Nigerian Englishes in Nigerian English literature

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the notion ‘Nigerian English,’ using examples drawn from the novels of two prominent Nigerian authors, Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe. With particular emphasis on the polylectal speech situation in Nigeria, Nigerian English is discussed under three main headings: basilect, mesolect and acrolect. It is argued that notions of ‘inappropriateness’ are inadequate to explain Nigerian English. It is suggested that an analysis of the use of Nigerian English, especially in literary contexts, can provide deep insight into the principles underlying the linguistic behavior of Nigerians. This analysis can best be conducted within the frameworks of sociolinguistics and social psychology. The examples analyzed in the novels also illustrate specific types of linguistic behavior among Nigerian users of the English language, such as translating directly from Nigerian languages, obeying the principles of least effort and economy of expression, subjecting English language forms and norms to the socio‐cultural logic and imperatives of the Nigerian environment, and displaying ‘hypercorrected behavior’ towards the norms and code of the native speaker of English.