<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The development of an African native language-based programming language, using Yoruba as a case study, is envisioned. Programming languages based on the lexicons of indigenous African languages are rare to come by unlike those based on Asian and / or European languages. Availability of programming languages based on lexicons of African indigenous language would facilitate comprehension of problem-solving processes using computer by indigenous learners and teachers as confirmed by research results. In order to further assess the relevance, usefulness and needfulness of such a programming language, a preliminary needs assessment survey was carried out. The needs assessment was carried out through design of a structured questionnaire which was administered to 130 stakeholders in computer profession and computer education; including some staffers and learners of some primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions in Oyo and Osun states of Nigeria, Africa. The responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analysis of the responses to the questionnaire shows that 89% of the respondents to the questionnaire expressed excitement and willingness to program or learn programming in their mother tongue-based programming language, if such a programming language is developed. This result shows the high degree of relevance, usefulness and needfulness of a native language-based programming language as well as the worthwhileness of embarking on development of such a programming language.</p></abstract>

The development of an African native language-based programming language, using Yoruba as a case study, is envisioned. Programming languages based on the lexicons of indigenous African languages are rare to come by unlike those based on Asian and / or European languages. Availability of programming languages based on lexicons of African indigenous language would facilitate comprehension of problem-solving processes using computer by indigenous learners and teachers as confirmed by research results. In order to further assess the relevance, usefulness and needfulness of such a programming language, a preliminary needs assessment survey was carried out. The needs assessment was carried out through design of a structured questionnaire which was administered to 130 stakeholders in computer profession and computer education; including some staffers and learners of some primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions in Oyo and Osun states of Nigeria, Africa. The responses to the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The analysis of the responses to the questionnaire shows that 89% of the respondents to the questionnaire expressed excitement and willingness to program or learn programming in their mother tongue-based programming language, if such a programming language is developed. This result shows the high degree of relevance, usefulness and needfulness of a native language-based programming language as well as the worthwhileness of embarking on development of such a programming language.

A Needs Assessment for Indigenous African Language-Based Programming Languages

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

Annals of Science and Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"A Needs Assessment for Indigenous African Language-Based Programming Languages"}

The development of an African native language-based programming language, using Yoruba as a case study, is envisioned. Programming languages based on the...

A Needs Assessment for Indigenous African Language-Based Programming Languages

Published Online: Dec 31, 2019

Page range: 1 - 5

Received: Mar 07, 2019

Accepted: Aug 22, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ast-2019-0007

Keywords
Programming languages, Native language-based programming languages, Lexicons, Linguistic genocide, Problem-solving processes

© 2019 Ezekiel K. Olatunji et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

A Needs Assessment for Indigenous African Language-Based Programming Languages

Published Online: Dec 31, 2019

Page range: 1 - 5

Received: Mar 07, 2019

Accepted: Aug 22, 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ast-2019-0007

KeywordsProgramming languages, Native language-based programming languages, Lexicons, Linguistic genocide, Problem-solving processes

© 2019 Ezekiel K. Olatunji et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Programming languages, Native language-based programming languages, Lexicons, Linguistic genocide, Problem-solving processes