LINGUISTIC INVENTIVENESS AND LEXICOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ENGLISH CORPORA IN THE POLITICS OF GRAMMAR NEWSPAPER COLUMNS

Abstract

From the first published English Dictionary till today, words formation and inclusion into the dictionary subsequently follows a pattern that new words has to be socially accepted within a system and its meaning cut across significant numbers of users. Apart from native English speakers, English words also emanate from second Language speaking countries like the America and Nigeria. This study examines to what extent are words invented from Nigeria get acceptable into the English lexicon and  global English linguistic copra as it's happens to American invented words? Using The Politics of Grammar column in Daily Trust newspaper in Nigeria, the study found that there are newly invented words by Nigerians which expand the semantic boundaries of conventional and phone communication in Nigeria. As newly invented words like unfriend, sexting, funemployed deleb found their ways into the American linguistic copra, so also Nigerians expects words like flash, sequeal, co-wife or co-wives, naming ceremony, chewing stick, pounded yam disvirgin to be added to lexicon of English copra as a result of their general acceptability and long usage over time. With the orthodox nature of native English reservation which leads to the invention of second language English Dictionary in America, Nigerian English coinage, blend and neologism can only be documented if they are accepted as conventional to us. The study recommends the need for Nigerian English Dictionary for documentation of words invented in this part of the world.