Towards Domestication of English Language in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges

Abstract

In the introduction the paper highlights the history of English in Nigeria and the need for the language to adapt to reflect and suit its new environment. It goes further to look at the concept of domestication by way of defining it. It establishes that as a result of domestication, English has been Nigerianised. Furthermore, it examines the levels of domestication of English. It specifically examines lexical, semantic and idiomatic domestication. It also discusses the challenges of domestication of English. The paper makes some recommendations towards enhancing a full autonomy of English in Nigeria and concludes by recognizing it as one of the new dialects of English that deserves to be given the right of full citizenship without any prejudice.