LEXICAL CONVERGENCE IN LANGUAGE CONTACTS: THE STUDY OF BORROWING

The foundational section of the research establishes the conceptual basis for investigating the phenomenon of lexical convergence resulting from language contact, with specific focus on lexical borrowing. This research study explores the lexical convergence of English language with Nigeria languages which references was made to Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and some other ethnic languages, examining the role and significance of lexical convergence in language contact. The research is premised on the observation that language contact is a universal process, the Nigerian environment defined by its colonial history, multilingualism, and rapid globalization that provides a unique setting for examining the direction, extent, and implication of lexical transfer. 6 Using a theoretical approach, this study was embodied with necessary theoretical foundations. It grounds the study in Contact Linguistics Theory (weinreich), which addresses linguistic interference, and Borrowing Theory (Thomason & Kaufman), which distinguishes between lexical and structural borrowing and emphasizes the role of social prestige and power dynamics in the transfer process. Ultimately, the review identifies some significant gaps in the literature, specifically the lack of detailed analysis on the long-term impact of borrowing on specific indigenous Nigerian languages, thus justifying the empirical necessity of the current research