Nigerian English: Identifying the Challenges Towards International Intelligibility and Acceptability

The concept of domestication and nativisation has been at the forefront of the discussions on nonnative varieties of English. Scholars over the years have drawn attention to how the English language is being adapted to the culture of non-native speakers, while still retaining many of its original features as used by native speakers. The domestication of English is no longer in contention or a surprise in the former colonies of Britain. This paper using Robert Lado’s 1957 Constructive Analysis Hypothesis as the theoretical framework draws attention to the importance of context in usage especially when acquiring a second language. In this paper, the author examined Nigerian English in the light of its unique characteristics emanating from the mood of acquisition of the language by Nigerians and the socio-cultural environment in which English is used and the challenges it poses in the context of international intelligibility and acceptability.

Keywords: Domestication Nativisation Localisation Native Speakers Peculiar Word Coinages Intelligibility and Acceptability

Author

• Eventus D. Edem
  Department of English
  Akwa Ibom State University
  Obio Akpa Campus, Nigeria
  dreventusedem@gmail.com