English Language In West Africa
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 175 pages
- 17 units
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.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 208 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ENG854, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ENG854 · Unit 2 The Language Situation in West Africa
In the Standard British English, the plural form of the definite article only reflects in the noun that it qualifies, as in: “The apples”. However, in the Pidgin, the plural is expressed through the inclusion of the lexical item “dem”, as in : “diappledem”.
What you should be able to do
- Discuss the historical development of English in West Africa.
- Analyze the impact of language contact on English and indigenous languages.
- Identify and describe the phonological and grammatical features of West African English.
- Evaluate language planning strategies in West Africa.
- Apply sociolinguistic principles to understand language use in West African communities.
- Critically assess the role of English in West African society and culture.
What it prepares you for
- English Teacher
- Linguist
- Translator
- Journalist
- Communications Officer
- Education
- Media
- Government
- International Relations
- Publishing
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology
Unit 1: The English Segments and West African Languages
Requires understanding of articulatory phonetics and the complex interaction between English and various West African languages, demanding careful attention to subtle phonetic differences.
- Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology
Unit 2: The English Suprasegments and the West African Languages
Understanding stress-timed rhythm and intonation patterns requires extensive listening practice and awareness of subtle variations in pronunciation across different dialects.
- Module 4: The Nature of English in West Africa II: Grammar
Unit 3: Some Problems of Use of English
Requires distinguishing between Standard English grammar rules and common deviations in West African English, demanding careful analysis of sentence structure and word usage.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 66 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: The History of English in West Africa
Unit 1: A Brief History of English in West Africa · 3 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 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 2Module 1: The History of English in West Africa
Unit 3: The Colonial West Africa and the English Language · 4 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 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 3Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa
Unit 1: An Overview of English and Social Interaction in West Africa · 4 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 4Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa
Unit 2: English and Politics in West Africa · 4 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 5Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa
Unit 3: English and Commerce in West Africa · 4 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 6Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa
Unit 4: English and Migration in West Africa · 4 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 7Module 2: English and Social Interaction in West Africa
Unit 5: English and Language Planning in West Africa · 4 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 8Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology
Unit 1: The English Segments and West African Languages · 4 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 9Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology
Unit 2: The English Suprasegments and the West African Languages · 4 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 10Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology
Unit 3: Speech in English in West African Languages · 4 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 11Module 3: The Nature of English in West Africa I: Phonology
Unit 4: Teaching and Learning English Phonology in West Africa · 4 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 12Module 4: The Nature of English in West Africa II: Grammar
Unit 1: A Brief Description of West African English Grammar · 4 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 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 13Module 5: Researching English in West Africa
Unit 3: Some Problems of Use of English · 4 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 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..
Preparing for the exam
- Create a timeline of key events in the history of English in West Africa, focusing on the factors that influenced its spread and development.
- Develop flashcards for key terms related to sociolinguistics, phonology, and grammar, including examples from West African English.
- Practice transcribing West African English speech samples to improve your understanding of phonological variations.
- Analyze examples of written West African English to identify common grammatical deviations and their potential impact on meaning.
- Formulate arguments for and against the standardization of West African English, considering the perspectives of different stakeholders.
- Review all Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs) and focus on areas where you struggled to apply the concepts.
- Create concept maps linking the different modules, showing how language contact, pidginization, and nativization have shaped West African English.
- Practice code-switching between Standard English and West African English to develop your ability to navigate different linguistic contexts.
- Research current language policies in West African countries and evaluate their effectiveness in promoting multilingualism and linguistic diversity.
Questions students ask about this course
What is ENG854 about?
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.
How many units does ENG854 have?
ENG854, English Language In West Africa, has 17 units across 5 modules, over 175 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ENG854?
ENG854 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is ENG854 hard?
ENG854 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does ENG854 take to study?
About 208 hours of study, spread across its 17 units.
How is ENG854 assessed?
ENG854 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with ENG854?
English Teacher, Linguist, Translator, Journalist and Communications Officer.