Abstract
This paper explores the pragmatics of the comment clause, it is well, with a view to examining its origin, frequency, structural features, and extended discourse-pragmatic functions in Nigerian English, from a grammatical-pragmatic approach. The data for the study are collected from the Global Web-based English corpus (Davies, Mark. 2013. Corpus of Global Web-Based English: 1.9 billion words from speakers in 20 countries (GloWbE). Available at: http://corpus.byu.edu/glowbe/) and questionnaires, and are analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show that the origin of the clause in Nigerian English is the Bible. The clause occurs most frequently at utterance-final position, and collocates with other discourse-pragmatic features. The results also reveal that the clause performs both textual and interpersonal functions. Textually, it is used as a silence filler and to terminate discourse. Interpersonally, it is employed as a part of a prayer, to express hope, offer comfort, indicate resignation, show (reluctant) acceptance of other people’s actions, and to express sarcasm, amongst other functions. The study shows that the use of it is well is related to the cultural and religious beliefs of Nigerians as well as to the political and economic situation in Nigeria.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate the journal editor and two anonymous reviewers for their insightful and critical comments on the paper.
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Conflict of interest: There is no conflict of interest.
Appendix A: Items in the questionnaire
Apart from questions that related to the social demographics, respondents were asked to indicate (using the Likert scale) how often they use or hear others use it is well and how often they use it or hear others use it to perform different functions, as indicted in (1)–(12); 13–15 are open-ended questions.
I use the clause ‘it is well.’
I have heard other people use the clause ‘it is well.’
I use ‘it is well’ when telling myself/others to accept my/their fate.
I have heard other people use ‘it is well’ when telling themselves/others to accept their fate.
I use ‘it is well’ as a form of prayer.
I have heard other people use ‘it is well’ as a form of prayer.
I use ‘it is well’ when offering comfort to others.
I have heard other people use ‘it is well’ when offering comfort to others.
I use ‘it is well’ to show others that they can have their way if they wish.
I have heard others use ‘it is well’ to show others that they can have their way if they wish.
I use ‘it is well’ sarcastically (to ridicule/disrespect/scorn/mock).
I have heard others use ‘it is well’ to show sarcasm (to ridicule/disrespect/scorn/mock).
Asides the above-mentioned functions, please list other instances when you use the clause ‘it is well.’
Asides the above-mentioned functions, please list the instances when you have heard others use the clause ‘it is well.’
What do you think is the origin of the clause ‘it is well’ in Nigerian English?
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