Semantic Extension and Re-duplication in Speeches of Selected Final Year Students of Akwa Ibom State University

Akwa Ibom State University Journal of Arts Volume 6(2)

Abstract

This work sets out to study aspects of semantic extension and re-duplication in speeches of selected students of the Department of English, Akwa Ibom State University. The objective of this research is to identify some long-observed use of Semantic extensions and re-duplication in the student's use of English.The instrument used in collecting data was observation with voice recording from thirty final year students of the Department of English, Akwa Ibom State University, using Purposive Sampling Method to achieve the desired impacts. The study adopts Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar theory, as a framework for analysing the descriptive use of language without following the traditional grammar model which was Prescriptive. The findings revealed that semantic extensions and reduplication are mostly used by the Nigerian speakers to express themselves and show flexibility of the English Language in their immediate environment. Though semantic extension and re-duplication can be used in speech intentionally and unintentionally, the speaker may not know that thewords used express a different meaning. It concludes that semantic extension of a word or sentence occurs to shift away from the dictionary meaning and the repetition of words to create emphasis or to prove a point in a conversation without changing the original intention of the speakers.