Ebonyi Journal of Language and Literary Studies 1 (2) April 2018 Volume 1, No. 2: 88–98 (2018) ISSN 9091 4582 7142 NIGERIAN ENGLISH AS A COMPULSIVE VARIETY IN BRAJ † KACHRU’S CONCENTRIC CIRCLES *S.A. DADA *Dare OWOLABI . *O. BAMIGBOYE [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] *Department of English and Literary Studies, Ekiti State Univertsity, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria Abstract The motivation for this study stemmed from the lingering controversy of the existence of a variety of English called Nigerian English. The major aim of the research was to affirm the existence of a variety of English that is peculiarly Nigerian, situated within Braj Kachru’s three concentric circles. Five research questions were raised in line with the stated objectives of the research. The major instrument used for the study was Likert’s Rating Scale. 722 out of 1000 copies of the questionnaire sent out with the assistance of five research assistants were retrieved. Two research assumptions were raised to guide the realization of five research objectives using five corresponding research questions. Since data for this study can only be supplied by people who are no less than Senior School Certificate holders, we adopted a purposive sampling technique. The responses were analysed and interpreted using non-parametric statistics. The responses were streamlined and categorized into two parallel poles: Agree (A) and Disagree (D). A mean cut-off point was set at 3.1 to either Accept (A) or Reject (R) the final responses of an item on the Rating Scale. Our findings show that NE is evident and manifests in the areas of lexis especially in morphological processes; syntax as obvious in transliteration and verbosity; semantics observable in narrowing, expansion, amelioration and pejoration and pragmatics in the area of nativisation. We recognize and recommend that Nigerian English is phenomenal enough and must be improved upon through the study of literature, preferably throughout the duration of secondary education. Keywords: Nigeria’s linguistic environment, Nigerian English, concentric circles, compulsive variety, World Englishes. Introduction Although English may have an origin, it can now be said that it is no longer a native of any place, going by the extent of its spread and entrenchment in places where it has found a home. In the words of Jarvis (2005:4), “the English language today belongs just as much to new majority as it does to the now minority native users”. The majority here refers to non-native users, who have outnumbered native speakers as English is now a global linguistic code. In Nigeria, for example, English remains undoubtedly, the nation’s major linguistic code in official interactions. It is one language that does not only bind together the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, but a language we share with the rest of the world. That English dominates Nigeria’s linguistic landscape is not unconnected with its relationship with Britain as its former colony. Today, the language has almost acquired the status of a global lingua franca, as it is now spoken in circles, round the world. Svartvik and Leech (2006: 1) see the † Acknowledgement: Many thanks to the Federal Government of Nigeria, through TETFUND, for funding this research work. The grant provided the initial impetus necessary to embark on this research. 88 Ebonyi Journal of Language and Literary Studies 1 (2) April 2018 language as “the working tongue of the global village”. It is unthinkable in the circumstance of English now to have a monolithic status, considering the diverse environments and cultures where it has now found itself globally. Varieties are inevitable in every living language, and varieties of any particular language must be accorded due recognition. Therefore any variety of English with international intelligibility must be accorded recognition as part of ‘World Englishes’. Kachru (2010:525) has observed that “The term New Englishes was primarily-though not exclusively-used for the institutionalized varieties of the Outer Circle. All the ‘new’ varieties are transplanted (diaspora) varieties that have a presence on almost every continent”. These varieties, as McArthur (1993), cited by Kachru (2010:526) has observed, fall within an interpretation of world Englishes as a concept that “serves to indicate that there is a club of equals here.” The English language in the Outer Circle has many varieties, but the core of every variety is intelligibility at national and international levels. The language is observed to have broken down barriers among nations, and as a global lingua franca, it links different people and acts as a window to development and a bridge to different cultures (Mary, 2013). Although a linguistic adult, the Nigerian learner of English as a second language and the native speaker who acquires the language as a child, are not comparable (Akindele and Adegbite, 1999). The prime place of the English language in Nigeria’s linguistic landscape has conferred a special status on it as a second