A Survey of the Yoruba-English Translation Skills of Secondary School Students in Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Language and culture are Siamese twins that share the same heart. Yoruba idioms form a large window for showcasing culture through communication and by their interpretation into English language which is not only a central language in Nigeria but also the leading international language. This study investigated the knowledge of Yoruba idioms among Yoruba-speaking secondary school students in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. It also examined their ability to properly give a contextual interpretation to the idioms in English language. It also looked into the possibility of employing the English language itself as a metalanguage to revive and teach proper interpretation of Yoruba idioms into English language. Data collected from two hundred teachers and a focus group of fifty students was analysed using the chi square statistics and the descriptive survey method. Findings show that students have a poor knowledge of Yoruba idioms and they cannot properly interpret the few they know into English language. This already endangers a linguistic feature of the Yoruba culture. Recommendations include the use of modern technology and the English class in the promotion and the interpretation of Yoruba idioms into English language.