NIGERIAN ENGLISH

       Nigerian English                                                                 Ijeoma Sorochi Okorie

In Nigeria, the usage of English Language by majority of its citizens (second language speakers) has given birth to a different 
     variation of English language commonly termed �Nigerian English (NE)�. Although some Nigerian speakers of the English 
      language are engrossed with learning the rules of grammar, are unaware of the rules of use in English. English speaking is 
    not just encompassed in knowing the rules of grammar or formation of meaningful expressions that are mutually intelligible in our nation, but rather, the acquiring of the Standard English (SBE). Being more concerned about the rules of usage and using it appropriately is paramount, improving our communication skills within and outside the shores of our nation.

       Some of the Nigerian English used frequently and are generally accepted as an English variation 
       but are not standard are listed below:

�         The Doctor does not administer Drugs rather he/she administers Medication.

�         The Woman was good, she received me well (wrong) - The Woman was receptive (right)

�         I�m hearing you (wrong) - I can hear you (right)

�         I�m coming (wrong) - I�ll be right back (right)

�         The programme was so educative (wrong) - The programme was so educating (right)

�         I�m Convocating (wrong) - I�m Convocing (right)

�         Please repeat yourself / Please come again (wrong) - I beg your Pardon / Please take that again (right)

�         Senior Brother (wrong) - Elder brother (right) / Senior Colleague (right)

�         Junior Sister (wrong) - Younger/ Youngest Sister (Right) / Junior Staff (right)

�         Most Senior Brother (wrong) - Eldest Brother (right)

�         I want to take a bath (wrong) - I want to have a bath (right)

�         Discuss about (wrong) - Talk about (right)

�         We came to your house but we met your absence (wrong) � We came to your house but you were not at home (right)

�         She has k-leg (wrong) � She has knocked-kneed (right)

�         I have been released from the hospital (wrong) - I have been discharged from the hospital (right)

�         She has been admitted in the hospital (wrong) - She has been hospitalized (right)

�         Start the Car (wrong) - Turn on the Ignition (right)

�         He can�t feed himself, talkless of driving a car (wrong) � He can�t feed himself, let alone driving a car (right)

�         The Lady was driving in a very high speed (wrong) - The Lady was accelerating with a high speed (right)

�         I will drink orange tomorrow (wrong) � I will eat orange tomorrow (right)

�         The girl speaks broking English (wrong) � The girl speaks Pidgin English (right)

�         The youngstar will perform tonight (wrong) � The youngster will perform tonight (right)

�         That woman is a gossiper (wrong) - That woman is a gossip (right)

�         Success is the first-child of the family (wrong) � Success is the first-born of the family (right)

�         I love Jewelries (wrong) - I love Jewelry (right)

�         Your uncle has bowleg (wrong) � Your uncle is bow-legged (right)

�         You may be rest assured (wrong) - You may rest assured (right)

�         Your chain is beautiful (wrong) � Your necklace is beautiful (right)

�         We�ll pay you the money as at when due (wrong) - We�ll payyou the money as and when due (right)

�         Go Slow (wrong) - Traffic Jam (right)

�         Class B is lacking behind in Mathematics (wrong) � Class B is lagging behind in Mathematics (right)

�         Cousin Sister / Cousin Brother (wrong) - Cousin / Female cousin / Male cousin (right)

�         The Coach dashed me some money yesterday (wrong) � The Coach gave me some money yesterday (right)

�         Mummy use to speak English fluently (wrong) - Mummy speaks English fluently (right)

�         John used to visit the house (wrong) - John visits the house often (right)

�         When they now came (wrong) - When they came (right)

�         I�m attending the night vigil (wrong) - I�m attending the vigil (right)

�         Don�t mention (wrong) - You�re Welcome (right)

�         Monday is our house help (wrong) � Monday is our house keeper (right)

�         Please dress the bed for me (wrong) � Please make the bed for me (right)

�         The reason why I love you (wrong) - The reason I love you / why I love you (right)

�         He revenged his sister�s death (wrong) � He avenged his sister�s death (right)

�         Reverse back the car (wrong) - Reverse the car (right)

�         Some of the area boys will be arrested (wrong) � Some of the miscreants will be arrested(right)

