Abstract
This study investigates speakers’ perceptions of their chosen representation of West African Pidgin English (WAPE) and the factors that influence their writing choices. The study adopted a qualitative approach, with a phenomenological research design. Data was collected using survey questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and Facebook observations. The study sample comprised 11 study respondents who were members of WAPE groups found on Facebook. The findings suggested that participants had the perception that their WAPE varieties were deconstructed versions of Standard English, and this was reflected in how they used their varieties in writing. The study further showed that the use of English, the influence of Indigenous languages used by participants, and participants’ internal judgements were factors that affected their orthographic representations of their WAPE varieties.
Moreover, speakers’ orthographic representations of their WAPE varieties reflected a great use of an anglicised writing style with an emphasis on writing WAPE words exactly as English words, particularly where participants did not know how to write WAPE words. As a result, participants' perceptions towards their orthographic choices when writing WAPE varieties highlighted an important aspect of the hegemony of English in West African societies. Based on these findings, strategies to educate speakers about the development of WAPE studies in the context of orthography development and standardisation were encouraged.