Phonological features.
Monophthongization of Diphthongs: African English speakers tend to simplify
diphthongs into pure monophthongs, particularly in words like "go," "ride," and
"out."
Example: "ride" might be pronounced with a long "i" sound ([raːd]) instead
of the diphthong /aɪ/.
Tense-Lax Vowel Differences: Some African English varieties may have fewer
distinctions between tense and lax vowels compared to Standard English.
Example: the vowel sounds in words like "bit" and "beat" may sound more
similar to each other.
Nasalization: Many African languages have nasalized vowels, and this feature
can influence English pronunciation in African English varieties. Nasalization is
often used in place of the English /n/ sound in some contexts.
Example: A word like "song" might have a nasalized vowel sound, closer
to /sɔ̃ŋ/.
Consonant Cluster Reduction: Like in many non-native varieties of English,
consonant clusters, especially at the end of words, may be simplified or dropped.
Example: "tests" might be pronounced as /tɛs/ instead of /tɛsts/
Emphasis on Final Syllables: In some African English varieties, there is a
tendency to place emphasis on the final syllable of words, unlike Standard English
where stress can be on any syllable.
Example: "electricity" may have stress on the final syllable, so it sounds like
/ɪlɛkˈtrɪsɪti/ rather than the standard stress pattern /ɪˈlɛktrɪsɪti/.
Lexical features
Loanwords: African English incorporates a large number of loanwords from
indigenous languages. These words may relate to cultural concepts, everyday
items, food, clothing, social practices, and more.
Examples:
o "Jollof" (from Yoruba, meaning a type of rice dish).
Semantic Shifts
Many English words in African English take on meanings that may be
different from those in Standard English due to the influence of indigenous
languages.
o Examples:
"Ginger": In some West African varieties, "ginger" can refer
to a kind of energy or drive, as in "She’s full of ginger!"
(meaning she's lively or energetic).
Code switiching
"code-switching," where speakers may mix words or expressions from indigenous
languages with English in the same sentence or conversation.
Examples:
o In Nigerian English: "I will come pick you up later, no wahala." ("No
wahala" is Nigerian Pidgin for "No problem.")
Influence of Globalization
In addition to indigenous language influences, African English has also been
shaped by the influence of other global languages, such as Arabic, French,
Portuguese, and even other varieties of English.
"Vibes": Derived from American English, but with a unique meaning in African
English, "vibes" can refer to the atmosphere, mood, or feelings in a situation.
Example: "The party had good vibes!"
Morphological features:
1. Use of Reduplication
Reduplication is a common morphological feature in African English, often
derived from indigenous languages where it can be used for emphasis, plurality, or
intensification.
Examples:
"Small-small" (meaning little by little or gradually, especially in Nigerian
English).
o Example: "I will learn this small-small."
. 2. Compound Words and Hybrid Terms
Due to the blending of local languages and English, African English frequently
uses compound words and hybrid terms.
"Chop money" (West African English): Meaning to eat or spend money, derived
from the verb "chop" (to eat).
3. Lexical Borrowing and Word Formation
African English regularly borrows from indigenous languages, creating words or
phrases unique to the African context.
Examples:
"Baba" (used widely in Nigeria and Ghana): Borrowed from Yoruba, it
means "father" or a term of respect.
Use of "go" as a future marker: In many African English varieties, "go" is used
as a future marker, sometimes replacing more complex future tense constructions.
Example: "I go carry the bag" (meaning "I will carry the bag").
Elision of Function Words
In informal speech, certain auxiliary verbs, prepositions, and articles may be
omitted, often influenced by the structure of local languages.
o Example: "I go market" instead of "I am going to the market."
Syntactic features:
Simplified Agreement: In some African English varieties, there is a tendency to
treat collective nouns or even singular subjects as plural, leading to non-standard
subject-verb agreement.
Example 1: "The team are playing well" instead of "The team is playing
well."
Use of "No" for Negation
In African English, "no" is often used for negation, functioning in place of
auxiliary verbs like "do" and "not."
Examples:
o "She no go" (instead of "She does not go").
Absence of Articles ("A," "An," "The")
In some African English varieties, articles (definite and indefinite) are omitted,
particularly in informal speech or certain dialects.
Examples:
o "I went market" instead of "I went to the market."
Questions without Auxiliary Verbs
In African English, questions may be formed without the use of auxiliary verbs,
which is a syntactic pattern influenced by many African languages. This is a
distinctive feature in varieties like Nigerian English and Ghanaian English.
Examples:
o "You go come?" (instead of "Will you come?")
Double Negation
In African English, double negation is often used as a way of emphasizing
negation, a phenomenon known as negative concord.
Examples:
o "I no go no more" (meaning "I am not going anymore").