�         On the light / Off the light (wrong) � Switch on / Switch off the light (right)

�         I am offering Mathematics as a subject (wrong) � I am doing Mathematics as a subject (right)

�         Are you hearing me (wrong) � Can you hear me (right)

�         Without mixing words  (wrong) � Without mincing words (right)

�         Peace and conflict resolution (wrong) � Peace, and Conflict resolution (right)

�         More grease to your elbow (wrong) � More power to your elbow (right)

�         The air condition in his office is not good (wrong) � The air conditioner in his office is not good (right)

�         I can�t remember his name off head (wrong) � I can�t remember his name off hand (right)

�         I can learn the song off hand (wrong) � I can learn the song by heart (right)

�         He is a trickish man (wrong) � He is a tricky man (right)

�         See your dictionary for the meaning (wrong) � Look up the words in the dictionary for the meaning (right)

�         Tell the gateman to open the gate (wrong) � Tell the gatekeeper to open the gate (right)

�         I am at the barbing salon (wrong) � I am at the barber�s shop (right)

�         GSM has become rampant in Nigeria (wrong) � GSM has become widespread in Nigeria (right)

�         He is a drunkard (wrong) � He is a drinker (right)

�         Tina was shot thrice in the chest (wrong) � Tina was shot three times in the chest (right)

�         The fish seller refused to sell fish to me (wrong) � The fishmonger refused to sell fish to me (right)

�         He bought a pair of canvas yesterday (wrong) � He bought a pair of tennis shoe yesterday (right)

�         The shoe maker repairs my shoes (wrong) � The cobbler repairs my shoes (right)

�         The man is a furniture maker (wrong) � The man is a cabinet maker (right)

�         Should in case he calls you (wrong) � If he calls you (right)

�         Faith will give you the book next tomorrow (wrong) � Faith will give you the book, the day after tomorrow (right)

�         Miss Grace is a lecturer, she is an academician (wrong) � Miss Grace is a lecturer, she is an academic (right)

�         Do you have drinking water? (wrong) � Do you have potable water? (right)

�         I want to eat some garden eggs (wrong) � I want to eat some egg plants (right)

�         The road is full of gallops (wrong) � The road has potholes (right)

�         I cracked my brain, but I could not remember his name (wrong) � I racked my brain, but I could not remember his name (right) 

�         It happened last week Tuesday (wrong) � It happened on Tuesday, last week (right)

�         Stella visits me every two-two weeks (wrong) � Stella visits  me every fortnight (right)

�         There is power supply but the current is low (wrong) � There is power supply but the voltage is low (right)

�         This girl is proving strong head (wrong) � This girl is headstrong (right)

�         Attend choir practice (wrong) � Attend choir rehearsal (right)

�         The weather of Kano is cool (wrong) � The climate of Kano is cool (right)

�         Ken will go to the chemist to buy a packet of paracetamol (wrong) � Ken will go to the pharmacy to buy a packet of paracetamol (right)

�         She has Apollo (Wrong) � She is suffering from conjunctivitis (right)

�         Whisky and brandy are hot drinks (wrong) � Whisky and brandy are hard drinks (right)

�         The man fumbled that he will buy a car (wrong) � The man boasted that he will buy a car (right)

�         The wake keeping of Late John Bull will hold at Ajegunle (wrong) � The wake of Late John Bull will hold at Ajegunle (right)

�         Buy ten bottles of minerals (wrong) � Buy ten bottles of soft drinks (right)

�         Ijeoma is a goal-getter (wrong) � Ijeoma is a go-getter (right)

�         I live in an upstairs (wrong) � I live in a storey building (right)

�         The guests ate to their satisfaction (wrong) � The guests ate to their fill (right)

The above expressions do not deal with the phonological aspect of English; we only viewed some grammatical variation in the English language spoken by some Nigerians. English learners do not have to be masters of the language in order to use it appropriately rather they need to learn the English language so as to fulfill specific purposes.

According to Hutchinson and Waters �Tell me what you need English for and I�ll tell you the English you need� there are specific purposes for its use such as occupational purpose, academic purpose and EST (English for Science and Technology).

However, do not forget to always upgrade your vocabulary in order to avoid blunders.  Learners can search for resources online, visit bookshops for English language books, University press and love the dictionary.

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