Special Announcement

23 Apr 2025

The Office of the Department of English and Communication has moved to 9/F, PolyU Hung Hom Bay Campus, 8 Hung Lok Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong w.e.f. 14 April 2025.

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Dr Sopuruchi Christian Aboh

Dr Sopuruchi Christian Aboh

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Research Overview

Broadly speaking, my research interests lie in sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and African studies. Specifically, I combine quantitative (surveys and experiments) and qualitative (discourse analysis) approaches to explore language attitudes and multilingualism in Nigeria to promote social and linguistic justice. I have recently focused on analysing political discourse from discourse analysis and intercultural communication perspectives. My latest project analyses the linguistic experiences of African migrants in Hong Kong, which will help strengthen Sino-African relations.

Academic and Professional Experience

  • Assistant Lecturer, Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2019-2021)

Teaching Areas

  • Sociolinguistics
  • Introduction to Linguistics
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Multilingualism

Research Interests

  • Sociolinguistics
  • World Englishes
  • Language Attitudes
  • Migration Linguistics
  • Multilingualism
  • Intercultural Communication
  • Political Discourse
  • Heritage Language Education

Research Output

  1. Agbedo, C. U., Mbah, E. E. & Aboh, S. C. (Eds). (2021). Speech sounds matters: A festschrift for Professor Clara I. Ikekeonwu. University of Nigeria Press Ltd.
  2. Akaeze, C. M., Aboh, S. C. & Ugwuoke, P. E. (2021). Ntọala ọdịnịịgha Igbo ọlọrọọhụrụ [Fundamentals of contemporary Igbo prose]. Pacific Publishers Ltd.
  1. Aboh, S. C. & Ladegaard, H. J. (2025). Laughter and language attitudes in students’ discussions about language use in Nigeria. Language & Communication, 100, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.langcom.2024.11.008.
  2. Aboh, S. C., Chigbu, G. U., & Ganaah, J. (in press). Resisting marginalisation in Nigeria’s political discourse: Towards a discursive resistance framework. Journal of Language and Discrimination.
  3. Ugwuanyi, K. O., & Aboh, S. C. (2025). Nigerian English: History, functions and features. World Englishes, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12732
  4. Aboh, S. C. (2025). Attitudes to Nigerian Englishes in higher education. World Englishes, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1111/weng.12728
  5. Ganaah, J., Chigbu, G. U., & Aboh, S. C. (2025). Political othering and polarisation in Nigeria’s online electoral discourse: Towards a culture of inter-political party tolerance. Social Semiotics, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10350330.2025.2492163
  6. Chigbu, G. U., Ukwunna, R. C., & Aboh, S. C. (2025). Metaphors we overthrow with: A critical metaphor analysis of Nigerian military leaders’ post-coup proclamations. Critical Discourse Studies, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405904.2025.2463638
  7. Aboh, S. C., Ganaah, J. & Chigbu, G. U. (2025). Ethnic othering in Nigeria’s electoral discourse: The need for intercultural competence. Language and Intercultural Communication, 25(1), 156-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/14708477.2024.2326110.
  8. Ikechukwu-Ibe, C. J., & Aboh, S. C. (2025). ‘The youths are wiser now’: A positive discourse analysis of resistance in Nigeria’s 2023 electoral rhetoric. Journal of Language and Politics, 24(2), 328-347. https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.23104.ike
  9. Aboh, S. C. (2024). Language attitudes research: A classification of methodological issues. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 43(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2024.2346135.
  10. Awolor, T. M., & Aboh, S. C. (2025). Examining the impact of digital media technology on teaching Igbo to heritage learners. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 45, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2024.2433490.
  11. Aboh, S. C. (2025). Forms and functions of diminutives in Igbo. Journal of African Languages and Linguistics, 46(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1515/jall-2024-0015
  12. Chigbu, G. C., Aboh, S. C. & Ganaah, J. (2024). Religious othering in Nigeria’s electoral discourse: Towards a critical religious tolerance. Discourse & Society. https://doi.org/10.1177/09579265241257628
  13. Obitube, K. O., Aboh, S. C., & Ucheoma, C. I. (2024). Retorts in Igbo discourse. South African Journal of African Languages, 44(1), 56-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2024.2309288.
  14. Aboh, S. C. & Okpo, J. C. (2024). Morphosemantics of slang expressions by students in a Nigerian university. African Identities, 22(4), 875-893. https://doi.org/10.1080/14725843.2022.2138264
  15. Aboh, S. C. (2023). Nigerian students’ attitudes toward endonormative varieties of Nigerian English. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 46(4), 1215-1228. https://doi.org/10.1080/01434632.2023.2230184
  16. Aboh, S. C. (2023). ‘It will never be well with SARS’: A discourse analytic study of the #EndSARS protests on social media. Discourse & Society, 35(2), 153-173. https://doi.org/10.1177/09579265231200994
  17. Aboh, S. C. (2023). Attitudes towards Nigerian Englishes: Ethnic categorisation and underlying reasons for categorisation. Lingua, 295, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2023.103608
  18. Aboh, S. C. (2022). On the parameters of the power of English in Nigeria: A bottom-up approach towards revitalizing Nigerian languages. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 9(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2022.2118447
  19. Ndiribe, M. O. & Aboh, S. C. (2022). Multilingualism and marginalisation: A Nigerian diversity approach. International Journal of Multilingualism, 19(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2020.1818752.
  20. Eze, A. N., Aboh, S. C. & Eze, D. E. (2020) Linguistic formation patterns of anglicised traditional Yorùbá anthroponyms, Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 38(4), 282-292. https://doi.org/10.2989/16073614.2020.1850301.
  21. Aboh, S. C. & Agbedo, C. U. (2020). Between statements and actions: A speech act analysis of President Buhari’s media political discourses. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 11(6), 948-955 http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/jltr.1106.11.
  1. Aboh, S. C. (2025). The role of new media in maintaining endangered languages: Insights from Igbo. In W. Wei & J. Schnell (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Endangered and Minority Languages (Vol. 2) (pp. 155-170). Routledge.
  2. Okorji, R. I. & Aboh, S. C. (2021). Return migration and successful reintegration in Nwana’s Omenụkọ. In C. R. Nwoma, D. Yerima-Awazi & O. Odoh (Eds.), Coloniality of knowledge in Africa: Essays in honour of Professor Damian Opata (pp. 160-190). Enugu: Timex Publishing Company.
  3. Ahamefula, N. O., Aboh, S. C., Ezemoka, A. & Onyegiri, C. (2018). Igbo leadership in folklores: Insights from Mike Ejeagha’s Omekagụ. In G. I. Nwaozuzu, P. U. Okpoko, B. M. Mbah & N. O. Ahamefula (Eds.)Igbo institutions and leadership (pp. 30-48). Centre for Igbo Studies.

Esteem Measures

  • Member, International Association of World Englishes
  • Member, Association Internationale de Linguistique Appliquée (AILA)
  • Member, American Association for Applied Linguistics
  • Member, British Association of Applied Linguistics
  • Member, Research Centre for Professional Communication in English (RCPCE)
  • Member, Hong Kong Association of Applied Linguists
  • The Stephen Evans Best Thesis Award, Department of English and Communication 2024/2025, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Nominee, Best Research Student Award 2023/24, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Faculty of Humanities Outstanding Publication Award for PhD/Doctoral Students 2022/23, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • The Stephen Evans Best Paper Award, Department of English and Communication 2022/23, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
  • Best Graduating Student 2015/2016, Faculty of Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

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