Lexico‐semantic variation in Nigerian English

ABSTRACT: This study describes some aspects of lexico‐semantic variation in Nigerian English. The causes and types of variation are discussed within a sociolinguistic framework. Typical Nigerian English innovations are related to the local socio‐cultural and linguistic context of Nigerian culture and society. Five major classes of lexico‐semantic variation are identified: transfer, analogy, acronyms, semantic shift or extension, and coinage or neologisms. The paper also discusses the implications of such variation with reference to international intelligibility and communicative strategies.