Linguistic Features Of Nigerian English And Their Implications For 21st Century English Pedagogy

Like its users, one important feature of language is its dynamism. Thus, language adapts to situational constraints as its users vary across regional/geographical, social, educational, occupational, etc. domains. English is such a typical language that, as a result of vast geographical distribution, has often assumed the peculiarities of different societies that use it informing the notion of variety. Varieties of English thus exist among the three Kachruan circles among which Nigerian English (NE) is situated. This paper, building on the works of several scholars who have approached the NE phenomenon from different perspectives, discusses the phonological, morpho-syntactic, lexico- semantic and pragmatic features NE. It is submitted that the issue of variation and/or deviation characterizing the NE be harmonized within the Global English (GE) variety and Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) be fully incorporated and implemented so that the current state of English language teaching and learning in Nigeria would transcend the "state of confusion" (Babatunde, 2002) it is now. This is considered expedient so that the Nigerian users of English would be able to cope meaningfully with the challenges posed by the knowledge-driven twenty-first century, in which English is assuming greater roles and significance.

The aim of this study is to examine the The linguistic Features of Nigerian English and their implications for 21st century English pedagogy. More specifically, the study sought to:

• identify the lexical items that have undergone lexical evolution in Nigerian English;
• characterize the features of lexical evolution that occurred in the lexical items,
• ascertain the meanings given to some of the lexical items that are rooted in their original meanings,
• ascertain the meaning of the commonly used lexical items in Nigerian English and their British English equivalents and, discuss the extent of use and acceptability of these evolved lexical items.

• English / Literature / Linguistics Project Topics and Materials