Regional Assimilation of Syntax-Pragmatic Markers of Nigerian English in Contemporary Literary Texts

Abstract

This study examined syntax-pragmatic patterns in three selected literary texts from Northern, Eastern, and Western Nigeria using Labov’s language variation theory. Data were collected from secondary sources and analyzed qualitatively. The findings revealed distinct syntactic patterns across regions, categorized into three groups: coinages, reduplications, and hybridizations. Coinages from the Southwest included self-contain, second-hand, face-me-I-face-you, and keep the change; from the East, bushmanliness, palm wine, pure water, and backyard; and from the North, conductor, monkey-post, and suya. Reduplications featured small small, slowly slowly (Southwest), real real, bye bye, big big, double double (East), and subtle subtle, clicked clicked (North). Hybridizations included olojukokoro-eyes, oyinbos (Southwest); juju-spell, ankara-print (East); and zanna-cap, black-djinns, okada man (North). While some of these findings are peculiar to all the regions, some are distinct. Pragmatic markers also varied regionally. Discourse markers from the Southwest included shebi, sha, oya, omo, abi, na, nko, jare; from the East, chei, ba, abeg; and from the North, kai, wallahi, haba. Honorific terms included oga, baba (Southwest); madam, papa (East); and mallam, alhaji, hajiya (North). Although these pragmatic elements were largely region-specific, they show sociocultural differences in each locale and shaped interpersonal dynamics within the narratives. Despite regional variations, some markers like papa, baba, shebi, and ba shared similar functions across texts, revealing common usage patterns. The study concludes that the syntax-pragmatic patterns of Nigerian English, shaped by indigenous languages and cultural realities, are evident in selected contemporary literary texts. Therefore, the assimilation of Nigerian English in literary texts has gained ground.

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