Standard and pidgin English in Nigeria: cultural revaluation and its impact on educational system

Abstract

This paper examines cultural perceptions of Standard English versus non-standard varieties, such as Nigerian Pidgin, and their implications for society. It discusses how linguistic discrimination affects the psychological well-being and social identity of speakers of Nigerian Pidgin English (NPE). The study is qualitative and is based on data generated from news sources, the International Corpus of English, observations and interviews. The results of the study reveal that linguistic discrimination against NPE speakers occurs because NPE carries a cultural stigma and is associated with lower social class and illiteracy. Standard English, inherited from the British colonial era, is perceived as a mark of education, class and social mobility. Due to the pressure to speak Standard English, Nigerians strive to improve their British accent, even when they have a high level of English proficiency. The tension between English and NPE varieties highlights cultural and linguistic politics, as well as the interaction between language and culture in shaping communication and identity. This duality creates psychological and social pressures for speakers, influencing their self-esteem and identity.  Nevertheless, many Nigerians code-switch, combining NPE with other indigenous Nigerian languages and English to create a hybrid cultural resource. This paper argues that, rather than outlawing NPE or penalising its use, teachers should implement translanguaging strategies that ncorporate NPE, English, and native languages, thereby boosting studentsʼ self-esteem and literacy. Further research could focus on ways to implement the findings of this study in the Nigerian education system.