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Wednesday, July 21, 2010
NEWS: Omotola, Cossy in Lifestyle
Korea insist on World Cup team
August 11 friendly South Korea football federation has insisted that Nigeria, parade the same players that featured in the 2010 World Cup group B encounter in a proposed August 11 international friendly in Seoul, South Korea.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) technical committee chairman Dominic Iorfa confirmed the development yesterday, adding that the Koreans want at least half of the Eagles squad that played in South Africa otherwise there will be no match.He said that the NFF was taking the match seriously and would soon meet to take action on the Korea request.
South Korea showed Nigeria the exit door at SA 2010 in their last group B match in Durban. Nigeria had gone ahead, but the Koreans equalised and took the lead.
They were heading for victory until Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored from the spot to level the game. Yakubu missed a begging chance in that match.
Nigeria and Korea so far in their encounters have played four times, with the Asians winning two and the other two ended in a draw, the last one being the group B World Cup match in Durban.
We ‘ll use strength and speed against Mexico, Falconets Coach
The encounter that will decide the group and probably a fourth successive quarter_final place for the Nigerian girls.
Coach Egan Adat is confident his wards will rise to the occasion and he owes his confidence to the to the combination up front of Ebere Orji and Desire Oparanozie.
Soon after beating Japan, the coach said his players were more clinical in front of goal. He looked forward to the match against Mexico with optimism.
“I’m very pleased and happy for my players. But we now need to focus on Mexico, our upcoming opponents. We’re not quite there yet – we need to make sure of our place in the next round in the final group match,”
Continuing, coach Egan said, “As I said after our opening draw with England, my players have a winning mindset. In the first game, all we were lacking was that little bit of luck you need to claim three points. Against Japan our game clicked into place right from the kick_off, and we overcame them with our strength and speed.”
Nigerian forward Ebere Orji was confident. ”We try to stamp our style of play on games, by controlling possession and attacking in numbers,” said Orji, who with three assists has played a key role in all of Nigeria’s goals thus far.
“Many of the players in the squad know each other from our New Zea land 2008 campaign and that familiarity extends to the field of play The match between Nigeria and Mexico comes up from 2 pm Nigerian time
My regret as single mother — Monalisa Chinda
By Aaramide Pius
Nollywood, screen goddess, Monalisa Chinda is no doubt, a beauty to behold any day. She is rave of the moment and she is sizzling hot at this time. Lisa who broke up with her erstwhile husband barely some months ago bares her mind in this extensive interview with Aramide Pius.
She spoke on her challenges as a single mother, her career and what life has taught her. Excerpt;
What has changed ever since you became a Glo ambassador?
Well nothing really in terms of my career. Only that I have to go Glo events. You know being an ambassador, you have to go their events and programmes. It has also made me realize that I’m not just an actress but that people are actually watching me. It has given me more self belief that I’m being noticed and appreciated for what I do. It is a privilege.
What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
I say my prayers after which I cleanse my face. After doing that I rush into the gym to work out.. I gym four hours everyday. Two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, four hours of work out everyday.
Are you a colorful person?
Yes I love colours. You can see my house, it is a reflection of who I am. I’m a very colourful person and into interiors too. I love Peach, Pink and colours of that nature. I love babyish colours; I have always loved that since I was a child.
Are you a designer freak?
I love good and quality things, it doesn’t have to be tied to a particular name. There so many beautiful things out there that are not tagged to any name and you have some stuffs too that are good and made by designers that are not popular and they are really good stuffs. So for me, good quality is my watch word, not really the name of the designer on it.
With your busy schedule and the nature of traffic in Lagos, do you drive yourself or you have a chauffeur?
Yes I do drive myself. The traffic at our end in Lekki is timing. If you do not know how to time your way around Lagos, you will not find it funny at all. For instance, if I’m going out for the day, I will make sure that by the time I’m dropping my child off at school, I’m already dressed for my outing.
If I leave around 8 am, the traffic will not be as congested as it will be later in the day. Shooting around Lekki makes it better for me because of proximity.
So which programme do you love the most and that you watch?
I love to watch comedies because I love to laugh a lot. There is a particular comedy programme that I love to watch all the time.
There is also this programme where primary school questions are asked adults but then the adults have to rack their brains to get answers. I love the programme a lot. Such things trip me.
What is the most beautiful experience you have ever had?
Having my baby is that most beautiful experience I have had.
What is the craziest thing a fan has told you?
I can actually remember the day when a six year old baby who must have watched one of my movies the previous night where I may have acted like a bitch, saw me. Immediately, he just sat opposite me starring at me thinking of what to do to me.
Next he rolled a piece of paper and threw it at me. When the mother saw him, she was mad at him. He then came close to me to tell me he was sorry.
What is your favorite day of the week?
Well may be Sundays. You know after going to church to worship, you come home and rest or you go visiting family friends and all that but really, I don’t care about any day of the week.
Can you tell the greatest challenge that you have had to face in life?
I would say that the challenge is that right now I’m a single mother which is not exactly very rosy.
Of course there is mixed feeling when you are out there alone wit the child because of the different ways people see single parenthood. What really bothers me is the fact that the child does not have a father figure at the moment.
It is quite a challenge because I grew up with both of my parents living together and what has happened to me is something I never could have thought would happen to me.
But I had to take a drastic decision because of my life. I am happy to be where I am however and I do not have any regrets.
How is your daughter adjusting to single parenthood, is she coping?
She is fine but I really don’t know how to answer the question. She is there and she is fine.
Does she not ask after daddy?
She does not know who daddy is.
Really?
Yes, she doesn’t know who daddy is.
Could your being at the top of your career at the moment be associated with the fact that you are now on your own?
Yes I’m more peaceful with myself now. I’m at peace with my creator and I have no fear of anything that is going to happen. I’m as free as a bird to do anything I want to that which is good.
I already started up my charity work which I was not able to do when I was in bondage. Right now, I’m more pleased; I’m more creative, I’m much stronger…
I finally confronted my fears because then, I was usually afraid of the next moment.
