Through the linguistic processes of transfer and translation, the following seven linguistic categories borrowing, coinages, loanblends. Phonological problems of igala speakers of english language. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get. An obviously attractive parameter for determining varieties within ne is the ethnic one, i. Ironically, it is also nigerias dominant language, with the use of english being taught at various levels of the nigerian educational system prenursery schools, nursery schools, primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary institutions of learning. Request pdf varieties of english in nigeria although opinions diverge as to whether or not there is a nigerian english, it is generally agreed that it is possible to do a broad. A study of attitudes of educated nigerians towards varieties of world englishes. The domestication of the english language for literary. A study of attitudes of educated nigerians towards varieties.
The english pronouns yous 2nd person plural and you 2nd person singular or plural are linguistic items, and they have different social distributions. Qiong 2004, are often considered illegitimate because they are believed to be failed attempts at being standard english. However, it is believed that the first intimate contact between the british and some ethnic groupings in nigeria was in southern nigeria. They acquire a number of languages because they need them for different purposes in their everyday interactions. The psycholinguistics of english language in nigeria. The colonial era is now definitely over but its consequences are only too clearly to be seen in the presence of english as an official and often native language in many of the former colonies along with more or less strongly diverging varieties which arose. For instance, the english language is used in formal situations, in the media, in education, etc. Why are more african countries adopting english as an. According to the 2011 census, english was the first language of approximately 19 million canadians 57% of the population the remainder of the population were native speakers of canadian french 22% or other languages allophones, 21%.
Varieties of english language in nigeria iosr journal. Varieties of english in nigeria salami major reference. Regional varieties of english the regional varieties of american english have been a major focus since at least the early part of the twentieth century, when dialectologists began conducting largescale surveys of regional dialect forms, particularly the linguistic atlas of the united states and canada launched in 1931. Many countries, like nigeria, use english as a lingua franca a general means of communication since there are many different and mutually unintelligible. The field of world englishes broke new ground in terms of challenging conventional notions of language ownership, and there is now a considerable literature on the existence of national or regional varieties of english, e. Nigerian english is a pidgin spoken across nigeria. Igbo english in nigerian literature article pdf available in multilingua 204.
Comparisons across the varieties provide a comprehensive guide to differences in phonetics, phonology, grammar and vocabulary, making this a useful resource for. The variety used by those with only primary education. Language potency and prestige in nigeria are directly related to language functions. Nigerian english is the variety of english that has been used in the region of the niger, west africa, for purposes of. For the classification of varieties of english only in terms of pronunciation, see regional accents of english dialects can be defined as subforms of languages which are, in general, mutually comprehensible. Others use the term to refer to a specific geographical dialect of english or a dialect favored by the most powerful and prestigious social. Prior to then, education was done informally, as children were taught tradition, culture, history, and the likes by their parents who were in turn taught by their own parents. In nigerian education today, english plays a key role. Many of these countries, while retaining strong british english or american english influences, have developed their own unique dialects, which include indian english and philippine english.
From singapore to scotland, canada to the channel islands, namibia to new zealand and beyond, international english takes you on a fascinating journey through the varieties of english spoken around the world. Chief among other native english dialects are canadian english and australian english, which rank third and fourth in the number of native speakers. English language english language varieties of english. Beatification of area boy shows the social stratification of people in a typical nigerian society which resulted from. English in england despite this being the origin of the english language, it does not mean the language is the same everywhere in england. History and importance of english language in nigeria.
