Yoruba, other Nigerian languages on the verge of extinction, Prof Akinwunmi Isola warns
Nínú ìwé ìròyìn “Vanguard”, ti ọjọ́ Àìkú, oṣù kẹta, ọjọ́ , ọdún kẹrinlélógún, Ẹgbaalémétàlá, Olùkọ́ àgbà ti Èdè ati Àṣà, Akínwùnmí Ìṣọ̀lá, kébòsí wípé èdè Yorùbá àti èdè abínibí miran le parun ti a ko bá kíyèsára. Ìkìlọ̀ yí ṣe ìrànlọ́wọ́ fún akitiyan Olùkọ̀wé yi lati gbé èdè àti Yorùbá ga lórí ẹ̀rọ Ayélujára.
Àwọn Òṣèlú tó yẹ ki wọn gbé èdè ìlú wọn lárugẹ n dá kún pí pa èdè rẹ. Òṣèlú ilẹ̀ Yorùbá ko fi èdè na ṣe nkankan ni Ilé-òsèlú, wọn o sọ́, wọn ò kọ́, wọn ò ká. Àwọn Òṣèlú ayé àtijọ́ bi Olóyè Ọbáfẹ́mi Awólówọ̀, Olóyè Ládòkè Akíntọlá, àti bẹ̃bẹ lọ gbé èdè wọn lárugẹ bi ó ti ẹ̀ jẹ́ wípé wọn kàwé wọn gboyè rẹpẹtẹ. Yorùbá ní “Àgbà kì í wà lọ́jà kórí ọmọ tuntun wọ́”. Ó yẹ ki àwọn àgbà kọ́ ọmọ lédè, kí à si gba àwọn ọmọ wa níyànjú wípé sí sọ èdè abínibí kò dá ìwè kíkà dúró ó fi kún ìmọ̀ ni. Ó ṣeni lãnu wípé àkàkù ìwé ló pọ̀ laarin ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọmọ, wọn ò gbọ́ èdè Yorùbá wọn ò dẹ̀ tún gbọ́ èdè gẹ̀ẹ́sì.
Yorùbá ní “Ẹ̀bẹ̀ la mbẹ òṣìkà pé kí ó tú ìlú rẹ ṣe”, A bẹ àwọn Òṣèlú́ Ilẹ̀ Yorùbá ni agbègbè Èkìtì, Èkó, Ògùn, Ondó, Ọ̀ṣun àti Ọ̀̀yọ́, lati ṣe òfin mí mú Kíkọ àti Kíkà èdè Yorùbá múlẹ̀ ní gbogbo ilé ìwé, ní pàtàkì ní ilé-ìwé alakọbẹrẹ ilẹ̀ Yorùbá nitori ki èdè Yorùbá ma ba a parẹ́.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
In the publication of “Vanguard Newspaper” on Sunday, March 24, 2013, Professor of Language and Culture, Akinwunmi Isola raised the alarm of the possibility of the extinction of Yoruba and other ethnic languages. This warning is in support of the effort of this Blogger to promote Yoruba language on the Internet.
The Politicians that ought to promote Yoruba language are contributing to its extinction. Politicians in Yoruba land are not using the language for any political transactions in the House, it is not spoken, not written or read. The Politicians of old such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Ladoke Akintola, etc promoted Yoruba language in spite of being highly educated with many qualifications. Yoruba proverb said, “An elder will not watch idly while a child’s head bent at the mother’s back in the market”. In support of this proverb, it is necessary for the elders to teach children and advice, that speaking their mother tongue would not disturb their education but rather enhance it. It is a pity that many children are now half-baked, not literate in Yoruba or English language.
In accordance with another Yoruba adage that said “We need to plead with the wicked to take care of his/her Town”. We need to plead with the Politicians in Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo to enact a law to make the study of Yoruba language compulsory in all Schools, particularly in Primary Schools in Yoruba land to save Yoruba language from extinction.
Originally posted 2013-03-26 21:44:54. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Thanks to the Academia and the concern individuals that continue to register their concern , regarding the damages and the non commitments to the promotion of their Mother tongues or their Original tongues. It’s about time for the Academia alike to do the same. There is power in spoken word,” Oro la fi da aye Oro la fi da Orun”. A la kowe fi owo ra ede ajoji tan, o wa fi ti ibile to re. When one language is lost, it makes the soul wonder for refuge, when there is no containment it becomes a’ Conjuctive Motivation ‘otherwise called Low self Esteem. Eje ki a gbe ede wa la ruge, Oduduwa a gbe wa o Ase.