Abstract
The paper investigates the extent to which the grammatical number (dis)agreement hypothesis in the New Englishes (Platt et al 1984, Gorlach 1998, Mesthrie et al 2008) manifests in the determiner system of the Nigerian English, and how the variables of proficiency, text type, register, structural complexity, and syntactic form influence scenarios found. Applying principle of accountability (Labov 1972, Tagliamonte 2012), together with test statistic on data drawn from the Nigeria-ICE, we showed that in Nigerian determiner system, grammatical number is likely to agree (98%) with the head noun of the noun phrase than to disagree (2%). Also, the disagreement is mainly influenced by complexity and proficiency. This number irregularity is more likely to occur with the use of quantifier or demonstrative than with indefinite article. We argue that this scenario suggests a manifestation of fossilisation by transferring from the syntactically unique determiner systems of the local Nigerian languages to Nigerian English.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
