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In:Corpus Linguistics and African Englishes
Edited by Alexandra U. Esimaje, Ulrike Gut and Bassey E. Antia
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 88] 2019
► pp. 331–354

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Chapter 3.1
A corpus-based analysis of conjunctive cohesion in English essays of Nigerian university learners

 | North-West University
Published online: 13 February 2019
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/scl.88.14iya
Abstract
The study examines the use of conjunctions in written texts by Nigerian university learners. It uses the corpus-based method and instruments to compare the Nigerian Learner English Corpus (NLEC)’s use of conjunctions to their native counterparts in Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays (LOCNESS). The analysis shows additive conjunctions have the highest frequency of use by the two learner groups, while causal, adversative and temporal conjunctions have below average usage. The learners repeatedly used particular conjunctions and underused others within the same category. The study concludes that the advanced learners do not display the optimal awareness of the various alternative conjunctive items available within the different groups to create stylistic variation in their texts for enhanced cohesion and overall coherence.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Conjunctions
  • 3.Studies on the use of conjunctions in ESL/EFL learners’ academic writing
  • 4.Methodology
    • 4.1Corpus linguistics approach
    • 4.2Corpora
    • 4.3Corpus search
    • 4.4Statistical analysis
  • 5.Analysis and results
    • 5.1Overall results
    • 5.2Subcategories of conjunctive cohesion results
      • 5.2.1Additive conjunctions
      • 5.2.2Causal conjunctions
      • 5.2.3Adversative conjunctions
      • 5.2.4Temporal conjunctions
  • 6.Discussion of results
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • References
References (70)
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Jowitt, David & Kingsley O. Ugwuanyi
2025. Nigerian English research: Developments and directions. World Englishes DOI logo

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