A Lexico-syntactic Analysis of Usages in Nigerian English: A Validation of its culturally Determined Context of Situation

Abstract

This study aimed at validating Nigerian English as a language borne out of the culturally determined context of the situation of the Nigerian English speaker. It also aimed at analysing sentences from Nigerian English using Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) to validate its grammaticality and syntax. The purpose was to validate Nigerian English as a variety of the English Language.  This present study proposed that it was high time we stopped looking at Nigerian English as a deviation from the English Language and an error on the part of its speakers. In the article, we selected some Nigerian English expressions and analysed them using Transformational Generative Grammar rules to justify them to be grammatically and syntactically correct, and mutually intelligible.  It was agreed that the issue of international intelligibility should not be the ground for judging if a language is incorrect. In the course of the study, it was discovered that Nigerian English is a variety of the English Language like Australian English, Canadian English, etc. which are also part of the world's new Englishes born out of the cultural experience of the people and their attempt to express in clear terms their experiences. Based on our findings, we concluded that Nigerian English possesses all the properties a language should possess and should no longer be regarded as a deviation.