A DYNAMIC MORPHO-SEMANTIC AND SYNTACTIC STUDY OF LEXICAL INNOVATIONS IN THE DISCOURSE OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND IMPLICATIONS ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examined the dynamic morpho-semantic and syntactic study of lexical innovations in the discourse of covid-19 pandemic and implications on English Language in Nigeria. The study is a descriptive research design of the survey type. Population for the study comprised of 67 English Language teachers   and 2,242 SS2 students in public secondary schools in Ado Local Government Area. The sample for the study was 20 English Language teachers and 20 students selected using simple random sampling technique. A self-designed questionnaire on new words and expressions on COVID-19 to illicit information from the teachers on their level of awareness and teaching of some newly coined words on the language lessons. The questionnairs were validated by relevant experts. The reliability of the instruments was determined through test –retest and Alpha Cronbach reliability method so as to determine the internal consistency of the items and a reliability coefficient of 0.76 were yielded. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive analysis of mean and standard deviation for the research questions raised. The finding of the study revealed that morpho-semantic changes in the English lexicon during the COVID-19 pandemic discourse in Nigeria reflect cultural adaptations and linguistic responses to crisis situations, indicating a dynamic relationship between linguistic evolution and societal context, there is recognition of the adaptive nature of language in response to crises and the positive impact of linguistic innovations on communication and cultural expression within Nigerian English discourse amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the linguistic adaptations and strategies employed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria contribute to the dynamic evolution of language, allowing for effective communication of crisis-related information and the expression of cultural nuances within Nigerian English discourse and social media platforms play a significant role in shaping and disseminating COVID-19-related linguistic adaptations and lexical innovations within Nigerian English discourse, highlighting their influence on language evolution and communication dynamics during times of crisis. It was recommended among others that The government and school authority should provide English language teachers with training on incorporating newly coined words and expressions related to COVID-19 into vocabulary development lessons, enriching students' understanding of language evolution and societal context.