The subjects on phonology

Gut deals with the phonological features of L2 English in Nigeria. In such a vast territory with about 500 languages, it is likely that several Englishes coexist: Gut summarizes her own research as well as that of others according to region and the major regional languages – Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. She also summarizes her important investigations into suprasegmental phonology, with the analysis of tone being a major challenge for any student of English in Africa. Elugbe’s article focuses on Pidgin English in Nigeria, one of the fastest growing languages in West Africa. This study offers the opportunity of examining whether the same features of L2 phonology of Nigerian English co-exist in the pidgin, including features of stress and tone. Huber describes the phonology of Ghanaian English, affording opportunities of comparing features of English in a country which prides itself on its education system and in the teaching of English with that of other West African varieties. Huber contributes on Pidgin English in Ghana. We will show the overlap between pidgin and L2 English phonology in West Africa. Singler’s article on Liberian Settler English phonology introduces the sound system of a variety whose origins lie in the speech of slaves who were returned from the American South in the 19^th century to found the state of Liberia. Together with Krio, Liberian Settler English is important for its influence on pidgins that developed independently in West Africa. It is also important for historical studies of African American English, since the two varieties are so closely linked. The last two contributions on West Africa are Bobda’s comprehensive examination of Cameroon English phonology and Menang’s account of the phonology of Kamtok, the name he prefers for Cameroon Pidgin English. His focus is on the reductions to the English vowel system evident in the pidgin.

East Africa is represented by the article by Schmied, which focuses on the similarities between the English varieties spoken in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. South Africa presents special challenges to the descriptive linguist, since several types of English are encountered: ENL, ESL and language-shift varieties. The policy of apartheid created relatively rigid boundaries around people, their languages and dialects. It was accordingly felt that a description of the four major varieties according to ethnicity was preferable to any other forms of segmentation.

Bowerman describes White South Africa English, tracing its roots in Southern British dialects and describing subsequent influences arising either spontaneously or out of contact with Afrikaans. He also briefly points to its relation with other Southern Hemisphere Englishes in Australia and New Zealand. Van Rooy outlines the main phonological features of Black South African English, now a major player in post-apartheid broadcasting, business etc. The article affords significant grounds of comparison with other varieties of English in Africa. Mesthrie provides a description of the phonology of Indian South African English, which had previously been studied mainly for its syntax. Finn provides a detailed description of the phonology of Cape Flats English, the variety spoken by people formerly classified “colored” in Cape Town and its environs. His paper details the balance between (a) (British and South African) English dialect features, (b) second language interlanguage forms adapted, rather than deriving directly, from English-Afrikaans bilingualism and (c) some spontaneous innovations in the variety.

Wilson provides an overview of the phonology of St Helena English, a variety showing links to British dialects as well as to English-based Creoles.

Gargesh provides an overview of the phonology of Indian English, stressing that it has major regional varieties, especially in the North and South, corresponding to the respective Indic and Dravidian phonological systems. Mahboob and Ahmar describe Pakistani English, which shares many features with the northern varieties of Indian English.

Ahmar’s contribution is followed by three articles on South-east Asian varieties. Lionel Wee describes the phonology of Singaporean English, while Baskaran covers Malaysian English, which has previously been linked with Singapore English on the basis of their common socio-political history. Tayo describes the phonology of Philippines English, which is targeted towards American rather than British English, the only such L2 (non-creole) variety in Africa-Asia.