ERIC Number: EJ1423026
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1718-2298
EISSN: EISSN-2200-2014
Communicative Features of the Nigerian University Undergraduates' English Expressions
Jane Chinelo Obasi
Journal of English as an International Language, v11 n2 p19-34 2016
Effective speaking exists in a group when the speakers' messages are so clear that the listeners respond as desired (Klopf, 1981, p. 76). In other words, the speakers' messages turn out to be exactly what they want and the listeners hear and understand exactly what the speakers said, and then act accordingly. This is in line with one of Confucius' popular quotes that "if the language is not correct, then what is said is not what is meant; if what is said is not what is meant, then what ought to be done remains undone…" . The onus of this paper is therefore to examine the uniqueness and creativity in the use of language among selected Nigerian university undergraduates assuming a background of problems associated with meaning interpretation and effective communication among students. It brings to bear the appropriateness and inappropriateness of students' communication in English with broad focus on their distinctive communicative codes in relation to their use of pidgin, slang and Nigerian English expressions. This renders their communication unintelligible for anyone who is not acculturated in the use of such codes and in turn hampers effective communication in English. This paper demonstrates the need for language teachers to bring such students into consciousness of acceptable English language usages because "to speak and write correctly in English language without affected precision and without self-consciousness are not only forms of good manners but are also considered a wonderful asset to any Nigerian who acquires the skills" (Eyisi, 2004, p. xi).
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Undergraduate Students, Second Language Learning, English (Second Language), Communication Skills, Intercultural Communication, Language Usage, Expressive Language, Code Switching (Language), Mutual Intelligibility, Communicative Competence (Languages)
English Language Education Publishing. Site Skills Training - Clark, Centennial Road, Clark Freeport Zone, Clark, Pampanga 2023, Philippines. e-mail: asianefl@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.elejournals.com/journal-of-english-as-an-international-language/; Web site: https://www.eilj.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Nigeria
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A