But now, I have taken the bull by the horn and I’m bolder, I’m more confident and I don’t think that there is anything that will happen to me now that will make my legs wobble. No! I will stay strong. I think that is it.
Omotola, Cossy in Lifestyle
The star-studded soap is part of the effort by the veteran actor to sensitise the populace on the adverse effects of drug abuse in our society, using the medium of the tube.
Adams, a former Cartoon Editor of Vanguard Newspapers said in a chat with HVP that the soap, currently running on LTV Channel 8, Lagos, will be returned on Super Screen where it ran during its first season, and TVC respectively.
The soap is the brainchild of Paul Adams and his wife.
Lifestyle, according to Adams, is a product of passion. He has a strong desire to enthrone a society devoid of drug addiction.
“My passion is to advocate a drug-free society or relatively low participation of our youths in the use and abuse of harmful drugs,”Adams said.
While emphasizing that the soap is part of his noble contribution towards sanitizing the society and making it a safe place to live in, Adams explained that he has a desire to use the soap to highlight the activities of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
Being a personal effort, the 25-minute soap according to him, stresses the need for government agencies to deem it necessary to support a project of this magnitude in order to actualize its mission.
“We are putting the project together to discourage youths and adults from using and trafficking in harmful drugs. I believe that we all owe it as a duty to contribute towards sanitizing our society and making it a safe place to live in.”
“Lifestyle is about life, it’s about reality and it’s about living. It also teaches that it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, you can live a new life apart from drugs, violence and crime.”
Adams however described the soap as “a contemporary drama serial on drug abuse, journalism, business, love, family and religion.”
Set in metropolitan Lagos, Lifestyle mirrors happenings in our society with a view to providing positive reinforcements to valuable norms like good business ethics, moral upbringing, fidelity in marriage, genuine faith in God and clean drug-free living amongst values.
At the center of the intriguing story is the Pataro family, headed by Chief Temple Pataro(Festus Agbueboh) a rich, influential business magnate and unknown to his family, a drug baron. His wife is Gwendolyn Pataro (Ngozi Ezeonu), a religious house wife with a questionable background that remains undisclosed to her family.
Their daughter is Joy Pataro and their son, Tony Pataro(Tuvi James) is an undergraduate drug-abuser.
“Lifestyle is an anti-drug campaign.. We have been at it for awhile. And we just ended the editing of Season 2. We want to start off Season 3 in earnest,” Adams, who has acted in several movies and soaps relayed to HVP.”
Nude photos: It wasn’t me, says Wande Coal
Multiple award winning artiste, Wande Coal, real name Ojosipe Oluwatobi Wande Jnr, has said he was not the person in the controversial nude pictures which appeared on social networking site, Twitter, which allegedly showed him lying naked on a bed.
He said there was no way the person in the picture could have been him, adding that whomever was responsible for spreading the lies must have used Photoshop to superimpose his head on another man’s naked body.
Coal said he and his attorneys were still investigating the matter and would proceed with legal actions once they identify those behind the circulation of the pictures.
Speaking in the same vein, D’banj, who said he was in the United States when he heard the news, lamented that people could descend so low to do things that were capable of extinguishing the glittering career of Wande Coal. He described Wande as a humble, talented young man who all members of the Mo’ Hits were proud of.
He, however, admitted that the controversy had catapulted Wande Coal to international stardom.
Mystery as Nigerian couple gives birth to white baby in UK
LONDON—A BLACKcouple, Ben and Angela Ihegboro, has amazed genetics experts, as their newly born baby, Nmanchi, is a white, blue-eyed blonde.
The couple, of Woolwich, south London, have two other children: four-year-old, Chisom, and sister, Dumebi, 2.
According to a report in the Sun of London, Ben, 44, a railway customer services adviser, said: he and his wife just sat there after the birth staring at her for ages – not saying anything.
He said: “In
“The first thing I said was ‘What the flip?’, he recalled. Ben added later that: “Of course, she’s mine. My wife is true to me. Even if she hadn’t been, the baby still wouldn’t look like that.”
Nmachi, whose name means “Beauty of God” in Nigerian parlance, was born at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup, Kent, where doctors there told them she is not an albino.
Ben, who went to Britain with Angela five years ago and works with South Eastern trains said: “She doesn’t look like an albino child anyway – not like the ones I’ve seen back in Nigeria or in books. She just looks like a healthy white baby.”
He went on: “My mum is a black Nigerian although she has a bit fairer skin than mine.”
Angela, 35, declared that Nmachi’s colour doesn’t matter. “She’s a miracle baby. But still, what on earth happened here? However, the child has baffled the genetics experts because neither Ben nor wife Angela has any mixed-race family history.
We don’t know of any white ancestry. We wondered if it was a genetic twist. But even then, what’s with the long curly blonde hair?”
DNA test to verify paternity
Chisom, the couple’s four-year-old son, was quoted as remarking: “We are a black family. Suddenly we have a white sister.” Ben also noted “We are baffled too and want to know what happened, but we understand life is very strange.”
It was not immediately made clear whether or not a DNA test was done to verify her paternity. Often described as a “fingerprint,” DNA is more comparable to a “body print” inclusive of internal workings and future traits and is often almost 100 percent exact.
However, Prof. Bryan Sykes, Head of Human Genetics at Oxford University and Britain’s leading expert, called the birth “extraordinary” He said: “In mixed race humans, the lighter variant of skin tone may come out in a child – and this can sometimes be startlingly different to the skin of the parents.
This might be the case where there is a lot of genetic mixing, as in Afro-Caribbean populations. But in Nigeria there is little mixing.”
Sykes said both parents would have needed “some form of white ancestry” for a pale version of their genes to be passed on. He added: “The hair is extremely unusual.
Even many blonde children don’t have blonde hair like this at birth.” The expert said some unknown mutation was the most likely explanation. “The rules of genetics are complex and we still don’t understand what happens in many cases.”
Genetic mutation
Other experts, however, propose that some form of unknown racial or genetic mutation was the most likely explanation for Nmachi’s colour. A genetic expert,
Dr. Rick Kittles who runs a genetic tracing company, African Ancestry Inc.,
described “race” as white or black, and more of a social concept than a real biological concept.”
