Grammatical and lexico-semantic adaptation of fixed expressions in the Nigerian English media discourse
This article explores the characteristics distinctive to fixed expressions used in the Nigerian English media discourse. The general extent to which traditional British and American English fixed expressions are transformed under the conditions of media bilingualism in Nigerian English was determined. Using a comparative analysis, the most and least common types of grammatical and lexico-semantic transformations were established. Inverted word order and the omission of articles and prepositions were identified as the most typical grammatical transformations. Lexical substitution and noticeable shifts in meaning compared with standard English usage were found to be the most frequent lexico-semantic transformations. The results show that Nigerian English media often incorporate fixed expressions from autochthonous languages in order to better describe the local lifestyle. The conclusion reached is that the grammatical and lexicosemantic adaptation of fixed expressions in the Nigerian English media discourse is driven by the need to follow Nigerian cultural norms and by the interference of indigenous Nigerian languages.