Deconstructing Native Language in Communication: Igbo Language in Perspective

Abstract

Communication is an indispensable part of human existence with language as one of its veritable tools. Language in this paper is categorized under native language and official language. This paper seeks to deconstruct the invaluable roles native language in human communication, especially among people of homogenous linguistic affinity or milieu. For reliability and thoroughness of examination, Igbo language was adopted as a micro yardstick for the deconstruction. This paper is anchored on the ‘Hierarchy of Needs, and Yo-He-Ho’ theories drawn from the fields of communication and language. Content analysis method was adopted in gathering the data mainly from already existing studies or written literatures by other scholars or researchers in related areas, while the purposive sampling technique was used to systematically evaluate them. The paper recommends amongst others, that native languages be accorded important attention in Nigeria’s educational curriculum in order to enhance their development and also keep them extant.