In his words: “Race is based on two things: skin colour and ancestry. You can’t really (see) somebody’s ancestry, but you can tell their skin colour.” According to him, while physical features are determined by a small number of genes, genes do not determine race specifically.
Kittles feels strongly that race and ethnicity are separate. He argues that genes determining physical features do not determine internal makeup or predisposition to certain diseases.
Kittles who had always been interested in genetics in African populations started working on collecting data many years ago and his from studies determined that three out of 10 African men had European genetic heritages.
Up to 85 percent of Kittles’ African Ancestry’s clients are an exact match with ethnic groups in the database. The other 15 percent are closely related.
Jega reads riot act to commissioners
By Ben Agande
ABUJA—THE National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, yesterday, ordered resident electoral commissioners not to accept any form of assistance from state governments as doing so would compromise their independence.
Jega who was swearing in new resident electoral commissioners at the INEC headquarters, said as the commission moved towards the conduct of the next general elections, there was need for a “reflection on our past practices so as to learn from them,” noting that even when assistance were freely offered by state governments, “approval for accepting such assistance must be obtained from the commission.”
He told the resident electoral commissioners: “Reports reaching the commission indicate that there is a need for caution in the relationship between Resident Electoral Commissioners and state governments.
“The practice by some RECs in the recent past of going cap-in-hand to state governments for assistance is to be discouraged because it is capable of undermining your independence. RECs are advised to get in touch with the national headquarters to address whatever problems they may face.
Even in instances where financial assistance is freely offered as is done to other federal agencies, approval for accepting such assistance must be obtained from the commission. You will agree with me that such measures are essential in ensuring confidence in your work.”
The INEC chairman noted that the conduct of credible elections in the country was feasible and urged the RECs to do their best in achieving the objective.
On the Voters Register, Jega said: “The success of this exercise would depend on the RECs” adding that they should make serious assessment of their operational readiness and capabilities at the state and local government offices for this exercise, and for subsequent on as we move towards the election.
He urged them to work together in harmony to satisfy the yearnings of Nigerians for a credible, free and fair elections, adding: “Let us conduct our affairs responsibly, with honesty, integrity and impartiality.”
New INEC commissioners named
Meantime, President Goodluck Jonathan has submitted names of two more commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission to replace those earlier dropped because of their membership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Similarly, the President also submitted the names of Justices of the Court of Appeal for confirmation as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Those nominated for confirmation as commissioners in the Independent National Electoral Commission are Ambassador Mohammed Ahmed Wali, Northwest, and Dr Christopher Okubai Morgan, North Central.
President Goodluck said the appointees were “suitable replacement for confirmation by the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Nominations for Supreme Court justices
Those nominated for appointment as Supreme Court justices are Justice S. Galadima, North Central Zone, Justice of Court of Appeal, and Justice B. Rose Vivour, South West Zone, Justice of Court of Appeal.
President Jonathan in his letter said their appointments were in conformity with Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic which gives the President powers to appoint a justice of the Supreme Court acting on recommendations of the National Judicial Commission, NJC, and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
According to the President, “these appointments have been necessitated by the recent retirements from the service of Justice I.L. Kutigi, North Central Zone, and Justice B.O. Aderemi, South West Zone.”
Suspect killed in P-Harcourt Army Barracks
Commenting on the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the barracks, Major Aminu Illyasu, said the suspect gunned down was with two others and they had tried to jump into the barracks through the fence at about 2am.
He said soldiers on patrol ran into them and two escaped when they sighted the soldiers. He did not say what the intention of the men were, meanwhile, there were speculations that the suspects were probably armed robbers, who were running from the law and felt jumping into the barracks would be a safe place for them.
According to another account of the incident, the suspects may be on a mission to attack the barracks.
NDDC boss makes case for improved healthcare in N-Delta
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha, has reiterated the need for improved and affordable health care delivery for communities in the Niger Delta region.
Speaking at the flag-off of a weeklong NDDC/Pro Health Free medical programme at the Catholic Hospital, Obosima, Ohaji Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, the Managing Director, who was represented by Dr George Uzonwane, an Assistant Director, said the call became necessary because the attendant consequences of oil exploration and exploitation have brought untold hardship on the people, especially exposure to diseases.
He said it was for this reason that the NDDC was intervening in the health sector and urged the people to take advantage of the free medical programme and fight against endemic disease to stay healthy.
In an address, His Royal Highness Eze P. Onyeukwu, lauded the free health care programme, pointing out that the people of Obosima and its environs have benefitted greatly from the programme.
Also speaking, Coordinator of Pro-Health International, Dr Abiodun Aderibigbe, disclosed that about 3,500 patients were treated for various ailments during the programme.
Oppose Jonathan, face God?s wrath ? Cleric
Handing down the warning in Ughelli, Delta State, founder of the Jesus is Real Ministry, Ughelli, Apostle Charles Ometan, said the emergence of Dr Jonathan as President of the country was divine.
Ometan said, “the Lord said to me in the month of May, that those against Goodluck Jonathan in the year 2011 will have bad luck. And the Lord said to me, ‘Announce it to this great nation, that the nation must hear this.’ So I have no choice but to do that which the Lord asked me to do.
“Goodluck Jonathan is the hand of God. He is the finger of God for this nation. God has appointed him so that he can do that which God wants him to do for this nation. My advice for the people of this great nation is that everybody from the East, the West, the North and South should work with Goodluck Jonathan, so that this nation can move forward.”
On how he would reconcile his vision with the agitation of the Northern, who are insisting that the presidency should be in the North in 2011, he said the presidency was never zoned to the North and that President Jonathan would only be completing the 1st and 2nd term of his master, late President Umaru Yar’Adua by 2015.
He said, “I am not only talking to Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, leaders but the people of the nation as whole because if you go against what God has assigned, Goodluck Jonathan was not the person that was elected into the position, it is the hand of God for this nation.
