13/11/2024
You've studied using English all your life. Why then do you need an English certification to work or study abroad?
English in Nigeria has evolved over time. There was a time when English expressions were considered "Queens English", so the English users in our locality imitated the British tongue. Today, in Nigeria, we speak English differently using the various identified variety of English. These variations is born out of the unique way the language is used in our locality against the evolution of the language as a Global living language.
However, many English users use the language as a vehicle to instruct, bargain, interact online, purchase items, exchange pleasantries, engage in politics, preach, among other private and official spoken and written in*******se through a range of varieties. Banjo, an English scholar, identifies these variations as:
(i) Variety one is spoken by people with elementary school
education and semi-literate people. It is marked by a high rate of negative transfer from the phonological system of the mother tongue and so it is not acceptable even by Nigerians.
(ii) Variety two is spoken by post primary school leavers. In this
variety mother tongue interference is minimal but the speakers
do not make vital phonemic distinctions. The brand is largely
intelligible and nationally acceptable.
(iii) Variety three is associated with university education. The
speakers make vital phonemic distinctions and the variety is
accepted and understood nationally and internationally.
(iv) Variety four is described as being identical with standard British English but is ridiculed in Nigeria for being artificial.
The version of English used in Nigeria is christened Nigerian English. Most of our expression in Nigeria has the local variety and creativity, which leaves much to be desired at the global scale. The International English Testing Systems seek to validate a common understanding using the language which is spoken by over 1.5 Billion people (Statista 2024). The essence of these programmes help the test takers to become more adept with the knowledge and application of English at a global scale..
So, these tests don't test your language use within your locality, but drives your resolve to communicate with it beyond locale boundaries.
Join the English Hub today.