A Cognitive Semantic Study of Some Colour Influenced Expressions in Nigerian English Usage

This paper studies the use of colour influenced terms in some Nigerianisms. Using a Conceptual Theory of Metonymy, it was found that the motivation behind using a colour term in such usages arises from what Steinvall (2002) calls 'type modification'. Generally, Berlin and Kay’s (1969) Basic Colour Terms feature in uniquely Nigerian expressions. Metonymy as a cognitive process explains the semantic extensions of some colour terms involved. These extensions of meaning could yield to forming figurative expressions, for example, black axe. The main metonymic process that yields the semantic productivity of colours in Nigerian English usage is the PART-WHOLE relation where the colour of an entity is used to stand for the entity itself These yields expressions such as blue to denote a particular type of powder. Sometimes entity names are used instead of a colour term itself and consequently extensions of meaning are projected (e.g. oylnbo pepper and Fantaface, Coca Cola leg).