- Recently, the Oxford English Dictionary, OED listed 22 Nigerian into its vocabulary
- Kingsley Ugwuanyi, OED consultant who contributed into the project x-rayed it all happened
- He explained socioeconomic, cultural impacts of the listing, assuring Nigerians that more is to come
Few days into January 2025, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) officially included 22 Nigerian words in its latest update to showcase the vibrant creativity and cultural richness of Nigeria’s language.
The update was announced on LinkedIn by Dr Kingsley Ugwuanyi, World Englishes/Nigerian English Consultant to the OED who stated that the latest addition reflects the unique ways Nigerians express themselves and the growing influence of Nigerian English on global linguistics.
These new words include 419, Abi, Adire, Agbero, Area Boy, Cross-carpet, Cross-carpeting and Eba.
Others include Edo, Gele, Jand (noun), Jand (verb), Janded, Japa (noun), Japa (verb), Kanuri, Kobo, Naija, Suya, Yahoo, Yahoo Boy and Yarn Dust.
In his announcement, Dr Ugwuanyi shared his excitement saying, “The wait is over! I’m thrilled to announce that the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has officially published its latest updates, featuring an amazing collection of Nigerian English words that beautifully reflect Nigeria’s culture, creativity, and the unique ways we express ourselves as Nigerians.”
However, WITHIN NIGERIA tracked Dr. Ugwuanyi to London where he is currently on research leave and had an exclusive interview with him. Dr. Ugwuanyi narrated the tortuous journey towards the success of this publication of Nigerian words, explaining that he hoped more are yet to come.
Excerpts
Let me start by asking you, who is Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi?
Well I am an English language expert if you like. I am a teacher. I teach at the University of Nigeria in the department of English Literary studies in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I am a senior lecturer in the department.
However, currently I’m on research leave because I am undertaking a research fellowship at SOAS University of London. So, that is where I’m based at the moment and as you probably know, I also do consult for the OED and their Nigerian English words on Nigerian English word as well as other African words especially West African and West African English words. So that is in summary I am just on research interests especially on word English, or what we call Words English. Specifically I study Nigerian English and I want to look at apart from the emergency of new words and looking at people’s attitudes towards Nigerian English. Yeah, that’s what I have been studying all this year. So, I think that’s just the summary of who I am.
How did these Nigerian words get into Oxford English Dictionary?
I have talked about this in many platforms and I will just say that the OED actually aims to tell a complete story of the English language and by that they want to capture in the English language as it is used in the world. So, they don’t just want to tell the story of English language as it is used in the UK or in the US or other traditional centres of English like Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the rest.
They also want to tell the story of English language as it is used in the other parts of the world like Nigeria, Ghana or Singapore or Jamaica.
So, what happens is that the OED has at its disposal, a range of tools. One of them is called the Oxford English COPOS. This is a database containing written texts and spoken texts written in English language appearing from all over the world. There is also another one that chronicles words written on newspapers. So, what happens is that on daily basis, it updates words from newspapers from about twenty countries across the world. So, using these tools, or these corporal, so when words pop up in this corporal, the OED editors will have a look at these words, make a list of them and begin to look at context in which these words are used.
They also look at meaning and draft tentative meanings or definitions, if you like. They also look at the history of the words. And they come to people. They come to consultant like us and because we have extra advantage of speaking the language in question, the English language. So, we begin to look at these words; what do they mean, how long have they been used, are they being used across the length and breadth of the country? Is it a word that most Nigerians will understand what it means?
And once the word takes all of these boxes, it is drafted and goes into rigorous editorial and lexicographical process in which different departments at OED look at it; the pronunciation, the definition, the history and all of that. This is dictionary making. It is not just about meaning. We look at a whole lots of things; meaning, history, context. We also look at whether the word is formal or informal and all of that.
As a Nigerian, and of course one who helped in the fruition of this project, how does this make you feel?
Well, of course it makes me feel very proud. First as a Nigerian, my country. And also I am proud of my own work and contribution. I am also proud of the OED and what they have done.
Like I have said many times in many platforms, it is not just about me working on this, consulting for OED on this. It is about, there is a team. You can imagine how many editors that worked on a particular word.
Before a word goes through the process of being published, it could go through many tables of different editors. So, then, it is something that makes me very proud because Nigeria is being announced globally as a result of this. It is being put visibly in the global map of English language. So, it is something that distinguishes us and promotes our identity as Nigerians. Not just as Nigeria but across the globe. Of course we know the reputation of OED, a very prestigious dictionary. And when these words appear on OED, they come with a lot of significance. So, when these words appear in the dictionary, it makes me feel proud. I am also sure that feedback I got from many Nigerians, it makes us feel very proud.