“Even the South_South, it was not something that they bargained for. You will agree with that many Southerners did accept Goodluck Jonathan becoming the President of this country. If there were to be election, the people of the South would not have voted him,” he added.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
ETHNOLINGUISTIC INFLUENCE ON THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA – ASOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROACH BY ABDULLAHI M.S. IDIAGBON
BY
ABDULLAHI M.S. IDIAGBON
Introduction
Nigeria is the creation of the British colonial expansion. The boundaries were mostly determined by colonial cartographers in order to eliminate friction and enhance administrative convenience rather than to satisfy or accommodate ethnic nationalities. Odumuh (1987) postulates that the various groupings, each with its own cultural and linguistic identity were never consulted before the creation of the nation state, Nigeria. In examining the Nigerians attitudes towards the English language, attempt is made to consider the link between a language and the combined factors of social identity, culture and individuality.
Evolution of English in Nigeria
The evolution of English language in Nigeria has been traced by Alabi (1994) to pre trans-Atlantic slave trade era, specifically in 1553 when some British were said to have paid what Alabi described as “very brief visits to the Nigerian coasts especially the ports of Benin and old Calabar”. The first obstacle confronted by the visitors was communication barrier between the natives and the English men. There was then a pressing need to dislodge this obstruction, hence, the need to teach the basic English for communication, business transaction, missionary activities and for other official functions.
At the initial stage, the medium of communication between the English men and the natives was English-based pidgin. Since the traders, missionaries and colonial administrators were not willing to learn the indigenous language(s), English had to be imposed and taught in order to train clerks, interpreters, stewards, messengers to help white men in administrative and domestic activities.
It is therefore evident that the cornerstone of the British introduction of the teaching of English language was not based on evolution of a “standard” English but on the emergence of a fairly communicative English. Therefore, right from the onset, there has been a basis for dialectal varieties in Nigeria spoken English.
Candidature of the English Language
Bamgbose (1987) observes that “the question whether there is a Nigerian English (as a variety of world Englishes) should at this point have become a non-issue,” given the need for its interactional and transactional roles in a multi-lingual context like Nigeria.
Lending weight to traces of ethnic markers in the spoken English of an average Nigerian, Bamgbose stresses that when two languages come into contact and one is performing an official role, such language will be influenced both culturally and linguistically in accordance with the reciprocal influence theory of language variation.
Thus, Nigerian English has come to stay as long as the official status of English in the Nigerian society is sustained. Many characteristic features of Nigerian dialectal forms of the English language exist at the syntactic, semantic, pragmatic and linguistic levels. Interestingly, these ethnic traits do not simply disappear just because a speaker is educated. This is because variation in English reveals more of cultural difference. The language, as it is now, has been ‘domesticated’ to reflect the general social context within which it functions.
Attitudes towards the English Language
Adegbija (1994) quoted Fitch and Hopper as defining language attitude simply as “the evaluative judgment about others’ speech patterns”. In other words, it is the evaluative judgment made about language (or its variety) and its speakers feared towards promoting, maintaining or planning of language, or even towards learning and teaching of language. He described attitudes as complex phenomena “which could be observable or internal, or both simultaneously, temporary or lasting, and of surface levels of deep-rooted nature”.
Nigerians’ attitude towards the status and use of the English language is ambivalent. This incompatibility in the attitude is due to the close affinity a language shares with the mind and culture. C****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************tic activities.
It is therefore evident that the cornerstone of the British introduction of the teaching of English language was not based on evolution of a "standard" English but on the emergence of a fairly communicative English. Therefore, right from ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************s
se (1987) observes that “the question whether there is a Nigerian English (as a variety of world Englishes) should at this point䔠杮楬桳
English, apart from the role assigned to play, also becomes subservient to cultural milieu and its worldview. Variables like culture, worldview, among others, can affect the externalization or codification of thought(s) which a language conveys. Also, variables like religion, ideology, environment (where perhaps the speakers attend school), tribal chauvinism and its accent, considerably affect the production of sounds, use of expressions and choice of words. This is because according to Ofuokwu: (1990).
It is expected that members of an ethnic group seeking social and psycholinguistic distinctiveness (Giles, Bourhis and Tailor 1977) will invariably accentuate the ethnic markers in their speech by exhibiting remarkable speech divergence instead of “convergence”.
Since ethnic rivalry persists in Nigerian context, many ethnic groups think it is by speaking English marked by ethnosyncracies that their social identity can be safeguarded.
The speakers in this context can fit into what Odumuh categorized as ‘Educated Nigerian English’ in his typology of the Nigerian English. (Odmuh, 1998). Nigerians express very strong and positive feelings of loyalty for their indigenous languages because of their relevance to cultural and national identity. So every bit of ethnic manifestation is done sometimes deliberately and with pride. A cursory examination of ambivalent attitude towards the use of English in Nigeria can be simplified further by classifying the society into Micro and Macro societies. Micro includes federal institutions and academic environment while Macro comprises the larger societies, local or state based gatherings.
In the former, the speaking of the English language wins confidence, respect, dignity and aura of glorification for the speakers from the audience the degree of which got increased if it devoids ethnic markers. The latter represents the socio-political order and is characterized by divergent audience whose appetite for the use of English is based on socio-cultural canon. To this group, dialectal English is at par with the so-called standard English because, after all, English is principally needed for inter-personal communication, thus “nothing more, as Soyinka (1977) observes, “(other) than tool for convenience….”
Defining the vitality of ethnologuistic group, Ofuokwu quoted Giles et. al. (1979) as saying that it is “that which makes a group likely to behave as a distinctive and active collective entity in inter-grouping situations”. He further includes identity status, demography and institutional support as being supportive to ethnic vitality.
Precisely, of all the three major tribes in Nigeria, Hausa seems to be the least that attaches great importance or exerts pressure on itself in speaking British Standard English. This underscores the value attached to the duo factors of ethnicity and religion. The Hausa people do not only regard their language as a primus interpares among the Nigerian languages but also see the English language as a language of Christianity. The language is also often seen as a language of the foreigners who have come to subdue our cultural and religious institutions. More so, due to the fact that the tribe has featured or produced more political leaders in Nigeria than any other tribe, the speaking of Hausa dialectical English enjoins more recognition among many Hausa top government officials and some of their academics than other varieties. No serious attempt has been made to adopt the Received Pronunciation other than those meant for academic purpose. This variety is also favoured by the demographic strength, which ensures the highest numerical distribution of speakers throughout the country.
