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Nativization and Standardization of Nigerian Pidgin (Naija): A Study of its Expanding Domains and Attitudes Ndifon, Mamina M; Ghevolor, Asa; Ekoro, Daniel; Okpene, Dominic; Edung, Augustine
Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies Vol 28, No 1 (2025): Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies (Early Access)
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Makassar

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26858/ijes.v28i1.76299

Abstract

This research investigates the ongoing processes of nativization and potential standardization of Nigerian Pidgin (Naija) by examining its expanding functional domains and mapping contemporary societal attitudes. Once primarily a lingua franca for trade and informal interaction, Naija is now nativized as a first language for a growing urban population and is permeating high-prestige domains such as popular music (Afrobeats), cinema (Nollywood), broadcast media, social media, and political discourse. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining sociolinguistic questionnaires to gauge attitudes from a diverse demographic with critical discourse analysis of Naija usage in select media and online platforms. The research aims to determine whether these expanding domains are fostering a de facto standard variety and to what extent this influences the language’s prestige. Findings will illuminate the complex interplay between language use, identity, and power in modern Nigeria, contributing to debates on its official status. Ultimately, this study provides crucial insights into the dynamic evolution of Naija from a contact language to a potent, full-fledged national symbol capable of expressing the complete range of human experience in the Nigerian context.
Digital Identity and Linguistic Innovation: A Corpus-Based Study of Nigerian English on Social Media Edung, Augustine; Ekpang, Juliet; Tanyi, John; Arihi, Blessing
Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies Vol 28, No 1 (2025): Indonesian Journal of Educational Studies (Early Access)
Publisher : Universitas Negeri Makassar

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.26858/ijes.v28i1.77447

Abstract

This study explores the linguistic features and pragmatic functions of Nigerian English (NE) as manifested on social media platforms, primarily Twitter and Instagram. It investigates how Nigerian users creatively manipulate the English language to construct a unique digital identity that reflects both global connectivity and local cultural nuances. The research adopts a corpus linguistics approach, compiling and analyzing a specialized digital corpus of posts, comments, and hashtags from Nigerian users. The analysis focuses on identifying and categorizing distinctive lexico-semantic innovations (e.g., semantic shifts, novel compounds), syntactic patterns, and pragmatic strategies such as code-mixing and humor. The study examines how these features operate within online communities to foster solidarity, express cultural concepts lacking in Standard English, and negotiate a distinctly Nigerian online presence. Findings will demonstrate that social media serves as a dynamic and fertile ground for the evolution and enregisterment of NE variants, moving beyond mere replication of standard forms to active and conscious linguistic creation. This research contributes to the fields of World Englishes and computer-mediated communication by documenting the organic, bottom-up development of a digital variety of NE and its role in contemporary identity formation.