The Linguistic Disadvantage of the Governed

By

Obododimma Oha

George Orwell has warned us in his popular essay, “Politics and the English Language,” that those who govern us would like to be manufacturing words and to have us retort these often to inhibit our freedom to think for ourselves. That means that they govern us also at the arena of language, of expression. They know that language and thought are closely related and so would like to enact some deceit and control at the level of expression. One danger here, which Orwell also foresees, is that those of us who like to retort stock expressions that are found out there in the public space are confessing that someone else thinks for us, that meanings that are chosen for us are preferred! Espinosa Vera, one-time president of international media semiotics, also draws our attention in an interview, to the fact that having a “semiotic competence,” with which we can analyse  and consume signs produced by others, is an important tool against manipulation in society. But, let us bring these insights nearer home to public life in Nigeria. The recent general elections in the country help to confirm that what these two scholars are hammering upon is real. With this as background, this short essay is concerned with a related disadvantage that is created for the governed by those who govern in countries like Nigeria, through the poor attitude to linguistic instruments that would really help them to understand government, their rights, and really empower them with access to and comprehension of the documentation of administration.

It is true, that given the numerous criticisms of the contrary orientation, government in countries like Nigeria and Ghana have started translating texts of administration like the constitutions and anthems to local languages. Before, the tendency had been to leave these documents in English, even to restrict their circulation cleverly, as if government had something to hide (and sometimes it has something to hide). Just as holy books were restricted to clever scriveners and leaders in religious circles in the past, these important documents are hidden away, just to create disadvantage for the governed. But, the more these documents are hidden away to promote conspiracies and to make people begin to ask questions, the more interest in them grows with time. It is possible that one reason the documents are not linguistically accessible to many is that they are hiding something, or are used to mask something undesirable. Maybe people will get to know that what they have always adored is really against them!

As I indicated, translations of these documents are now available, but not in many cases. There is still the assumption that many Nigerians are English-speaking and so, if the document is in English, it is accessible to them. This is really one of the great lies of government in Nigeria, for many of the ruled do not speak or write English (whether good one or bad one). As one proverb puts it in Igbo, “Ala adịghị mma, uru ndi nze” (If the land is in a mess, the ozo-titled people have something to gain from, and so are happy about it). Yes, ala adịghị mma, uru ndi nze. They have something, a problem, they would be pretending to be solving, to invent their relevance!

However, there is one crucial dimension: even if these documents are translated and made available for the public to read, what is the guarantee that they are actually read? How many people bother to read things in their languages these days? How many people even bother to read, except reading short Facebook updates and WhatsApp shares? If you like this and that, say “Amen” seven times. If you share it with ten people, you would experience a great miracle! 

So, you see, the government or administration will have to try other strategies and other modes to build interest in these important texts. Maybe, adaptations. Maybe open-air film shows, as Ministry of Information used to do in Nigeria in the past. If the government is really interested and not gaining from Ala adịghị mma, experts in Participatory Performance Practice can offer very effective strategies! When the people being governed are on the left side, while those that are governing them are on the right side linguistically, you can expect the discomforts of estrangement and suspicions. Somebody is actually happy that somebody is ignorant, is not asking questions!