However, all the major tribes nurture different varieties and are mostly proud of them because of what “core values” have come to represent in socio-political system in Nigeria. Ndukwe defines core values as “those values that are regarded as forming the most fundamental components of a group culture”. These, according to him, are considered the representation of “the heartland of the ideological system” and they are symbolic of the group they represent.
In addition to the foregoing discussion on ethnic influence on the English language, the user’s communicative competence also has a role to play. The low level of education, exposure and inter-ethnic interaction also promotes the lackadaisical attitude of Nigerians towards attaining a standard form of Nigeria English.
Moreover, the few academic moves that have been made towards eradicating what is usually considered non-standard or dialectal English is often seen as shying away from a linguistic reality. Such perpetrators are, according to Alladina and Edwards (1991) “…guilty of under-estimating the potency of language (including the varieties) as a symbol of identity”.
In the Eastern part of the country, the influence of pidgin English is highly noticeable. Pidgin, for long, has been adopted as a language of inter-ethnic communication. As a result, the ‘freedom’ enjoyed in the speaking of pidgin is hereby transferred to the real English language already characterized by ethnic markers.
It should be noted that such ethnic influences are inevitable, and indeed necessary. What ethnicity and its concomitant variables tried to do is to domesticate English language for Nigerians’ convenient use.
It is also observed that the natives often reluctantly or/and cautiously use Standard English. This is because the natives perceive the so-called standard form as being too formalistic and totally foreign to the Nigerians. This ‘lack of respect’ syndrome is illustrative at the lexico-semantic level. For instance, in Yoruba, lexes like “Eyin” and “Won”, apart from being pluralistic can equally be used in singular sense to convey a referential tone in their semantic implication.
As a result of this complexity, speakers often to code-mixing. This tends to make the speakers feel at home without much attention paid to the grammatical formations.
One must equally recognised the influence of the mother tongue which serves as the pioneer language through which a child first learns to express his thoughts, feelings and experience. The English language, against this backdrop, is then viewed as not having enough expressive resources that can match any of the native languages. Since in Nigeria, mostly in Macro Society and sometimes in Micro Society (in the typologies earlier mentioned), speakers, in their daily interaction, make use of their first language. This practice has turned part and parcel of the natives who now consider it tasking to use a foreign expression called Standard English. In this regard, the English language is viewed contemptuously as a colonial stigma. Jowitt (1991) observes that most Nigerians often argue against the use of English as being a
“Language imported into Nigeria from Europe and therefore not the language in which Nigerians express their inner most thoughts…. English is an instrument of imperialism…. (and) should be replaced by an African language”.
Therefore, the best way out of this quagmire is a dialectal English which its native speakers can maneuver proverbs and idioms available, for example, in their tribal language to externalize their thoughts almost perfectly.
Dialectal English in Nigeria is also used to establish a form of informal conversational context. Speakers feel relaxed, original and natural while speaking it than when speaking rule-studded English.
One thing is however crystal clear that in spite of all the foregoing sentiments, the English language remains the only strong cord that binds Nigeria and Nigerians together irrespective of the country’s multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic differences. English has continued to function against all odds in various domains of life.
Characteristics of Dialectal English in Nigeria
As long as the human impulse to have a uniquely distinctive socio-cultural identity thrives, language will continue to be as diverse as those who speak it. It is these socio-cultural traits that sometimes turn to a source of worry for linguists as they seek legitimacy for such language.
Adegbija (1998) observes and gives a list of what he termed ‘problems’ arising in the use of the English language in Nigeria. In the context of this paper and the researcher’s view, they can be called the characteristics of Nigerian Dialectal English. Adegbija’s observation are summarised below. That such English
1. Could be generally intelligible but ungrammatical. For instance, can you please off the light
2. Could be meaningful in Nigerian context only. For instance small by small the small man becomes a big man.
3. Could be grammatical but adjudged hypercorrect thus rendering the statement socially unacceptable. For instance, in requesting, some might say: Would you please help me lift this load?”
4. Could be internationally unacceptable but locally intelligible. E.g How work?,
How now?.
5. Finally, it could be deviant according to native speaker norms but often unacceptable locally. For instance; “Sorry” (as an expression of sympathy for an incident not caused by the speaker)
Certain features in indigenous languages are being transferred directly into the
Nigerian English. This socio-linguistic variable considerably helps cement or consolidate
social interaction.
For instance, the forms of greeting like “Well done” and “Well seated” are commonly used. The concept of the former has been extended and made relevant to encompass certain situation not originally intended in the Standard English while the latter is a Nigerian coined lexis carried to be an English equivalent of the one in indigenous languages.
While the use of “well done” in Nigerian context is a form of greeting used as a casual greeting by a passer by for the workers on a job or who have satisfactorily completed a job, “well seated” is used to acknowledge the presence of those who are in sitting position as at the time the speaker is passing by. Usually “well seated” is used by the speaker to pay homage to those he meets sitting before he proceeds to ask for a favour.
Nigerians are fond of these greetings, according to Akere (1981) “because the English language does not possess linguistic markers for such non-occurring features, the Nigerian user of English substitutes the nearest equivalents in English for them”.
Similarly, average Nigerian speakers of the English use the expression “I am coming” in a peculiar context. Generally, Nigerians say “I am coming” when they are actually going. This is so, because such expression is available in the three major languages.
For instance Hausa says “Ina Zuwa”, Ibo “Anam abia” and Yoruba “Mo nbo (wa)”. Therefore, Nigerians found the English expression “I am coming” as a suitable and relevant equivalent, thus the cause of the direct translation from the mother tongue.
Let us consider the following common expressions in the Nigerian English and see how they are arrived at.
