Partitivity Markers and Negation: Genitive Case and Language Structure in Nigerian English

Abstract

Nigeria’s rich linguistic diversity presents both opportunities and challenges in professional environments. This, this research examines the interaction between partitivity markers and negation in Nigerian English, with a focus on genitive case constructions. It applies Kachru's (1985) theory of World Englishes, focusing on the global spread of English and its cultural and linguistic adaptations, to analyze partitivity markers, negation, and genitive case constructions in Nigerian English. It highlights how English has been adapted to fit Nigeria's unique sociolinguistic and cultural environment. Data is collected from written and spoken sources, including newspapers, social media, academic texts, and recorded conversations, alongside semi-structured interviews with speakers from diverse backgrounds. The study finds that partitivity markers like "some" and "any" indicate subsets, frequently interacting with negation and combining with genitive case to express partiality or absence. The analysis shows dominance of markers like "of" and "some," the use of concise genitive constructions, and negation that emphasizes action. This study Concludes that Nigerian English is characterized by its adaptability and functional precision, providing valuable insights for language education and scholarly exploration Received: 29 June 2025 / Accepted: 24 August 2025 / Published: 12 September 2025