Sociolinguistic Analysis of Nigerian English As A Product of Language Contact

Abstract

The worldwide spread of English language as one of the most prominent linguistic reality of our time is attracting international interest and scholarly attention. Designations such as World Englishes, New Englishes, Modern English, West African English, Australian English and Indian English have gained prominence in linguistic domains. The phrase ‘Nigerian English’ has also surfaced in the last five decades or so. The purpose of this paper is to investigate language contact and how it has led to the emergence of Nigerian English as a product of language contact and the main characteristics of the progeny of such a linguistic union. The paper also reappraises the argument surrounding the existence or non-existence of a distinct variety of English known as ‘Nigerian English’. Consequently, literary texts representing the three major speech communities in Nigeria- Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo were linguistically analyzed alongside a review of scholarly inputs on language contact and Nigerian variety of English which has evolved as a product of language contact and the extent of such contact further determine the variety of Nigerian English obtainable among different speakers in the different speech communities across the country.