Variation according to context in a second language : a study into the effects of formality on the English used by Ghanaian university students
The present study focuses on interpersonal relationships as one of the most important sources of contextual variation in the English of Ghanaian University students. The assumption being made is that a well-established variety is one that shows linguistic variation in the wide range of contexts in which it is used (Kachru 1983). When a non-native variety attains this status, it is no longer appropriate to look at it as an interlanguage or of a deviant form of native English (NE). Previous studies have suggested, however, that the salient features of Ghanaian English (GE) include deviations from native norms, general over-formality and unusual lexical items and expressions. Thus the null hypothesis is that GE lacks contextual variation. Chapter 1 is a discussion of the historical and social background to the use of English in Ghana and claims that English is now used in a wider range of contexts including both institutionalised and non-institutionalised domains. This is followed by a review of the related studies (Ch. 2) and a discussion of the sociolinguistic approach adopted in the investigation of formality (Ch. 3). A preliminary study (Ch. 4) conducted to test the null hypothesis and to establish the most
Owusu-Ansah, L. K.
Variation according to context in a second language : a study into the effects of formality on the English used by Ghanaian university students. The present study focuses on interpersonal relationships as one of the most important sources of contextual variation in the English of Ghanaian University students. The assumption being made is that a well-established variety is one that shows linguistic variation in the wide range of contexts in which it is used (Kachru 1983). When a non-native variety attains this status, it is no longer appropriate to look at it as an interlanguage or of a deviant form of native English (NE). Previous studies have suggested, however, that the salient features of Ghanaian English (GE) include deviations from native norms, general over-formality and unusual lexical items and expressions. Thus the null hypothesis is that GE lacks contextual variation. Chapter 1 is a discussion of the historical and social background to the use of English in Ghana and claims that English is now used in a wider range of contexts including both institutionalised and non-institutionalised domains. This is followed by a review of the related studies (Ch. 2) and a discussion of the sociolinguistic approach adopted in the investigation of formality (Ch. 3). A preliminary study (Ch. 4) conducted to test the null hypothesis and to establish the most
variation accord context second_language study effect formality english use university_student present_study focus interpersonal relationship one_important source contextual variation english university student assumption_make well_established variety show linguistic_variation wide_range context use non_native variety status long appropriate look interlanguage deviant form native_english previous_study suggest however salient_feature english include deviation native norm general over formality unusual lexical_item expression thus null hypothesis lack contextual variation discussion historical social_background use english ghana claim english use wide_range context include institutionalised non institutionalised domain follow review relate study discussion sociolinguistic adopt investigation formality preliminary study conduct test null hypothesis establish