Lexico-semantic Nigerianism in Nigerian Newspapers: A Case Study of Selected Newspapers
Chapter One
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study aims at highlighting the natureof lexico-semantic Nigerinismand some possible modifications or changes that have taken place in the lexico-semantic forms in Nigerian English and how they are used in Newspapers.
This research will also focus and investigate semantic change in Nigerian English lexis. This is necessitated by the possible misconceptions these semantic changes in Nigerian English lexical items are capable of causing especially to other speakers of English outside the Nigerian environment. This study will also look at the following objectives.
- To identify whether or not such phenomenal changesin Nigerian English lexis are deviations or variations.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
INTRODUCTION
Language is the brain behind communication among human beings in different societies(Jackson, 1990, p.1). This implies that ideas, messages, norms etc., are shared among people indivergent societies through conventional symbols and sounds- verbal communication. Butcommunication can be non-verbal e.g. shaking of hands, gestures, nodding, winking etc. Jackson(ibid).
An aspect of this broad means of communication is lexico-semantics which is formed bylexis and semantics. Lexis is “the vocabulary of a language” (Crystal 2008, p. 279). Whilesemantics is defined as “a major branch of LINGUISTICS devoted to the study of MEANING inLANGUAGE (Crystal, 2008, p. 428). Thus the selection of words in relation to their functionalends in terms of meaning informs the field of lexico-semantics. This implies that each time alanguage user sets out to speak or write, he/she is faced with choices to select from amonginfinite sets of lexical items.
However, since contexts that constrain language users when speaking or writing differ insituational, socio-cultural, political and geographical degrees, there is bound to be lexico-semanticvariation. The English language as used in the Nigerian context differs in these degrees,from the ways it is used in native contexts such as the USA, the UK, Canada, etc, (Jenkins,2003). In this connection, Adedimeji (2009, p.2) has this to say “In Nigeria… the need to expresslocal wisdom and concepts through the medium of an otherwise foreign language had generated he regional lexico- semantic variation that characterizes the use of Language.”
NIGERIAN ENGLISH
It is no doubt that the kind of English used in the Nigerian environment is different fromthat which is used is native English environment. The reason for this is not far-fetched asBamgbose (1971, p.39), says: “In a situation where English is in contact with many locallanguages and where English is second language, it is to beexpected that the kinds of English found will be different from thevarieties of English spoken is countries where English is theMother Tongue”.
English in the Nigerian environment is a second language and its first arrival in Nigeria,along the coastal areas, dates back to 1553 due to trade and later missionary activities (Alabi, 2003:177). The advent of English Language in Nigeria, a multilingual society, made it inevitablefor the English languages of Nigeria. Even after the departure of British colonial masters,English continues to function in many capacities and this made Bamgbose (1971:35) posits that“of all the heritage left behind in Nigeria by the British at the end of colonial administration,probably none is more important than the English Language”. It is however, important to notethat the English used in the Nigerian environment is able to function in many capacities becauseit is a ‘New English’ nativised ‘to suit its new African (Nigerian) surrounding” (Achebe, 1965 p.222 cited by Banjo 1996 p.126).
This nativised form of English in Nigeria is what is now referred to as Nigerian English.Adeniyi, (cited by Adedimeji 2007 p.159) defines Nigerian English broadly as “the variety ofEnglish spoken and used by Nigerians”.Babatunde&Shobomehin (2007:147) define it as:Conglomeration of legitimate variants of English in Nigeria, whichretain intelligibility, reflects a common Nigeria culture orperception of the world has a mother tongue influence and acommon socio-political environment.
The definition of Adeniyi (2006 p.25) implies that whatever kind of English used byNigerians is qualified to be called Nigerian English but she did not state the category ofNigerians whether those living in Nigeria or those brought up overseas or travelled overseas,with Nigerian roots or even born in Nigeria. Those living in Nigeria can be said to be applicableto her definition while those living overseas cannot be said to use Nigerian English because thekind of English would have been influenced by their environment of residence.Babatunde and Shobomehin’s definition regards only the ‘legitimate variants’ of Englishused in Nigeria which are intelligible and reflect the Nigerian culture and world views asNigerian English.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, an explanation is given of the general methodology employed in conducting this research. It focuses on the target population for the research, sampling, sampling techniques, and research tools used for the research, validity and reliability of research tools. This work made use of secondary sources of data, among others.
POPULATION
The population of this study comprises all the newspapers in Nigeria from which representative sample is taken, although the population is finite, it cannot be said with certainty the number of newspapers that constitute the study population.
CHATER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS, SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, the data collected from field studies conducted are presented andanalysed, which allows for the generation of sufficient information that serves as the basis upon which findings are built and conclusions drawn.
The data for this research was collected from a random reading of national newspapers in Nigeria. The data was collected over a period of this research. While the data collected apply to different levels of linguistic organization, this research is limited to the level of lexico-semantics. The newspapers selected are those that are considered national, defined both in terms of their coverage of news and in their circulation.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
The objective of this study is to find out whether or not there are Nigerianisms in the use of English in the Newspapers in Nigeria and to determine the nature of this Nigerianism. The Nigerianisms identified in the study belongs to areas of lexical coinages and loans from indigenous languages, malapropisms and repetition of meanings and manipulation of the structure of idioms. The verdict of this is that the NigerianismsAdesonoye and others had discovered in 1973 have not disappeared. Indeed, while many of them could have been dismissed as errors then, it is more likely that the patterns will thrive and get established as indexical markers of the Nigerian variety. This research looks at the recurrent use of such non-standard expressions in newspapers gives further weight to the formalization and codification and elaboration of the functions of Nigerian English. Nigerian newspapers constitute a ready and fairly reliable source for the codification of Nigerian English.
CONCLUSION
The Presentation and Analyses of data is carried out with the objectives of the study in mind. These objectives are to find out whether or not there is Nigerianism in the use of English Language in Nigerian Newspapers and to find out the nature of these Nigerianisms. From the
analyses carried out, it has been found out that Nigerianism do exist in the Newspapers. This is however not to say that there are no correct sentences.
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