What are the social, economic and cultural impacts of this listing of Nigerian words into OED?
Well, socially I didn’t want to use the word validation. Of course is not telling us what to speak. Dictionary just recognizes that these words are in use. So, but that recognition is something that comes with social value. For instance, sometimes some people will tell you why will you say japa? Just say migrate, or travel overseas. But, there is a cultural meaning which japa carries which ordinary English words like migrate or travel abroad might not carry. The meaning is unique.
Then when Nigerian English begins to contribute to the widening and ever widening vocabulary of English language, it is something we should be proud of ourselves as Nigerians, and it comes with a lot of social and cultural impacts because we are selling. Other people across the world reading about suya, reading about mamaput, when they come to Nigeria, they will like to test suya. And I so much described suya when I was talking with one of the editors, I said it was one of my best snacks, so to speak. So, he told me when next you travel to Nigeria, bring me some suya. And that is it. We are selling our culture, our identity to the rest of the world by this. Does it have economic impacts? Yes, because for example, it creates opportunities, it creates recognition. And of course you can see that when big cooperation like Microsoft, like Google are listing varieties of English, they beckon on us. They list Nigeria. They list Nigerian English. They can also consult those who are doing this in Nigerian English space to give them some contributions. So, it does have a lot of social, cultural and economic impacts on Nigerians.
Does an individual or say ordinary Nigerian have any chance to make contribution of words to be listed in OED?
The answer is straight yes. You can make contribution.
What are the processes involved in this?
The OED has a short form in their website. In that form, you can just list the words or any word you feel can be added. You mention it, you mention the reason why you think it should be added. Give the definition. And give example of how this word is used or a source that has used this word. That is one way.
However, there is no guarantee that when you suggest, it must be taken. But imagine that a particular word has been suggested by one thousand Nigerians at different points. That is actually sending a strong message to the OED that this word is actually important and that they should add it. They won’t just add it. They will do their own due diligence, make their own research. Alright, but then you are sending a message. So, yes everybody has a say. OED is becoming more inclusive. More public-facing. But this is actually one way of making people contribute to the work they are doing.
What words are we currently looking out for to appear in the OED in the near future?
(Chuckles) Like I have said elsewhere, I do not have the only say about which words will appear and which words will not appear. I do not know, it could be possible I will say this word will appear, then the word doesn’t appear in the end. So it is just for us as Nigerians to be on the look out. The truth is that this is an ongoing project. And OED seems more resolved. I will say seems more passionate about it. More and more Nigerian words will be added but I am not in a position to say yes this word will be added and this one will not be added. When and and what time. But all I can say is that we are still working on more words and more will be added in due time.
As a contributor to the acceptance of these words in OED, how does this make you feel vis-a-vis the notion that Nigeria is not all that regarded as good English speaking country?
I cant say really that Nigeria is not regarded as a good English speaking country. What does good mean? Good is a relative term. I think Nigerians generally speak good English. The word good is a value judgement. And what is good for one may not be good to other. So, the kind of English or the variety of English spoken by any country is good to them.
And should be good to all. But then again, this development happening with Nigerian English appearing in the OED is also something that continues to popularize the version of English we speak. So, certainly it is a good development and step in the right direction.
In your own observation, which country in Africa has its indigenous words, so to speak gained my more acceptance in OED?
I don’t have the statistics. Really I do not have the statistics but I strongly believe. I have worked on few other varieties. I strongly believe that Nigeria has the highest number. Of course you know the position of Nigeria, the status of Nigeria in Africa. In terms of population, Nigeria is the most populous black country in the world. So, that has a thing to contribute. And Nigerians travel a lot too. So, Nigerians are known all over the world and that contributes also to the growth of our English. So, I think it is something. I would think that Nigeria has the highest number in Africa but I don’t have the exact statistics, so I can’t speak for certainty.
Lastly, we want you to rate the standard of Written and Oral English in Nigeria?
I really don’t know what you mean by rating it. But, if you are thinking about the standard of the spoken English or written English in terms of comparing what people speak and use. For example, what we find in public examinations, there is a whole lot of difference. This is because most of our public examinations like NECO, WAEC, JAMB are still patterned after British English. But, the earlier we begin to accept our own form of English, our own kind of English, the better for us. This is because I have argued somewhere that one of the reasons why Nigerian children perform badly, so to speak in English is that the kind of English, the model of English, the variety of English they are tested in, they are expected to write in NECO, WAEC and JAMB all of those public examinations is completely different from the variety of English that they know and use and they are familiar with. So, if they are tested with the variety of English they are familiar with, they are likely to do better. This is what I think.