Recent changes in social, political and educational direction within Nigeria have given rise to the need to define and describe a standard variety of Nigerian spoken English (NSE) for use as a teaching model. Old models, which existed in the form of large numbers of native English‐speaking teachers, are no longer present in the country. The functions of the English language have changed and urban drift has led to the development of new varieties of spoken English. There is now a need for a new model, relevant to and attainable by the present Nigerian learner of English, for use in the schools as well as by society at large. A variety of English taken from within the local environment can meet this nee