society. Communication is a way of relaying a lot of information to a large segment of people. In communicating with the people, there is the communicator, the message, channel and the audience. As an ingredient for the advancement of the society, communication maintains a unremitting link between the people and National Transformation.The main purpose of communication is to create awareness to the public. Communication is the live wire for growth and transformation. It does not only eradicate ignorance and apathy, it aids to create awareness about happenings in the society. Lack of communication can lead to a total disruption of activities in a society. Communication brings about freedom of speech and ideas. It gives everyone the privilege to participate in the for mation of public matters. It keeps one abreast about transformational agenda and widens ones wealth of knowledge Unegbu (2011).Nigerian government need to use communication to help socio-economic and political advancement of the country and this will assist to go around the people towards the attainment of National Transformation of the country. With the use of communication and language, the government will be able to reach out to her numerous audiences in her policies and programmes. The aim at upward(a) the standard of living of the masses, raising their spirit towards protection and the defense of the nation for national interest cannot be achieved without proper communication. . 0 RECOMMENDATION The following recommendations may serve in improving the role language and communication plays in National Transformation. 1. Effort should be doubled at the teaching and learning of language and communication to meet international standards. 2. Education policy makers should make la nguage and communication a compulsory course for all disciplines at the high education level in Nigeria. This will assist every graduate (no matter his/her field of battle of specialization) to acquire standard language and communication skills. . The teaching of language and communication should be more intensive. This implies that more hours should be allocated to language and communication class in our schools. 4. Teachers of language and communication should be trained and re-trained to enable them cope with the complexities involved in the teaching of the course. 5. 0 CONCLUSION Communication involves the use of language to pass information, transact, and exchange ideas and expressions of thought. This implies that, language is a fundamental symbol to communication.Language is not a natural instinct it is acquired or learnt through the effective social stages like the family, peer-group and ethnic group. Man as a social and communicative animal must live, associate and interac t with people in the society to achieve personal aspirations. All these is greatly enhanced and facilitated by effective communication. This paper has looked at language and communication in Nigerian environment as one of the ways of enhancing National Transformation. The point is that Nigeria as a country should develop language and communication to a level that every user can effectively and adequately handle it.This is in view of the fact that the Nigerians must be prepared for the challenges of international environment since transformation is not just something that is limited to within the boundaries of a given nation-state or country. The life of a nation will be short-circuited and unimportant without language and communication. Sustained communication is therefore made possible through language.