As its own modest contribution to the on-going efforts to codify Nigerian English, this book methodically analyzes the peculiar features identified in this variety of the language. Nigerian English is characterized, on the phonological level, by the peculiar forms of pronunciation typical of the numerous ethnic groups that make up the country; on the semantic level, by meaning broadening, narrowing, total shift, literal translation, other creative and pragmatic usages, including peculiar idioms; on the lexical level, by coinages, loans, blends, compounding, acronyms; on the syntactic level, by the transfer of mother tongue features; and so forth. Many of these features are predictably non-standard but continue to be used freely by the majority of Nigerians, who remain unaware of their unacceptable linguistic status, while many are acceptable as standard deviations. This book explores all of these features, with the twin purpose of providing a guide to usage for the general reader seeking self-improvement and a rich corpus of spoken and written English that students and researchers will find invaluable.
As its own modest contribution to the on-going efforts to codify Nigerian English, this book methodically analyzes the peculiar features identified in this variety of the language. Nigerian English is characterized,on the phonological level, by the peculiar forms of pronunciation typical of the numerous ethnic groups that make up the country; on the semantic level, by meaning broadening, narrowing, total shift, literal translation, other creative and pragmatic usages, including peculiar idioms; on the lexical level, by coinages, loans, blends, compounding, acronyms; on the syntactic level, by the transfer of mother tongue features; and so forth. Many of these features are predictably non-standard but continue to be used freely by the majority of Nigerians, who remain unaware of their unacceptable linguistic status, while many are acceptable as standard deviations. This book explores all of these features, with the twin purpose of providing a guide to usage for the general reader seeking self-improvement and a rich corpus of spoken and written English that students and researchers will find invaluable.
