Authors:
Felicia Tomi Obadare, Cyril Abioye Charles Olowoyeye, Oyedokun Samuel Ajayi, A. Sudhesa
Addresses:
Department of Arts Education, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Department of Language and Linguistics, School of Multidisciplinary Studies, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Department of Arts Education, School of Multidisciplinary Studies, College of Education, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.Department of English, Dhaanish Ahmed College of Engineering, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Abstract:
The increasing prevalence of Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) among university undergraduates has elicited ongoing concern regarding its potential impact on proficiency in Standard English (SE), the officially sanctioned medium of academic instruction in Nigeria. This study examines the degree to which Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE) influences the utilisation of Standard English (SE) among undergraduates at Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTI). Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 175 undergraduates across four colleges via a structured questionnaire. Researchers used both descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies and percentages, Pearson's correlation, and chi-square tests. The results show that students use pidgin frequently and that there is a statistically significant negative association between frequent NPE use and confidence and accuracy in SE use. The most common examples were grammatical interference, lexical transfer, and syntactic simplification. Even so, students demonstrated a good understanding of sociolinguistics, recognising that SE is appropriate for academic settings and NPE is better for casual conversation. The study finds that Nigerian Pidgin English is important for social and cultural interactions on campus, but its unchecked dominance makes it harder for students to learn academic English. The paper advocates for organised language enhancement programs, contrastive instruction, and comprehensive reinforcement of Standard English conventions within formal academic settings.
Keywords: Nigerian Pidgin English; Standard English; Language Interference; Language Enhancement Programs; Contrastive Instruction; Comprehensive Reinforcement; Grammatical Interference; Lexical Transfer; Syntactic Simplification.
Received on: 02/09/2024, Revised on: 23/11/2024, Accepted on: 28/01/2025, Published on: 03/06/2026
DOI: 10.64091/ATITL.2026.000298
AVE Trends in Intelligent Techno Learning, 2026 Vol. 3 No. 1 , Pages: 25-35