Progressive aspect in Ghanaian and British English

Abstract

This study gave primary attention to the provision of additional support to Ghanaian English as a legitimate and viable variety of English through the use of progressive aspect, especially in comparison with British English. The study was guided by three objectives which were to explore the use of the progressive aspect in Ghanaian English, ascertain the validity and variability of Ghanaian English through the use of the progressive aspect as well as to determine the similarities and differences that there are between Ghanaian English and British English. The explanatory sequential mixed methodology was adopted for the study with ICE-GH and ICE-BrE being the major sources of data. AntConc v3.4.3 software was used for corpus analysis. In view of the findings, it was seen that GhE is a legitimate and standard variety of English since there are several similarities in the use of progressive aspects in BrE such as the use of explanatory or interpretative progressives and the use of the infinitive and stative verbs and conversational progressives. Also, in view of the several instances of extended usage and shift in the concept of the progressive aspect in GhE and BrE, it stands to reason, therefore, to state that the differences between GhE and BrE in the use of the progressive aspects are not deviations or an error, rather, an innovative and integrative effort to extend the use of the progressive to fulfil certain communicative functions as is attested in other varieties of English including IndE, NigE, AusE and AmE