A critical examination of the communicative implications of nigerian english usage
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A critical examination of the communicative implications of nigerian english usage
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
In Nigeria, English is the most visible and extensively used remnant of colonisation. Its successful execution has earned it the status of official language, which means it will be utilised in politics, administration, law, religion, government, and governance, as well as education and creative writing. It has expanded its communication area in Nigeria’s multilingual terrain.
In Kachru’s (1986) framework and conceptualisation of English as a world language, English in Nigeria is placed in the interconcentric circle, implying that its contact with indigenous languages and people from various ethnolinguistic and sociocultural backgrounds influenced the hybridisation and production of language variants.
Among other academics, Brosnahan (1958), Banjo (1971), Adekunle (1979), Bamgbose (1982, 1995), and Akindele and Adegbite (2005) have provided insights into the various varieties of English spoken in Nigeria. The ethnolinguistic origin of speakers and their level of education are two of the most important characteristics used to categorise them.
Separately, the two aspects provide regional variation: one with phonetic changes caused by mother tongue interference, and the other by distinguishing between standard and non-standard English usage.
The phonological, syntactic, and lexico-semantic diversity found in English oral and written forms reflects the interaction of English with Nigerian languages (Ekpe, 2012; Aremu, 2015).
These sociolinguistic variables have resulted in English variations that could be considered “native” to Nigeria. Nigerian English usage reflects users’ indigenous and societal customs (Aremu, 2015; Ikoro, 2018).
Uwen and Ukam (2020) argue that because Nigeria is a multilingual country, English acts as a language of integration; it is the linguistic medium that harnesses the rich sociolinguistic input from the languages.
Literary works are replete with the peculiarities that differentiate Nigerian English use. Wole Soyinka’s The Beautification of Area Boy is one of them. The play, which premiered in 1995, shows the intricate street life of Nigeria’s post-independence global metropolis, Lagos. Sanda, a society-induced University dropout, directs the formation of a union by three gangsters and becomes the voice of the oppressed and impoverished civilian population.
Power is juxtaposed against ongoing poverty, helplessness, inequality, and injustice, which demarcate social class and language lines via displaced Maroko settlers and Sanda-headed criminals, as well as the privileged’s abuse of ill-gotten wealth.
TBOAB’s social differentiation of characters tells two stories about Nigeria: sociopolitical and sociolinguistic, which finally provide insight into the relationship between social power and language usage, resulting in linguistic rigidity and imbalances.
TBOAB by Wole Soyinka has received a great deal of scholarly attention. For example, Amonyeze (2016) investigates the play’s historical, sociopolitical, and economic dimensions, concluding that TBOAB is a dramatic record of Nigeria’s various historical periods, particularly the military era, which was characterised by widespread immorality and the struggle of the underprivileged to reclaim her moral fibre.
Ali’s (2016) study on TBOAB takes a critical discourse analysis approach to the play’s language component. According to Ali, TBOAB’s linguistic, political, and social components reveal Nigeria’s disproportionate use of language to symbolise power and injustice.
Nigerian literature in English is distinguished by the ‘appropriation’ of language to express the Nigerian sociocultural experience. Achebe (1965) previously addressed the language debate in African literature, claiming that the English language, not the writer, should be “moulded” or “twisted” to capture and communicate the unique African experience without jeopardising the mutual understanding of the larger reading audience.
Bamiro (2007) goes on to assert that Nigerian English in literary writings frequently displays the principles behind Nigerians’ distinct language behaviour. The study is founded on the idea that in Soyinka’s TBOAB, the use of characters to construct the Nigerian sociolinguistic situation in the fictional space has yet to be (sufficiently) investigated, citing Achebe and Bamiro’s cautious advice.
The lack of this creates a research gap, which the study seeks to remedy. The research focusses on the characters’ complicated linguistic roots, which highlight the peculiarity of Nigerian English usage.
As a result, the study will provide valuable insights into its various forms and qualities, guided by appropriate social and situational situations, which will benefit language and literary scholars.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In various aspects, Nigerian English differs from that of other countries. Some Nigerian idioms appear to be a combination of English and local languages. This is true across all language levels, including lexis, syntax, phonology, and semantics. The previous example demonstrates the current state of most Nigerian users’ English, including some educated speakers.
Clearly, the situation is concerning. What is the core of language if it takes extra effort to explain some odd phrases that differ from normal forms in terms of lexis, syntax, semantics, and phonology during communication, whether spoken or written?
Or, given that English is a language of power and intellectualisation, where does the power to conquer the world reside if some Nigerians’ English is only understood by other Nigerians? Such linguistic presence in a country where English is declared to be the official language deserves to be studied.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The primary objective of this research is to investigate the ramifications of Nigerian English usage. Thus, the objectives are as follows:
To assess whether the English language is actually Nigerian.
Determine whether Nigerians’ English is a deviation or a variety.
Determine the implications of Nigerian English traits for communication.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following questions lead this study:
Is the variant of English genuinely Nigerian English?
Is Nigerian English a deviation or variant?
What are the implications of Nigerian English traits for communication?
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study arises from the English language’s dominant position both globally and, naturally, in Nigeria’s multilingual, multicultural culture. It serves as “a window on the globe” for the international community, as well as a unifying force for Nigeria’s multilingual countries.
Based on the aforementioned, the English language in Nigeria should be of world-class quality, as anything less, such as the nativised variety, may impede effective communication. “It is better not to communicate at all, because no action will be done, than to convey what is misinterpreted, because the listener may take the incorrect action,” points out Onochie.
The investigation’s findings will emphasise the negative repercussions of the language’s local flavour in Nigeria, as well as help users understand that some “Nigerian English” idioms are a “misnomer.” In other words, Nigerian English users are likely to recognise and avoid contradictory variances in Nigerian English.
They should not presume that Nigerian English is fully mature and developed. Knowing the outcome would also help ESL teachers select which English language model to adopt for pedagogical purposes. The outcomes of this analysis will be useful as reference information for academics investigating similar subjects in the future.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The study will be limited to analysing the characteristics of the English language’s local variation in Nigeria. The local flavour of English usage in Nigeria will be examined using slang words, syntactic and lexical modifications, semantic shifts, and so on.
The critical implications of these for the general growth of the ordinary Nigerian variety will be highlighted. A corpus of these variations would be created by using students’ utterances as well as those of public English language users in Nigeria.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this investigation, the researcher encountered difficulties ranging from a lack of funds to insufficient materials to go deeper into the subject.
1.8 Definition of Terms
English is the most widely spoken and recognised language in the world.
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