Is Nigerian Pidgin English English?

Abstract

The major aim of this paper is to demonstrate through the grammar of the verb phrase in Standard English (StdE) and Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) that NPE is a distinct language. The paper draws on data collected from 30 Nigerian University Graduates from three ethnolinguistic regions. Although many scholars have pointed out that NPE is a language (Agheyisi 1971; Elugbe and Omamor 1991), not many of them have examined the verb phrase in NPE with a view to showing that its grammar is distinctive. It has been shown in this paper that the NPE verb phrase is sharply different from StdE verb phrase, and because the verb is at the centre of the clause and can determine its argument, it can be argued that NPE whose verbal grammar is radically different from that of English is a separate language. The pattern of clustering of NPE verb phrases with other NPE verb phrases or other crieterial features of NPE is also a demonstration that NPE is a distinct language. Finally, the subjects made sharp switches from StdE to NPE, speaking in blocks of first one code and then the other: this is like the behaviour of bilinguals moving from one language to another. Akinmade T. Akande 4A bin kam, kariam go. A kam, kariam go. A kam, kariam awe A kem an kari it awe. I came and carried it away. Bickerton (1975), citing Guyana and Nigeria as examples, notes that there were no intermediate varieties between StdE and NPE before independence but that after independence, a continuum which is apparent in the novels of Achebe developed. Brosnahan (1958) classifies NPE as the lowest form of English in Nigeria and this suggests that, contrary to Bickerton's (1975) view, a continuum had existed between NPE and StdE even before independence. Peter and Wolf (2007: 5) also note that there is no strict barrier between varieties of West African English and their pidgins and creoles.Agheyisi is one of the scholars who have argued that NPE is a separate language (Agheyisi 1971(Agheyisi , 1984(Agheyisi , 1988. Agheyisi (1984: 230) argues that we can have educated speakers learner varieties of NPE with English interference but states, as quoted in Deuber (2005: 23), that

An Investigation into the Attitudes and Practices of Nigerian Students towards the Use of English Language and Their Native Languages in a Culturally Diverse Society

“…So, that was how I become literate in it". From the study, all the three major Nigerian languages are well documented (Adegbite, 2003;Akande & Salami, 2010) as against some of the minority languages.…”

“…Politics, geographical spread and numerical strength contributed to such language grouping. It is a fact that many minority languages in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world are at high risk of extinction in the near future, as they are endangered because of persistent changes and/or increases in socio-economic and political developments that fail to provide a level playing ground for minority languages to compete favourably with other languages (Adegbite, 2003;Igboanusi, 2008;Akande & Salami, 2010;Borghetti & Beaven, 2017;Yee & Chan, 2018).…”

“…Therefore, the change in attitudes is vital and unavoidable chunk of any pedagogical initiative. Having attitudes towards language or its behaviour can be associated with social meanings related to social models in a particular speech community where language is a symbol of identity for the people (Akande & Salami, 2010). Eagly and Chaiken (1993, p.…”

Jordanian Bengali Pidgin Arabic

“…Siegel (2009) Example (8) got Chinaman river edge walk "There's a Chineseman walking along the river's edge" Akande (2010) also investigated the verb phrase in the NPE (Nigerian Pidgin English). He attempted to find out whether or not this variety is a pidgin that is separate from English.…”

On phonological variations in Kafrelsheikh Egyptian Arabic

“…However, the existence of discrete dialects (with discrete linguistic features) of a language has been empirically and objectively questionable (Durrell 2005: 508), and it has been difficult to assign clear definitions for such controversial terms as language, dialect and accent. Mutual intelligibility resulting from sharing the majority of words and grammatical rules is commonly regarded as the prime, decisive factor that determines whether some dialects belong to a particular language or not (Akande 2010). The study of regional dialects helps to suggest more refined theoretical considerations on "the nature of language, variation in language, the languagelearning and language-using abilities of human beings, and the processes involved in linguistic change" (Hudson 1990: 138).…”