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Resumo

This study explores the influences that the Izon language manifests in the syntax of the English of Izon (Nigerian) speakers and makes a clear distinction between the influences that result in errors and those that result in permissible local variations, which indicates that the idea of treating all variations in the syntax of Nigerian English as errors is misleading. To achieve this, the various Izon influences reflected in the syntax of Nigerian English are grouped and subjected to a rigorous acceptability test based on appropriateness, grammaticality, intelligibility and widespread usage. The findings reveal that there are acceptable local variations among the departures caused by the influence of the Nigerian languages on the syntax of Nigerian English and, thus, it is wrong and misleading to condemn, as indeed many have often done, all the local Nigerian influences reflected in the syntax of Nigerian English as errors. Some of these local influences should, because of their appropriateness, grammaticality, intelligibility and widespread usage among educated people, especially in the Izon (Nigerian) setting, be accepted as variations, since the syntax of English in Nigeria's multilingual/multicultural setting is bound to show permissible local variation in use.

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