Despite the removal of the native English-speaking elite from their position of power in the Liberian social structure, English continues as the language of prestige and socioeconomic advancement. The continued strong role and use of English in Liberia demonstrates the importance of the spread of Western-based cultural values. (Author/DJD)

Discusses the varieties of Liberian English spoken in Liberia: Kru Pidgin English, spoken by Kru mariners and migrant workers; Settler English, spoken by descendants of 19th-century African American immigrants to Liberia; and Vernacular Liberian English (VLE), spoken by the rest of Liberia's English-speaking population. Focuses on tense aspect in…