English is spoken today on all five continents as a result of colonial expansion in the last four centuries or so. The christian missionaries who came from great britain introduced formal western education to nigeria, just before the middle of the 19 th century. Commonwealth english is the most important language variety in australia, anguilla, antigua and barbuda, the bahamas, barbados, belize, bermuda, the cook islands, dominica, the falkland islands, gibraltar, grenada, guernsey, guyana, ireland, jamaica, isle of man, jersey, malta, montserrat, nauru, new zealand, niue, the pitcairn islands, saint helena, saint kitts and nevis, saint lucia, saint. In nigeria, english is used for intranational and international communication, especially. English in the world today languages, varieties and dialects so far i have been discussing what counts as the english language but in doing so i have introduced a number of related concepts such as variety, dialect and accent, which have been used to distinguish between certain different aspects of the general phenomenon we are calling english. Jan 17, 2019 brief history of english language in nigeria. According to brosnahan 1958, four varieties of nigerian english exist. Economists in nigeria believe that english is crucial for economic growth, as it helps them trade more widely on an international scale. So far i have been discussing what counts as the english language but in doing so i have introduced a number of related concepts such as variety, dialect and accent, which have been used to distinguish between certain different aspects of the general phenomenon we are calling english. French and where english has, since 2008, been emphasized in academic and political life mcgreal, 2009.
Ngerian traditional food systems and nutrition security. Click download or read online button to get the psycholinguistics of english language in nigeria book now. Pdf the identification of standard nigerian english usage oko. Additionally, loanwords and collocations have emerged from the native languages of nigeria, which come from the need to express concepts specific to the culture of.
This must have been at some period before the atlantic slave trade. Nigerian english usage and the tyranny of faulty analogy iii. Indian english, nigerian english, malaysian english, singapore english and so on. Already in the literatures of nigerian english, hausa, igbo and yoruba englishes have been recognized as the big three or the major second language varieties eka, 1985.
Maria helen ekah department of english, university of uyo, uyo. Request pdf varieties of english in nigeria although opinions diverge as to whether or not there is a nigerian english, it is generally agreed that it is possible. The foreign rice syndrome has in the recent past overtaken many households, especially in the urban areas. The taxonomy of nigerian varieties of spoken english academic. Although opinions diverge as to whether or not there is a nigerian english, it is generally agreed that it is possible to do a broad characterization of varieties of english in nigeria. Nigerian english is usually divided into several subvarieties, with a continuum of degrees of competence in english as a typical characteristic of a country where english functions as a second language. For some linguists, standard english is a synonym for good or correct english usage. English language varieties travel guide at wikivoyage.
The clearest distinction is between what can be loosely called the british or commonwealth, abbreviated uk in this guide and american abbreviated u. Reevaluating the question of standardization of nigerian english 125 parameters, scholars have identified different varieties of nigerian english. Standard varieties of english these are the varieties of english that have become standard or most recognized and used in the majority of the world. Brief history of english language in nigeria library gurus. Reevaluating the question of standardization of nigerian. World englishes, english as an international language and. English speakers from different countries and regions use a variety of different. The taxonomy of nigerian varieties of spoken english. A second language is one that comes after ones primary language. There is no uniform accent of english spoken throughout nigeria.
Ireland, australia, new zealand, south africa and other former british. English is the main language in many places, an important language in others, and spoken as a second language in most of the rest of the world. The exact date that english language usage started in nigeria is not certain. For example, socalled nonstandard varieties, such as singlish in singapore mcarthur 2004. An attempt is made in this paper to further identify. Jan 23, 2020 standard english is a controversial term for a form of the english language that is written and spoken by educated users. Canadian english is the set of varieties of english native to canada. Nigeria can do international businesses because we have english as our official language. Different varieties of the english language english dialects.
Kachru 1985 presented arguments against interlanguage theory selinker. A study of attitudes of educated nigerians towards varieties of world englishes paaaine main subject tyon laji level paivamaara date sivumaara number of pages general linguistics pro gradu tutkielma x 12. Economically, english language is the avenue to sustainable development in nigeria. Nigerian english, also known as nigerian standard english, is a dialect of english spoken in. Language changes over time, and one of the numerous ways in which this change takes place is through the process of category shift. There are varieties of english language in nigeria but the variety that is pragmatic for effective communication in nigeria, is nigerian english. Alphabetical list of crops with botanical name and crop code crop name botanical name icc code previous code 1 abaca manila hemp musa textilis 92 2.