Nigerians common expressions and their Hausa Igbo and Yoruba geneses respectively
i. I want to give you a message (I have a message for you) = Zan ba da sako
ii. I want to enter taxi (I want to board a taxi) = Ina so in shiga mota
iii. I want to do marriage (I want to organize a marriage Ceremony) = Ina so in yi aure
(i) He has brain (He is intelligent/brilliant) = O nwere uburu
(ii) It is good the way you came now (it is good that you have come/it is good that you are present) = O di nma etu isiri bia ugbua
(iii) My stomach is paining me (I have a stomach upset) = Afo na ahim
(iv) My mother bought me market things (My mother bought me some things (items)from the market) = Nnem Zurulam ihe ahia
(i) I came down from the motor ( I alighted from the motor) = Mo so kale ninu oko naa.
(ii) Call me Jide (Call Jide for me) = Bami pe Jide
(iii) They are calling you (You are called) Won npe o.
Also co-existing with the ethnic–marked English language in Nigeria is the pidgin. In the pidgin, many ethnic markers are featured more easily at all its structural ‘levels, many a times direct indigenous lexes are used.
As earlier observed in this paper, the pride and importance attached with the English language-based pidgin is so great that even in the eastern part of the country, it is the pidgin or broken English and not the Igbo language that serves as the predominant language of communication. It even provides for them a regional lingua franca considering the diverse ethno-linguistic set-up of the region. It is also interesting that the Igbos as well as a good number of other-tribes (minor or major) use dialectal or ethnic marked English language not only at the grass root level but also in some formal events dominated by the speaker(s) tribe.
The degree of attachment demonstrated by both Igbo and Yoruba to the English language differs from that of Hausa-Fulani ethnic group. The patronage of English among the core-northerners is the least. Apart from the aforementioned sentiments on the ground, it is also the last region to have a taste of western education. On the Nigerian political scene, Hausa language is in the forefront among the indigenous languages contending for national or official status coupled with a long political dominance that lends more advantage to the socio-linguistic relevance attached to this language.
Conversely, in the western part of Nigeria, the use of Standard English is accorded utmost respect. Thus, it is evidently common to see interlocutors of the same Yoruba origin using English as a medium of communication whether in formal or informal situation. This does not however erase those ethnic traits known with Yoruba in their verbal discourse.
Conclusion
This paper has tried to launch a campaign against the discriminatory and Segregationist posture of the Standard Nigerian English in particular or the (British) Standard English in general against the dialectal varieties available in Nigeria. It advocates that in spite of the social dichotomy and accent bar inhibiting proper placement for the varieties of the Nigerian English they must be recognized as long as they are functional and socially relevant.
The complexity of studying Nigerian Standard English as a variety of the world Englishes is further exposed by the sub-varieties existing locally within the country. These regional varieties are relevant in the country’s socio- linguistic context and are relatively convenient in oral rendition than the so-called Nigerian Standard English. Not only should the recognition of these varieties be extended to socio-academic arena, efforts should also be made to lend political support to it so that consideration will be given to ethnic-based expressions used by students in examination. This, in addition, will also enrich our (Nigerians) literatures.
Bibliography
1. Adegbija, E. E. (1994) Language Attitudes in sub-Saharan Africa: A socio linguistic Overview. Clevedon Avon: Multilingual matters.
2. Adegbija (1998) “Nigerian English: Towards a Standard Variety”. A keynote address presented at the University of lllinois Urbana Champaign U. S A. on
5th - 7th November 1998.
3. Akere Funso (1981) “Socio-cultural Constraints and The Emergence of Standard Nigerian English in The Nigerian Language Teacher Lagos, National Language Center. Vol. 4 No 1.
4. Alabi, V.A. (1994) “English Language in Second LanguageContext” Olu Obafemi (ed). The English Language in Nigeria, Ibadan, Oluseyi Press.
5. Alladina Safder and Edwards Viv (1991) Multilingualism in the British Isles 2 Africa, the Middle East and Asia. London, Longman.
6. Bamgbose, Ayo (1982), “Standard Nigerian English - issue of identification”. The other Tongue” Urbana, University of Illinois Press.
7. Chumbow, Sammy (1990) “The Place of The Mother Tongue in the National Policy on Education” Emenanjo E.N. (ed) Multilingualism in Minority Languages and Language Policy in Nigeria. Central Books Limited.
8. Jowitt David (1991) Nigeria English Usage – An Introduction Ikeja Longman.
9. Littlewood William (1984) Foreign and Second Language Learning. New York Cambridge University Press
10. Odumuh, A. E. (1987) Nigerian English. Zaria ABU Press.
11. Odumuh, A. E. (1989) “The Co-existence of English and Nigerian Languages” in Ilorin Journal of Language and Literature, Department of Modern European Languages, University of Ilorin.
12. Ofuokwu, Dili (1990) “Socio-linguistic Variety and Language Planning: The Nigerian situation”. Emnanjo E.N. (ed) Multilingualism in Minority Languages and Language Policy in Nigeria. Central Books Limited.
13. Soyinka, Wole (1977) “Language As Boundary” in Language Education in Nigerian Vol. 1 Proceedings o
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mETHNOLINGUISTIC INFLUENCE ON THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA
mETHNOLINGUISTIC INFLUENCE ON THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA – ASOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROACH
Ulysses R. Gotera
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ETHNOLINGUISTIC INFLUENCE ON THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA – ASOCIOLINGUISTIC APPROACH
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medicinal uses
There are many hundreds of medicinal plants that can be grown in temperate climates and there are probably a great deal more with properties as yet undiscovered.
Just to look at a few of our more common herbs: thyme has been shown to slow down the ageing process by maintaining the vigor of our body cells; sage is an excellent antiseptic for treating mouth ulcers and sore throats; chamomile is a safe treatment for children’s' stomach upsets and garlic contains fungicides and is used in the treatment of Candida.
The following leaflets examine the heath and nutritional benefits of plants in more detail:
Plants for Health (Español ).
Fruit: Food of the Gods
Green Gold - The Leaves of Life!
A range of herbal leaflets written by Ken and Addy Fern are available on the Treat Yourself 2 site.
Database: Medicinal Uses
Top Rated plants. 54 plants with the most useful medicinal properties.
