Edited by Alexandra U. Esimaje, Ulrike Gut and Bassey E. Antia
[Studies in Corpus Linguistics 88] 2019
► pp. 331–354
The study examines the use of conjunctions in written texts by Nigerian university learners. It uses the corpus-based method and instruments to compare the Nigerian Learner English Corpus (NLEC)’s use of conjunctions to their native counterparts in Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays (LOCNESS). The analysis shows additive conjunctions have the highest frequency of use by the two learner groups, while causal, adversative and temporal conjunctions have below average usage. The learners repeatedly used particular conjunctions and underused others within the same category. The study concludes that the advanced learners do not display the optimal awareness of the various alternative conjunctive items available within the different groups to create stylistic variation in their texts for enhanced cohesion and overall coherence.