While speaking in a foreign accent demonstrates a speaker’s language proficiency, it still has its social benefits, especially in the Nigerian context, according to educationist and media expert Titus Bankole.
Speaking on Newscentral’s show, Jasiri, Bankole noted that the country has suffered a steady decline in language competence, which is a fallout of the drop in the standard of education it is experiencing.
He added that the fact that most Nigerians have jettisoned the standards inherent in the accent and are leaning towards the social benefits is the reason why the anomaly of accent attraction is widespread.
“Nigeria’s forefathers had a distinctive use of English; they had language competence not because they had an accent, they showed proficiency by sticking to the standards and not necessarily holding on to the social benefit”.
Pushing the accent ahead of the competence is the cause of the anomaly we’re experiencing”. He added
Bankole, also the President of the Association of Diction Coaches in Nigeria, said having an accent opens you up to different audiences and opportunities.
“Once you have a different way of speaking in society, you are overly accepted to be educated and intelligent and have a certain level of competency, and you cannot separate the fact that it shows a level of education or background”.