In this sense, a dialect is regarded as a geographical variety of a language, spoken in a certain area, and being different in some linguistic items from. Nigerian english is usually divided into several sub varieties, with a continuum of degrees of competence in english as a typical characteristic of a country where english functions as a second language. However, there are some significant differences in pronunciation, spelling and word usage around the world. The oed faces an increasingly uphill struggle in its attempts to capture world english. Pidgin, which is used by people with no formal education. The abbreviation rp received pronunciation denotes what is traditionally considered the standard accent of people living in london and the southeast of england and of other people elsewhere who speak in this way. Category shift in word classes is a process in which a word that originally belonged to a particular word class. Varieties of english in nigeria depend on the level of education, exposure to world standard english and the extent of mother tongue transfers banjo 1995. Karen stanley, editor to an increasingly greater degree, people in general and teachers and linguists in particular are looking at the question of world englishes. Nigeria english also known as nigeria standard english is a dialect of english spoken in nigeria. Nevertheless, it is a fact that in nigeria currently many primary, secondary, and university students speak english as their mother tongue. Nigerian english, also known as nigerian standard english, is a dialect of english spoken in nigeria. Language variation can be looked at from the point of view of geographical, educational, social and stylistic varieties.
The english language and sustainable development in nigeria. These varieties are characterized by nativization kachru, 1981a. Adopting english as an official language rwanda is a distinct example of shifting english language policy on the african continent. Insisting on standard english can devalue other varieties of english that. For some world englishspeaking students in the united states, the greatest educational needs are improving literacy and academic oral language skills. Pdf a study of category shift in nigerian english oko. Qiong 2004, are often considered illegitimate because they are believed. Varieties of english in nigeria request pdf researchgate. English became an official language after the 1994 genocide, but more extensive language policy. In germany this is simply hochdeutsch whereas in england there are various terms such as the queens english, oxford english, bbc english, received pronunciation. Already in the literatures of nigerian english, hausa, igbo and yoruba englishes have been recognized as the big three or the major second language varieties. It is based on british english, but in recent years, because of influence from the united states of america, some words of american english origin have made it into nigeria english.
Throughout the process, kachru and other scholars, especially quirk 1990, joined the debate over these englishes. Twenty one 21 species of starchy roots and tubers, 20 legumes, 21 nutsseeds, 116 vegetables, 12. About 294 species and over 400 varieties of foods were documented in the south eastern part of nigeria alone. Dec 18, 2001 varieties of english in nigeria depend on the level of education, exposure to world standard english and the extent of mother tongue transfers banjo 1995. The spectrum of english in nigeria ranges from standard english through a more general english whose structures are influenced by the mother tongues, by the indian english of many traders and teachers, and by wape west african pidgin english, which is sometimes acquired as a mother tongue in such urban areas as calabar and port harcourt, usually along with one or more local languages.
Dynamism is one of the characteristics of any living language, and the different varieties of english emerging. A study of attitudes of educated nigerians towards varieties of world englishes temitayo olatoye 277262. Jibril 1982, awonusi 1986, 1988, jowitt 1991, bamiro 1994, igboanusi 2002, and others have demonstrated also that nigerian english is variable and. Abstract this paper investigated the coexistence of american and british varieties of english in the nigerian educational system and its implications on.
Dialects are linguistic varieties that may differ in pronunciation, vocabulary, spelling and grammar. Comparisons across the varieties provide a comprehensive guide to differences in phonetics. The case of british and american varieties of english in nigeria by dr. Literary influence of some authors on nigerian english olapade ajeigbe. The main fulani of west africa are dark blue on the map. Oct 14, 2019 the spectrum of english in nigeria ranges from standard english through a more general english whose structures are influenced by the mother tongues, by the indian english of many traders and teachers, and by wape west african pidgin english, which is sometimes acquired as a mother tongue in such urban areas as calabar and port harcourt, usually along with one or more local languages. Rp is the only british accent that has no specific geographical correlate. This dictionary of nigerian english was stimulated by some enquiries from the oxford english dictionary on words of putative west african origin. A study of attitudes of educated nigerians towards.
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