Otherness and cultural conceptualisations of Gender and Social Class in Nigerian English

Abstract

Studies of varieties of English have focused on cultural conceptualisations in different varieties, showing how these are deeply rooted in culture. Likewise, several other studies have reported discourses of otherness. This study is an exploration of the intersection of these two concepts – otherness and conceptualisations. Using data from Nigerian English, the study demonstrates how othering and categorisations could derive from cultural conceptualisations of Gender and Social Class. The study discusses selected Nigerian English expressions from the data and offers explanations on how their construction and usage for otherness can be said to derive from cultural conceptualisations. The findings reveal an antipodal portrayal of women as agents with capacity to control men, deprive other women of their husbands, nurture and provide for the society. Cultural conceptualisations of social class based on possessions, diet, experience, locations and how these variables serve as the bases for otherness are equally discussed.