language, from its initial position as a foreign language; the language not being indigenous to the nation. Now, in nearly all domains, it is the most preferred language most often, to the detriment of the nation’s many indigenous languages. The version prevalent in Nigeria which has come to be referred to as Nigerian English is what Adetugbo (1977) regards as the English language used by Nigerians just as we have American English as the brand of English used by Americans. Some scholars still express some skepticism and express some cynicism, and would rather refer to the English language in Nigeria as a phenomenon of “English language use in Nigeria” (ELUN) rather than Nigerian English (NE). Statement of the Problem Studies on English as a second language, in non-native settings have, most often focused on interference, interlanguage and fossilization as observed by Kachru (2010:526). According to him, “There was very little – if any – awareness of the pluricentricity of Englishes in the Outer Circle or of developing literacy and cultural canons and nativized registers and genres in world Englishes in Africa, Asia and the diasporic writers in the Inner Circle”. This has led many to denigrate the burgeoning varieties in the Outer Circle, thus generating debates on the classification of emerging varieties of English in the Outer Circle. While some see these varieties as errors or mistakes; to some others, it is creativity and innovation. Distinctive forms of English will continue to emerge as a result of cultural, geographical and social constraints. As the language adapts to new environments it acquires local nuances, especially in its lexis (Thorne, 2008). These varieties can no longer be reprobated because “These varieties of English have acquired stable characteristics in terms of pronunciation, grammar, lexis, discoursal, and stylistic strategies” (Kahru, 2010:526). Research in English in Nigeria, over the years has been more on contrastive analysis, with many researchers seeing errors in the way Nigerians use the language rather than identifying an emerging variety, as a result of the contact between the English language and the nation’s indigenous languages. Bilingualism, especially when it is sequential has its attendant problems. In Nigeria, English is learnt after the acquisition of the First Language (L1) or the Mother Tongue (MT). Aim and Objectives of the Study The major aim of this study is to affirm the existence of a variety of English that is peculiarly Nigerian, far from being a concatenation of errors and situated within Braj Kachru’s three concentric circles. 89 Ebonyi Journal of Language and Literary Studies 1 (2) April 2018 Specifically, the study: a. identified the peculiarities of Nigerian English at the different linguistic levels; b. showed the similarities as well as dissimilarities between Nigerian English and other international varieties; c. examined the extent of deviation in Nigerian English from other international varieties; d. investigated the effects of deviations in Nigerian English on international intelligibility and e. recommended a teachable standard variety for use in Nigeria’s Outer Circle. Research Questions 1. What are the peculiarities of Nigerian English at different linguistic levels in the Nigerian linguistic environment? 2. What are the similarities and the dissimilarities between Nigerian English and other international varieties? 3. To what extent does Nigerian English deviate from other international varieties? 4. What are the effects of deviations in Nigerian English on international intelligibility? 5. What teachable standard variety should be used in Nigeria’s Outer Circle? Significance of the Study With an emerging variety of the English language, a research of this nature will have significance for: 1. curriculum designers who will design a teachable standard variety that is internationally intelligible, but different from technocrats’ designed curriculum that has fruitlessly tried to make English men of non-English people; 2. curriculum implementers who are, in most cases, non-native speakers, to help them identify a teachable standard variety; 3. others who use the language in line with the dictates of the linguistic environment, but who are frustrated by linguistic purists for deviating from the ‘Standard.’ Study Area and Scope of the Study Only the south western part of Nigeria, comprising six states, was used due to paucity of funds. Without prejudice to the other parts of the country, the selected states are homes to all the other ethnic groups, since data for the study were sourced from major cities and towns. Research Assumptions The assumptions in this research include: i. The research assistants would be diligent in the administration of the instrument. ii. The respondents would understand the instrument and faithfully complete it. Review of Related Literature English Around the World (EAW) With non-native speakers outnumbering native speakers (Svartvik and Leech, 2006), varieties are bound to occur and these are obvious and have been categorized by scholars.