Some segmental rules of Nigerian English phonology

Abstract

This paper discusses some major processes which characterise Nigerian English (NigE) phonology at the segmental level. After a review of patterns of realisation of English sounds in NigE, the paper identifies, analyses and names, where no previous names exist, the most salient contextual processes which can be considered the hallmarks of this variety of English. The next part of the analysis discusses the patterns of interaction of rules in NigE, addressing issues like ordering of rules, feeding and bleeding. The third part highlights the behaviour of NigE in relation to the existing rules of English; it thus acknowledges that NigE shares many existing rules of English phonology. But more importantly it shows that NigE applies other rules differently (either more generally, partially, or inordinately) and that some of its rules are altogether new when perceived in terms of the standard accents of Inner Circle Englishes. The conclusion of the study shows, inter alia, that the findings can be used very fruitfully to provide further, alternative, and arguably more convincing explanations and interpretations of many facts of NigE and related Englishes.

Word-final consonant epenthesis in Northeastern Nigerian English

“…Many types of word-final consonant clusters, but not word-initial or word-internal ones, are regularly simplified in BE irrespective of the phonological context to the right of the word in question, largely in the same way as in more standard varieties of NE (see Simo Bobda 2007; Gut 2009a, 2009b; Ugorji 2010) and Nigerian Pidgin English (see Faraclas 1996). One strategy involves insertion of a non-etymological vowel, mostly for clusters involving a lateral approximant and a non-coronal consonant, as in [pʰipʰʊlʔ] ‘people’ in figure 6 (assuming that ‘people’ has the structure /pipl/).…”

“…For the moment, the wider geographic extent of this phenomenon remains unknown. However, it is lacking in the varieties of Nigerian English from southern parts of Nigeria I have heard and it is not mentioned in the literature on Nigerian English, which focuses on southern Nigeria (see Simo Bobda 2007; Gut 2008, 2009a, 2009b; Ugorji 2010). Similarly, it has never been reported for Nigerian Pidgin English (Nicholas Faraclas, p.c.).…”

Patterns of segment sequence simplification in some African Englishes1

“…The breaking of Cr clusters is done by the insertion of /?/ or /i/. Some accents, like those found in Nigerian English, have a rule almost systematically inserting /?/ between C and a following /r/, a rule called Cr Breaking (Simo Bobda, forthcoming), expressed as (4).…”

“…], funeral [funera], future [fut?? ], occupy [?kupai], contribute [k?ntribut], distribute [distrtibut] (Simo Bobda, forthcoming).…”

“…In fact, in many southern Nigerian English accents, a Post‐Vocalic /l/ Deletion rule systematically deletes /l/ between a vowel and a following syllable‐final consonant. It is captured by Simo Bobda (forthcoming) as (6).…”