The Body
Ear, Nose and Throat and Eyes
• Errhine Produces sneezing. (4)
• Mouthwash Treats problems such as mouth ulcers. (10)
• Mydriatic Dilates the pupils of the eyes. (9)
• Odontalgic Treats toothache (temporary measure only) and other problems of the teeth and gums. (128)
• Ophthalmic Treats eye complaints. (261)
• Sialagogue Stimulates the secretion of saliva. (42)
• Sternutatory Promotes sneezing and nasal discharges. (20)
Chest and Lungs
• Antiasthmatic Treats asthma. (87)
• Antitussive Prevents or relieves coughing. (144)
• Decongestant Removes phlegm and mucous, especially from the respiratory system. (11)
• Demulcent Soothes, lubricates and softens irritated tissues, especially the mucous membranes. (178)
• Expectorant Clears phlegm from the chest by inducing coughing. (449)
• Pectoral Relieves respiratory diseases, a remedy for chest diseases. (178)
Heart and Blood
• Anticholesterolemic Prevents the build up of cholesterol. (45)
• Anticoagulant Removes blood clots. (22)
• Blood purifier Purifies the blood. (45)
• Blood tonic Is this any different to a blood purifier? (40)
• Cardiac Used in the treatment of heart problems. (109)
• Cardiotonic A tonic for the heart. (142)
• Haemolytic Breaks down red blood corpuscles to separate hemoglobin. (11)
• Hypoglycaemic Reduces the levels of sugar in the blood. (73)
• Hypotensive Reduces blood pressure, it is used in the treatment of high blood pressure (158)
• Vasoconstrictor Narrows the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure. (24)
• Vasodilator Widens the blood vessels, thereby reducing blood pressure. (79)
Liver, Kidneys, and other internal bits
• Antibilious Corrects the secretions of bile. (7)
• Cholagogue Increases the flow of bile and its discharge from the body. (141)
• Diuretic Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine. (1010)
• Haemostatic Controls internal bleeding. (132)
• Hepatic Acts on the liver (for better or worse!). (76)
• Kidney Used in the treatment of kidney diseases (69)
• Lithontripic Removes stones from the kidney, bladder etc. (51)
Stomach
• Antacid Counters excess acidity in the stomach. (1)
• Antiemetic Prevents vomiting. (40)
• Digestive Aids digestion. (132)
• Emetic Induces vomiting. (227)
• Stomachic Aids and improves the action of the stomach. (491)
Bowles and Bladder
• Antihaemorrhoidal Treats hemorrhoids (piles). This would probably be best added to another heading. (19)
• Aperient A mild laxative. (75)
• Carminative Reduces flatulence and expels gas from the intestines. (339)
• Cathartic A strong laxative but less violent than a purgative. (90)
• Hydrogogue A purgative that causes an abundant watery discharge. (8)
• Laxative Stimulates bowel movements in a fairly gentle manner. (305)
• Purgative A drastic laxative causing a cleansing or watery evacuation of the bowels, usually with a griping pain. (167)
Nerves and Muscles
• Antispasmodic Relaxes muscular spasms and cramps, calming nervous irritation. (385)
• Nervine Stimulates and calms the nerves. (100)
Bones
• Antiarthritic Treats arthritis. (15)
• Antiinflammatory Reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. (203)
• Antirheumatic Treats rheumatism. (241)
Skin, Hands and Feet
• Acrid Causes heat and irritation when applied to the skin. (12)
• Antidermatosic Prevents or cures skin complaints. (1)
• Antipruritic Treats itching of the skin. (39)
• Foot care Plants that are used in various ways to treat foot problems. (13)
• Skin Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin. (262)
• Vesicant A blistering agent. (9)
Sex and Repoduction
• Abortifacient Causes an abortion. (56)
• Anaphrodisiac Reduces sexual desire. (8)
• Aphrodisiac Increases the sexual appetite. (87)
• Birthing aid Used in facilitating birth, but not just to cause uterine contractions. (60)
• Contraceptive Prevents fertilization occurring in females. (70)
• Emmenagogue Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion. (276)
• Galactofuge Stops or reduces the flow of milk in a nursing mother. (15)
• Galactogogue Promotes the flow of milk in a nursing mother. (117)
• Infertility Used in treating problems of human fertility. (22)
• Oxytoxic Hastens parturition and stimulates uterine contractions. See also birthing aids. (40)
• Uterine tonic A tonic for the uterus. See also oxytoxic. (14)
• Women's complaints A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex. (89)
Aliments
Treatment of Wounds and Bruises
• Antiecchymotic Prevents or treats bruising. (8)
• Antiseptic Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms. (340)
• Detergent A cleansing agent, used on wounds etc. It removes dead and diseased matter. (24)
• Disinfectant Used for cleaning wounds. (44)
• Plaster Used in the treatment of broken bones. (6)
• Poultice A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc. (431)
• Salve Soothes and heals damaged skin. (143)
• Styptic An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels. (88)
• Vulnerary Promotes the healing of wounds. (199)
Pain Relief
• Anaesthetic Numbs the feeling in a local or general area of the body. (25)
• Analgesic Relieves pain. (244)
• Anodyne Relieves pain, it is milder than an analgesic. (288)
• Lenitive Soothing, palliative. (16)
• Narcotic Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being. (82)
Fevers
• Antipyretic Treats fevers. See Febrifuge. (58)
• Febrifuge Reduces fevers. (641)
Infectious Diseases
• Antiperiodic Counteracts recurring illnesses such as malaria. (78)
• Antiscrophulatic Counteracts scrofula. (TB, especially of the lymph glands) (16)
• TB Plants used in the treatment of tuberculosis (54)
• VD Used in the treatment of venereal disease (93)
Bites and stings
• Antidote Counters poisoning. (134)
• Stings Used in the treatment of stings and insect bites. (61)
Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi and Parisites
• Anthelmintic Expels parasites from the gut. (207)
• Antibacterial Kills bacteria. (247)
• Antibiotic An agent that inhibits or destroys a living organism. It usually refers to bacteria or other micro-organisms and is probably synonymous with Antibacterial (20)
• Antifungal An agent that inhibits or destroys fungi. Used in the treatment of various fungal problems such as candida. (57)
• Antiviral Treats virus diseases (25)
• Parasiticide Treats external parasites such as ringworm This should perhaps be joined with Parasiticide in 'Other Uses'. (64)
• Vermifuge Expels and kills internal parasites. (156)
• Warts Used in the treatment of warts, corns etc. (53)
Cancer
• Antitumor Preventing, or effective against, tumors, it is used in the treatment of cancer. Probably synonymous with Cytotoxic. (60)
