A STUDY OF SYNTAX OF NIGERIAN PIDGIN AND CREOLE

Charles C Motanya, Musa G. Toro, Aliyu M. Nasir

Abstract


Nigerian Pidgin is indisputably the most efficient means of inter-ethnic communication among the
densely, culturally and linguistically heterogeneous people of Nigeria. Nigerian Pidgin has
nativized and expanded in some parts of the country. In these areas, it has creolized and become
the first language of some speech communities. These languages have been viewed as inferior
languages that do not have regular pattern in terms of syntax. This paper therefore adds and agrees
to existing studies that Nigerian Pidgin does have syntax. Data were generated mostly from a
library research, while few others were got randomly from a daily observation of Nigerian Pidgin
used by students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The study is based on the systemic-
functional grammar. The findings of the research proved that Nigerian Pidgin does have pattern in
sentence formation. It is recommended that Nigerian Pidgin be accorded the respect of a fully
fledged language.


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