FEATURES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE INDIGENIZATION IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to find some peculiarities of Indigenization of the English language in one of the greatest countries of West Africa - Nigeria. In regard to it an inclusive approach was used: linguistic and cultural specificity of the relationship of the English language and culture of Nigeria is carried out on the one hand as the influence of cultural factors on the language from the perspective of cultural linguistics, on the other hand, from the perspective of the influence of the language factor on the spread of culture, that is, from the perspective of linguistic cultural study issues. The author emphasizes an important role of English in various spheres of Nigerian life, including education, economy, politics, states that in everyday conversations peoples use their local dialects, defines the factors that might led to indigenization. A Nigerian dialect of English is described as a certain type of hybrid with the basis formed from English syntax, lexis, phonetics and some elements of Nigerian. On the example of lexical groups “National Food” and “National Clothes” the author proves that the dialect under study contains a layer of words that denote local realities but are adjusted to the norms of English. In conclusion it is stated that Indigenization of English is reflected in combination of the English-adapted nominations of local food and clothes that have developed new meanings, and Nigerian and Portuguese borrowings.

Keywords

• language
• culture
• communication
• indigenization
• territorial variant of english
• nigeria
• language situation
• ethnic dialects