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ENG854Arts3 Unitsintermediate

English Language In West Africa

This course explores the nature and functions of English in West Africa. It introduces the historical context of English's arrival and its evolution within the sub-region. Students will learn about the grammar, phonology, and pedagogical issues surrounding English in West Africa. The course also examines language planning and policies, and the sociocultural roles English plays in West African development, providing a comprehensive understanding of English within the West African context.

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208h

Study Time

13

Weeks

16h

Per Week

none

Math Level

Course Keywords

West African EnglishSociolinguisticsLanguage ContactPidginCreole

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level

Builds on foundational knowledge

65%

intermediate

📚

Math Level

No Math

📖

Learning Type

Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

History of English in West Africa

2

Language Contact

3

Pidgin and Creole languages

4

West African English Phonology

5

West African English Grammar

6

Language Planning and Policy

7

Sociolinguistics

8

Colonial and Postcolonial Influences

Total Topics8 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

English Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Linguist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Translator

Apply your skills in this growing field

Journalist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Communications Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

EducationMediaGovernmentInternational RelationsPublishing

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week

1

Module 1: The History of English in West Africa

6h

Unit 1: A Brief History of English in West Africa

3 study hours

•Read Unit 1: A Brief History of English in Africa, focusing on the events that led to the introduction of English in West Africa.
•Identify key figures and periods in the history of English in West Africa.
•Research further on the contributions of trade, religion, and politics to the rise of English.

Unit 2: The Language Situation in West Africa

3 study hours

•Study Unit 2: The Language Situation in West Africa, paying attention to the interaction between English and West African languages.
•Identify the effects of English on West African languages and their users.
•Distinguish between English in West Africa and West African English.

Week

2

Module 1: The History of English in West Africa

8h

Unit 3: The Colonial West Africa and the English Language

4 study hours

•Read Unit 3: The Colonial West Africa and the English Language, focusing on the impact of colonialism on the functions of English.
•Identify colonial experiences that entrenched English in West Africa.
•Evaluate the effect of colonialism on the social life of West Africans.

Unit 4: The Nature of English and Indigenous Languages in Contact in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 4: The Nature of English and Indigenous Languages in Contact in West Africa, focusing on the consequences of language contact.
•Identify how indigenous languages have affected the English language and its use.
•Discuss the effects of globalization on the English language.

Week

3

Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa

4h

Unit 1: An Overview of English and Social Interaction in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 1: An Overview of English and Social Interaction in West Africa, focusing on the nature of social interaction.
•Explain the various domains and layers of social interaction.
•Discuss the role of English in fostering social interaction.

Week

4

Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa

4h

Unit 2: English and Politics in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 2: English and Politics in West Africa, focusing on the role of English in West African politics.
•Discuss the effectiveness of English in performing its role in politics.
•Analyze the power play in politics and the use of English.

Week

5

Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa

4h

Unit 3: English and Commerce in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 3: English and Commerce in West Africa, focusing on the role of English in negotiations and advertising.
•Explain the importance of commerce in West Africa.
•Discuss the role of English in negotiations and advertising.

Week

6

Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa

4h

Unit 4: English and Migration in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 4: English and Migration in West Africa, focusing on the factors responsible for migration.
•Explain the role of the English language in the movement of persons in the English-speaking territories of West Africa.
•Discuss the impact of migration on the use of English.

Week

7

Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa

4h

Unit 5: English and Language Planning in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 5: English and Language Planning in West Africa, focusing on the issues in language planning and policy making.
•State the language policy direction with regards to the role of English in the educational curriculum in West Africa.
•Evaluate the overall developmental objectives of the continued dominance of English in West African states.

Week

8

Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology

4h

Unit 1: The English Segments and West African Languages

4 study hours

•Study Unit 1: The English Segments and West African Languages, focusing on the English segments and their differences from West African languages.
•Explain how the knowledge of the English sounds can help the development of meaning.
•Discuss how the English sound segments show differences in the meaning of the sounds of West African languages.

Week

9

Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology

4h

Unit 2: The English Suprasegments and the West African Languages

4 study hours

•Study Unit 2: The English Suprasegments and the West African Languages, focusing on stress in English and the West African languages.
•Identify the causes and implications of prosodic deviance.
•Analyze deviant stress placement in West African English.

Week

10

Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology

4h

Unit 3: Speech in English in West African Languages

4 study hours

•Study Unit 3: Speech in English in West African Languages, focusing on the English language in the public domain.
•Explain the domains of English usage in West Africa.
•Discuss speech in English as skilled work in a non-native context.

Week

11

Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology

4h

Unit 4: Teaching and Learning English Phonology in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 4: Teaching and Learning English Phonology in West Africa, focusing on the impediments to effective teaching/learning in phonology.
•Discuss Saussaure's competence vs. performance perspective.
•Identify ways to improve the teaching/learning of English phonology.

Week

12

Module 4: The Nature of English in West Africa II: Grammar

8h

Unit 1: A Brief Description of West African English Grammar

4 study hours

•Study Unit 1: A Brief Description of West African English Grammar, focusing on the meaning of grammar.
•Identify peculiar usages and prepositional usage in West African English.
•Differentiate between West African English and World Englishes.

Unit 2: Morphological Issues around West African English

4 study hours

•Study Unit 2: Morphological Issues around West African English, focusing on the meaning of morphology.
•Identify peculiar usage in West African English morphology.
•Identify word formation processes in West African English.

Week

13

Module 5: Researching English in West Africa

8h

Unit 3: Some Problems of Use of English

4 study hours

•Study Unit 3: Some Problems of Use of English, focusing on problems in word classes.
•Identify problem areas in concord/agreement.
•Identify problem areas in sentence construction.

Unit 1: Colonial and Postcolonial Debates on English in West Africa

4 study hours

•Study Unit 1: Colonial and Postcolonial Debates on English in West Africa, focusing on the debates on English in West Africa.
•Explain the technical terms used in the discourse of West African English.
•Make contributions to the debate on West African English.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create a timeline of key events in the history of English in West Africa, focusing on the factors that influenced its spread and development.

2

Develop flashcards for key terms related to sociolinguistics, phonology, and grammar, including examples from West African English.

3

Practice transcribing West African English speech samples to improve your understanding of phonological variations.

4

Analyze examples of written West African English to identify common grammatical deviations and their potential impact on meaning.

5

Formulate arguments for and against the standardization of West African English, considering the perspectives of different stakeholders.

6

Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and focus on areas where you struggled to apply the concepts.

7

Create concept maps linking the different modules, showing how language contact, pidginization, and nativization have shaped West African English.

8

Practice code-switching between Standard English and West African English to develop your ability to navigate different linguistic contexts.

9

Research current language policies in West African countries and evaluate their effectiveness in promoting multilingualism and linguistic diversity.

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