Nigerian English : history, functions and features

Abstract

This article offers a comprehensive overview of Nigerian English, a rapidly expanding variety of world Englishes, recognised as one of the fastest-growing varieties of English globally in numerical terms. This article has four aims. First, it discusses the historical developments of English in Nigeria with reference to the events that led to the implantation of English in Nigeria and the periods in which these events occurred. Second, the article highlights the status and functions of English in official, educational, religious, media, creative writing and other domains in Nigeria. Third, it describes the phonological, lexico-semantic, morphosyntactic and discourse–pragmatic features of Nigerian English. Finally, following the survey, this article suggests directions for future research on Nigerian English. A key conclusion drawn from this article is that English has firmly established itself in Nigeria and that the functional range, significance and recognition of Nigerian English are expected to continue expanding.