A Corpus Study of the Meanings and Uses of the Modal Operator Will in Ghanaian English

Abstract

The term ‘Ghanaian English’ is used to refer to the variety of English which is prevalent in Ghana. The variety is believed to have been influenced by indigenous Ghanaian languages. As a result, interested scholars have, accordingly, focused on identifying the possible linguistic indicators. One of such indicators in Ghanaian English is the meanings and uses of the modal operator will. This study is meant to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this regard. Specially, the study aims at examining the meanings and uses of the modal operator will in Ghanaian English. Thus, I was particularly intrigued by the uses of the modal operator will in Ghanaians English; the meanings expressed by the modal operator will in Ghanaians English; and, the area of divergence in the two varieties concerning the uses of the modal operator will. I selected 250 sentences reflecting the various meanings and uses of the modal operator will in Ghanaian English. In the end, the results show that the semantic content and the uses of the modal operator will is similar in the two varieties contra the usage of the modal operator will in the elliptical implication which is a feature in British English but absent in Ghanaian English. The results show, also, that the use of the modal operator will + main verb is one of the dominant features in Ghanaian English and quite rare in British English. DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/91-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2022