Je N'en Ai Pas Besoin: Help Me with The Translation
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Date
2025-06-18
Authors
Ilupeju, A. M.
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Publisher
University of Lagos Press and Bookshop Limited
Abstract
This inaugural lecture by Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju explores the sociolinguistic dynamics of French language acquisition, practice, and teaching in Nigeria, with a particular focus on the unique case of Ejigbo, a Yoruba-speaking town where French has become a significant language of communication due to historical migration patterns and economic ties with francophone West Africa. The lecture examines both macro- and micro-sociolinguistic approaches to language contact, highlighting issues of linguistic domination, diglossia, and the evolution of French in multilingual Nigerian contexts. It traces the historical development of French education in Nigeria, the challenges of policy implementation, and the sociopolitical and economic imperatives driving the need for French proficiency among Nigerians. The lecture provides a detailed analysis of the varieties of French spoken in Ejigbo, including non-standard, popular, and code-mixed forms, and discusses the broader implications of language contact phenomena such as borrowing, code-switching, and semantic shifts. The lecture also addresses the roles of translation, interpretation, and explanation as essential semantic exercises in bridging linguistic and cultural divides. Concluding with recommendations for policy, curriculum development, and teacher training, the lecture underscores the importance of French as a tool for regional integration, economic advancement, and international diplomacy in Nigeria and West Africa.
Description
Je N'en Ai Pas Besoin: Help Me with The Translation. An Inaugural Lecture Delivered at the Nurudeen, Alao Hall, Distance Learning Institute (DLI), University of Lagos on Wednesday 18 June, 2025 By Professor Akanbi Mudasiru Ilupeju. Professor of French. Department of European Languages and Integration Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos.
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Citation
Ilupeju, A. M. (2025). Je N'en Ai Pas Besoin: Help Me with The Translation. An Inaugural Lecture Delivered at the Nurudeen, Alao Hall, Distance Learning Institute (DLI), University of Lagos, 84p.