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In:New Englishes, New Methods:
Edited by Guyanne Wilson and Michael Westphal
[Varieties of English Around the World G68] 2023
► pp. 158–177

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Acceptability Judgement Tasks in New Englishes research

Focus on acrolectal Nigerian English

ORCiD logo with link | University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Published online: 14 April 2023
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/veaw.g68.08ugw
Abstract
Acceptability Judgement Tasks have been utilized in many areas of linguistics for a long time, and they are particularly useful in New Englishes contexts in measuring which local forms of English are acceptable to users. In light of this, this chapter examines the acceptability of Nigerian English (NigE) features using Acceptability Judgement Tasks. This study’s overarching goal is to show how NigE speakers’ acceptability ratings of and acceptability discourse about features of NigE index their orientations towards this variety and its characteristic features. The discussion of this analysis shows that it is beneficial to analyze the data emerging from Acceptability Judgement Tasks in both quantitative and qualitative ways.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background
    • 2.1English in Nigeria
    • 2.2Acceptability of New Englishes
    • 2.3The acceptability judgement task as a methodological approach
    • 2.4The acceptability judgement task and English language ownership
  • 3.Data and method
    • 3.1Aims
    • 3.2The pilot study
    • 3.3The participants
    • 3.4Design and administration of the AJT
    • 3.5Data analysis
  • 4.Results and discussion
    • 4.1Quantitative analysis of acceptability of NigE features
    • 4.2Qualitative findings
      • 4.2.1Evidence from individual linguistic repertoires
      • 4.2.2Use of pronouns
      • 4.2.3Use of modality
  • 5.The methodological affordances of the AJT
  • References
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