• Cancer Used in the treatment of cancer. (316)
• Cytostatic Slows or controls the growth of tumours. (12)
• Cytotoxic Destroys body cells. Used in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, where it is targeted against the cancer cells. (12)
• Resolvent Breaks down tumors. This might be placed under antitumor. (44)
Alternative
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
• Alterative Causes a gradual beneficial change in the body, usually through improved nutrition and elimination, without having any marked specific action. (130)
• Aromatherapy Plants whose essential oils are used in Aromatherapy. (37)
• Bach Plants used in the Bach flower remedies. (38)
• Homeopathy A plant used in homeopathic treatments. (132)
General Well Being
• Antiscorbutic A plant rich in vitamin C that is used to counteract scurvy. (87)
• Balsamic A healing and soothing agent. (13)
• Nutritive A food for convalescents to help restore strength. (40)
• Tonic Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement. (702)
Whole Body
• Adaptogen Helps the body 'rise' to normal stress situations, thus preventing the many chronic degenerative diseases. (19)
• Deobstruent Clears obstructions from the natural ducts of the body. (48)
• Depurative Eliminates toxins and purifies the system, especially the blood. (197)
Other medicinal uses
• Antidandruff Treats dandruff. (30)
• Antihydrotic Reduces perspiration. (6)
• Antiphlogistic Reduces inflammation. (135)
• Antivinous Treats addiction to alcohol (11)
• Appetizer Improves the appetite (68)
• Aromatic Having an agreeable odour and stimulant qualities. (85)
• Astringent Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc. (851)
• Bitter Increases the appetite and stimulates digestion by acting on the mucous membranes of the mouth. Also increases the flow of bile, stimulates repair of the gut wall lining and regulates the secretion of insulin and glucogen. (82)
• Deodorant Masks smells. Is this medicinal? (24)
• Diaphoretic Induces perspiration. (427)
• Emollient Softens the skin, causing warmth and moisture. (118)
• Enuresis Treats bed wetting. (7)
• Hallucinogenic Causes the mind to hallucinate. (27)
• Hypnotic Induces sleep. (68)
• Irritant Causes irritation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue. (25)
• Miscellany Various medicinal actions that need more clarification. (192)
• Refrigerant Cools the body. (60)
• Restorative Restores consciousness or normal physiological activity. (16)
• Rubefacient A counter-irritant and external stimulant, it produces inflammation and redness of the skin. (84)
• Sedative Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation. (301)
• Stimulant Excites or quickens activity of the physiological processes. Faster acting than a tonic but differing from a narcotic in that it does not give a false sense of well-being. (313)
• Antiaphonic Restores the voice. (8)
• Antihalitosis Treats bad breath (13)
bout Us
Plants For A Future is a resource centre for rare and unusual plants, particularly those which have edible, medicinal or other uses. We practise vegan-organic permaculture with emphasis on creating an ecologically sustainable environment based largely on perennial plants.
Please read our important disclaimer, below. Use of this website implies your understanding and acceptance of the disclaimer.
The Plants For A Future charitable company has a new management team, and we are working on plans to redevelop the Plants For A Future website and database. Some of the information on this website about the organisation is out-of-date and misleading. The database continues to be available from this site.
For further information, see: www.plantsforafuture.org.uk
• New introduction (Nederlands, Dansk).
• Old introduction (Esperanto, Italiano, Español, Francais, Nederlands, Dansk).
• Cornwall site (The Field)
• North Devon site (Blagdon Cross - now sold as a nature reserve)
A salad of edible flowers
About Plants
Just twenty plants provide the majority of food eaten, yet there are thousands of other useful plants which have not reached mainstream attention. You can find details of many of them here.
• Edible Plants Alternative Fruits, Roots, Leaves and flowers.
• Medicinal Plants
• Other Plant Uses Soap, Dyes, Lighting ...
• Top 20 Plants Some of our favourite plants
The Edible Daylily
About Gardening
We advocate a style of gardening mimicking a natural woodland system using perennial plants and following vegan organic and ecological principals
• Woodland Gardening
• Vegan Organics and conservation gardening.
• Perennial Plants
• Diverse Habitats useful plants in ponds, lawns and hedges
A woodland garden
General disclaimer
To the best of our knowledge all the information contained herein is accurate and true.
However we cannot guarantee that everyone will react positively to all edible plants or other plant uses.
It is commonly known that many people suffer allergic reactions to conventional foods and products. Even amongst the more commonly eaten fruits, for example, there are plenty of instances where people react badly to them:
• Many people are allergic to strawberries and will come out in a rash if they eat them.
• Some people develop a rash if they touch the stems of parsnips.
• Potatoes become poisonous if they turn green.
• Eating large quantities of cabbage can adversely affect the thyroid gland.
In general, we believe that the overall health of people will be greatly improved by bringing more diversity into their diet and through using more natural products.
We strongly recommend the following preventative precautions when trying anything new:
• Make sure you have identified the plant correctly
• Try a small taste of anything new in your diet. If there are no side effects increase the quantity at the next meal.
• When trying new soaps or skin applications try them on a very small area before proceeding to larger areas of the body. Look for any uncomfortable reactions or changes and if there is do not proceed with further application.
No liability exists against Plants for a Future or any member of Plants for a Future, nor can they be held responsible for any allergy, illness or injurious effect that any person or animal may suffer as a result of information in this catalogue or through using any of the plants mentioned by Plants for a Future.
Plant Database
You can search our database of 7300 edible medicinal and useful plants. If you want to use the database at home without using the internet then you can download a copy or get it on CD-ROM for a small donation to the project.