A LINGUISTIC STUDY OF THE NIGERIAN-NESS’ OF NIGERIAN PIDGIN IN SELECTED LITERARY WORKS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Abstract

Table of Content

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Statement of Research Problem and Research Questions

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study

1.4 Justification and Significance of the Study

1.5 Scope and Delimitation

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Etymology of Pidgin

2.3 Definitions of a Pidgin

2.4 Origins of Pidgins

2.5 Theories of Origin

2.5.1 The Monogenetic/Relexification Theory

2.5.2 The Polygenetic/Independent Parallel Development Theory

2.6 Distinction between Broken English, Pseudo Pidgins, Pidgin English and Nigerian English

2.7 Functions of a Pidgin

2.8 Distributions of Pidgins and Creoles around the World

2.9 West African Pidgin English (WAPE)

2.9.1 Ghanaian Pidgin English

2.10 Nigerian Pidgin (NP)

2.11 Emerging Varieties of NP

2.12 Features of NP

2.12.1 NP Lexicon

2.12.2 NP Syntax

2.12.3 NP Orthography

2.13. Status of NP

2.14. Theoretical Framework

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Sources of Data

3.3 Data Collection Technique

3.4 Method of Data Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA/FINDINGS

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Discussion of Texts

4.3 Data Analysis

4.3.1 Lexical Items (Vocabulary)

4.3.2 Syntax/Structure

4.4 Findings

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendations

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX

ABSTRACT

This thesis titled “A Linguistic study of the „Nigerian-ness‟ of Nigerian Pidgin in Selected Literary Works” was embarked upon because of the resistance many Nigerians have to the use of Nigerian Pidgin (NP); they see it as foreign and a corruption of the English Language. Besides, many people, especially non-linguists feel that pidgin Englishes in West Africa are all the same no matter which country the Pidgin exists in. The researcher therefore sets out to investigate the lexical and syntactic features in NP to find out whether they are uniquely Nigerian. Two texts were used for analysis - an earlier text: “Sozaboy” by Ken Saro Wiwa (1985), and a contemporary one: “Abuja na Kpangba an oda Puem-dem” by Eriata Oribhabor (2011). Jowitt„s (1991) ―Theory of Interlanguage” (which involves borrowing) and Fishman‟s (1971) theory of the “Great Tradition” (which refers to the presence of a national symbol of identity) were useful in identifying various features of NP which are unique to Nigeria. The contributions of various Nigerian Languages to the vocabulary of NP were identified and it was noted that cultural influences from the indigenous languages are important constituents of NP. Our findings confirm the works of many researchers that NP is a language with a fixed and describable grammar like any other living language. Our work shows that NP is clearly distinct from the English Language, even though the bulk of its initial vocabulary was derived from the English Language. Our research also reveals that all things considered- vocabulary, syntax and other linguistic features- NP is uniquely Nigerian.

CHAPTER ONE

1.1.INTRODUCTION

Many people have a predictable reaction to pidgin languages. They find them amusing, humorous or babyish. Yet research has shown that pidgins are real languages, not baby-talk; that they are and can be used for serious purposes, and that each stable or extended pidgin has a describable and distinctive linguistic structure. As a result the study of pidgins is not new. Decamp as cited in Hymes (1971) says that since the 1880‟s significant studies have appeared. The multilingual nature of many nations of the world has made pidgin come centre stage in linguistic study. Pidgins are seen as a solution to communication problems in multilingual settings. This is why they are called contact languages. Wherever they exist they are a lingua franca used among those who otherwise would not have been able to communicate with one another. They are nobody‟s language, yet used by all.

So much has been discussed in literature, on the existence of pidgins around the world, in West Africa, and of course, in Nigeria. Nigerian pidgin (NP) came into being from the contact between the multilingual coastal communities of Nigeria as they sought to communicate with the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch and then, the English traders on the West African coasts. As appraised, Elugbe and Omamor, (1991) state that this language has had to grow from a rudimentary speech form to an elaborate one, aided initially by gestures among peoples who had no common language but who did make imperfect attempts at communicating in one of the others‟ languages. NP has since developed from a debased or makeshift or minimal language into a fully crystallized and expanded language....

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