Language and Power Dynamics in Nigerian English. A Study of Language Use and Social Identity

Abstract

This work shows the relationship between the English language and Nigerian English as it affects our local or native languages both in speech and writing. It also stresses how the English language is regarded as a national language thereby hiding our social identity because it is now the language of the upper class who are being recognized in terms of politics, economics and commerce. This is because our local or native languages could not be used as our lingual Franca in the sense that they are termed “not superior”.
Thus, we witness language changes which shows that language is dynamic and also symbolizes our identity wherever we found ourselves.