A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE COMMUNICATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF NIGERIAN ENGLISH USAGE

A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF THE COMMUNICATIVE IMPLICATIONS OF NIGERIAN ENGLISH USAGE

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND

English is the most visible and commonly used remnant of colonization in Nigeria. Its successful execution has earned it the status of official language, which implies that it will be utilized in politics, administration, law, religion, government, and governance, as well as education and creative writing. In Nigeria’s multilingual landscape, it now has a larger and larger communication area. In Kachru’s (1986) framework and conceptualisation of English as a world language, English in Nigeria is placed in the inter concentric circle, implying that contact with indigenous languages and people from various ethnolinguistic and sociocultural backgrounds motivated the hybridisation and production of variants of the language. Brosnahan (1958), Banjo (1971), Adekunle (1979), Bamgbose (1982, 1995), and Akindele and Adegbite (2005), among others, have provided insights into the various varieties of English used in Nigeria. Two of the most essential variables utilized in categorizing speakers are their ethnolinguistic origin and their level of education. Separately, the two aspects provide regional diversity, 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 displayed in English’s oral and written forms reflects English’s contact with Nigerian languages (Ekpe, 2012; Aremu, 2015). As a result of these sociolinguistic characteristics, English variations that are “native” to Nigeria have emerged. Nigerian English usage reflects the cultural and social traditions of the users (Aremu, 2015; Ikoro, 2018). According to Uwen and Ukam (2020), English functions as a language of integration in Nigeria since it is a multilingual country; it is the linguistic medium that harnesses the rich sociolinguistic input from the languages.

Literary works are rife with the peculiarities that distinguish Nigerian English use. One of them is Wole Soyinka’s The Beautification of Area Boy (henceforth TBOAB). The 1995 drama illustrates the intricate street life of Nigeria’s post-independence global metropolis, as epitomized by the bustling Lagos. Sanda, a society-induced University dropout, supervises the foundation of a union by three gangsters and becomes the voice of downtrodden and underprivileged civilians. Power is juxtaposed against ongoing poverty, helplessness, inequality, and injustice, which demarcate social class and language lines through evicted Maroko settlers and Sanda-headed criminals, as well as the privileged’s squandering of ill-gotten money. TBOAB’s character socialization gives two stories about Nigeria: sociopolitical and sociolinguistic, which finally provide insights to the relationship between social power and language usage, leading in linguistic inflexibility and imbalances.

Wole Soyinka’s TBOAB has received a lot of scholarly attention. Amonyeze (2016), for example, investigates the play’s historical, sociopolitical, and economic dimensions, concluding that TBOAB is a dramatic record of Nigeria’s various historical periods, especially the military era, which was marked by widespread immorality and the struggle of the underprivileged to reclaim her moral fiber. Ali (2016) examines the play’s language component using a critical discourse analysis technique. According to Ali, the linguistic, political, and social components of TBOAB reveal Nigeria’s disproportional use of language to symbolize power and injustice. The ‘appropriation’ of language to express the Nigerian sociocultural experience characterizes Nigerian literary works in English. Achebe (1965) previously addressed the language debate in African literature by claiming that the English language, rather than the writer, should be “moulded” or “twisted” to capture and communicate the unique African experience without jeopardizing the wider reading audience’s mutual understanding. According to Bamiro (2007), Nigerian English in literary writings frequently demonstrates the principles behind Nigerians’ distinct language behavior. Drawing on Achebe and Bamiro’s cautionary remark, the study is predicated 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) addressed. This creates a research gap, which the study seeks to fill. The study focuses on the characters’ complicated linguistic roots, which highlight the peculiarity of Nigerian English usage. As a result, the research will provide incisive insights into its various forms and qualities, guided by appropriate social and situational situations, which will benefit language and literary academics.

1.2 THE PROBLEM’S STATEMENT

Nigerian English differs from English spoken in other nations in various respects. Some Nigerian phrases appear to be a combination of English and local languages. This is visible at all levels of language, including lexis, syntax, phonology, and semantics. The accompanying situation depicts the true state of most Nigerian users’ English, even some educated speakers. Without a doubt, the situation is alarming. What is the nature of language, then, if it takes extra effort to explain some uncommon phrases that differ from standard forms in terms of lexis, syntax, semantics, and phonology during communication, whether oral or written? Alternatively, given that English is a language of power and intellectualization, where does the power to conquer the world lie if some Nigerians’ English is only understood by other Nigerians? Such linguistic presence should be investigated in a country where English is claimed to be the official language.

1.3 THE STUDY’S OBJECTIVE

The major goal of this research is to investigate the ramifications of Nigerian English usage. As a result, the following goals;

1. To determine whether the English linguistic variant is actually Nigerian English.

2. To assess whether Nigerian English is a departure or a variant.

3. Determine the communication implications of Nigerian English characteristics.

1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

This research is guided by the following questions:

1. Is the English linguistic variant genuinely Nigerian English?

2. Is Nigerian English a variation or a deviation?

3. What are the implications of Nigerian English traits for communication?

1.5 THE STUDY’S IMPORTANCE

The significance of this research arises from the English language’s dominance both globally and, of course, in Nigeria’s multilingual, multicultural culture. It is a “window on the world” for the international community and a unifying force for Nigeria’s multilingual countries. Based on the aforementioned, English in Nigeria should be of world-class quality, as anything less, such as the nativized variety, may impede effective communication. “It is better not to communicate at all because no action will be taken than to communicate what is misinterpreted because the listener may take the wrong action,” Onochie warns. The findings of the inquiry will emphasize the negative repercussions of the language’s local flavor in Nigeria, as well as aid users in recognizing that some “Nigerian English” statements are a “misnomer.” In other words, users of Nigerian English would be more likely to notice and avoid contradicting variants in Nigerian English. They should not believe that Nigerian English has reached its full maturity and development. Knowing the outcome would also enable ESL teachers to decide which English language model to utilize for pedagogical purposes. The outcomes of this investigation would be useful as reference material for academics studying in related subjects in the future (s).

1.6 STUDY OBJECTIVES

The study will be limited to the characteristics of the English language’s local variation in Nigeria. Slang phrases, syntactic and lexical alterations, semantic shifts, and other techniques will be used to examine the local flavor of English usage in Nigeria. The serious implications for the general growth of the typical Nigerian variety will be emphasized. The phrases of students and public English language users in Nigeria will be used to build a corpus of these variations.

1.7 THE STUDY’S LIMITATIONS

Throughout the course of this research, the researcher encountered limitations ranging from a lack of funds to insufficient materials to delve deeper into this study.

1.8 TERM DEFINITION

1. ENGLISH LANGUAGE: The most widely spoken and recognized language in the world.