On 19 November 2026, IFRA-Nigeria is pleased to have Dr Laura Goudet, Université de Rouen and French Academic Institute, for a methodological seminar exploring lexicographical research on English-speaking Nigeria and the methods used to study Nigerian English and Pidgin dictionaries.
Lexicographical research on English-speaking Nigeria may come with unusual or surprising methods; apart from the main corpus made of books published by reliable canals and sources, a substantial number of “grey publications” (i.e. self-published on Amazon, or other disputable sources are made available to an undiscerning (or ignorant) Westerner audience.
This seminar will address dictionary expectations, as set by the lexicographical traditions of “Inner Circle” English (as defined by Kachru as norm-defining), found in the Oxford English Dictionary or the Merriam-Webster, and how similar or different Nigerian English or Pidgin dictionaries compare with these traditions.
Dr Goudet will also present the textometric tools used in her research and show how the modelization of dictionaries can provide valuable information about lexicographical practices. The frequency of grammatical categories, etymological information, and the presence of phonetic or spelling notes all offer important insights for readers and help us understand the audiences these dictionaries are intended for. While some dictionaries are written primarily for foreigners, others use Pidgin itself in their definitions.
As her work is qualitative, Dr Goudet will tackle the issue of paratextual material in dictionaries (front and back matter, prefaces…), and what these elements also offer as to understand stances towards the use of pidgin and Nigerian English as full-fledged norms.
Practical information:
Date: Thursday, 19 November 2026
Time: 10am – 12pm
Venue: IFRA-Nigeria Resource Centre, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan
Register here before 16 November: https://forms.gle/Nq4WfSuENd6proMt6