Professor Mufutau Temitayo Lamidi has been imparting knowledge to students andimpacting budding scholars for about two decades in the university system through teaching and

research, principally in generative syntax and contact linguistics. His book entitled Aspects of

Chomskyan Grammar (2008) is a ground-breaking contribution to the study of generative syntax.

He has also edited a number of books as well as published book chapters and several journal

articles in the areas of generative syntax, contact linguistics, sociolinguistics, contrastive linguistics,

applied linguistics and computer-mediated communication, touching many lives in the process.

Prof. Lamidi, until recently a visiting scholar at the University of Ghana, Legon, has

successfully produced several M.A. and PhD degree holders who have been very exceptional in their

respective academic endeavours. It is in recognition of his contribution to the academia and

humanity that a collection of essays entitled Linguistic Structure, Language Contact and Virtual

Communication: A Festschrift for Tayo Lamidi is being proposed to honour him. The proposed

festschrift is a scholarly engagement that is intended to provide a viable platform for scholars

around the globe to critically engage emerging trends in the areas that have been the concerns of

Prof. Lamidi’s scholarly experience in the university. We invite scholars to contribute articles in

honour of this versatile scholar. Contributors are to address topics covering the following and other

related areas:

1. Recent Developments in Generative Grammar

2. Theoretical Issues in Syntax and Morphology

3. Morphosyntax: Theory and Practice

4. Morphology/Syntax of English and African Languages

5. Syntax-semantics Interface in Bilingual Language Use

6. Syntax-phonology Interface in Bilingual Language Use

7. Syntactic Structures of Nigerian/African Languages

8. The Syntax of Nigerian/African Literary Expressions

9. The Grammar of the New Media Discourses

10. New Trends in Gender Discourses and their Structural Forms

11. The New Media and Changes in Syntactic Structures

12. Phonological Influences on the Code-switching/mixing Strategies of the EL2 User

13. Grammatical features of Code-switching and Code-mixing

14. Code-switching/mixing Involving Sign Language

15. Code-switching/mixing in Literary Texts

16. Multimodality and Code-switching/mixing on the Social Media

17. Language Choice/Change in a Virtual community

18. Nigerian English Usage in the Social Media

19. Nigerianisms/Deviant Usages in Media Discourse

20. Nigerian English in Students’ Usages in Nigerian Higher Institutions

21. English Grammar and Pedagogy in an EL2 Situation

22. Fossilized Errors in Nigerian English

23. Linguistic Issues in Computer-mediated Communication (CMC)

24. Gender and Identity Discourse

25. Contrastive Analysis of English and African languages

26. Contact Linguistics and the Creation of Creoles

The style sheet to be adopted for referencing is the current APA Format. The deadline for the

submission of the contribution, which should not exceed 6,000 words, is December 31, 2017. All

submissions should be sent electronically to akewoauthe@gmail.com and

romeaboh@gmail.com

Iyabode Omolara Akewo Daniel, PhD

Romanus Aboh, PhD

I never cease to be baffled by the contrast that is called Abuja in Nigeria. It is full of posh; it is full of poor. When you leave the gate of a beautiful estate, the next turn your take may lead you to an ugly slum.

I only saw the posh all the while I merely come to visit. However, sine I have been forced to make it my abode, I have had to remove the goggles and see clearly the Federal Capital Territory, alias FCT, for what it really is.

My previous visits made me to wonder if the twist and turns were mere magical shimmers of the city. I was convinced that the great boulevards is what the city was all about.

However, from Kabusa to Dutse, to the Garki village and the squalor of the Jabi village, the story is the same. The story is not very pretty. Probably, these are merely waiting for the iron teeth of the bulldozers or they are the real Abuja, only time will tell.

For now, let me be content with learning to live in this new oven that has become my new home and city.

ABUJA! Indeed, I have come!

This is a day that comes in your life only once in every year. It is an annual event. I wish to appreciate God for causing me to have my turn today again. It has been one surprise after another. Being loved and loved so much make me see that God has greatly blessed me. I thank God that I took the decision to come from Ghana to spend the day with my family in Nigeria. It has been such a glorious experience. Being surrounded by so much love makes me joyful that I took the decision. I appreciate all the lovely things done by my family members to make the day memorable. It would seem that God has planned this day for special joy and happiness in my life.

I had a great day and plentiful outing. It was such a lovely day made lovelier by a loving family. I bless God for His many mercies today. I know the enemy of my soul actually planned to see me crying today, but the Lord has turned my mourning into dancing. I give God all the glory. May His name be praised forever. 

My Facebook friends are a special breed. I really appreciate you all for taking time out to give me good wishes on this special day. You really made my day more fulfilling. All my children, biological, spiritual and social are a great blessing to me today. I love you all. 

All the friends that sent WhatsApp messages or that called, what can I say except to say thank you. The 98 Law class is in a class of its own. I bless God for them and the members’ annual faithful care. Their calls and WhatsApp messages are so inspiring and humbling.

My family is one great blessing in my life. I give God the glory for making me a daughter indeed. The Authe family is one great tribe and I bless God for the great things He is doing in the midst of His people. The LFC, both in Akoka and Madina, Ghana are a great blessing to me today. I bless God for making me a joyful mother of lovely children and a joyful wife of such a good man. God bless you all. The love and surprise gifts are a great blessing to me today. 

Lord Jesus, I worship you from the depth of my heart for turning my mourning to joy and taking away my reproach and giving me so much joy. Your faithfulness to me is beyond description. Not because I deserve it but because you are just too faithful to fail. I bless you, Lord, from the heart of my heart. 

Thank you, Sir, Lord Jesus.

I had to go to the UG Hospital today because I was told, the last time I went for my dental appointment for dental polishing, that I needed to do the filling of a tooth that was getting decayed. As the doctor advised then, I should come when I was less busy. I had the last lecture with the language PhD class yesterday; so, I felt I could spare part of today for the tooth filling.

As usual, I had a long wait; even though I ensured that I was there at the clinic reasonably early enough. Eventually, I was attended to between 12 pm and 1pm. 

I am definitely not complaining because I don’t know how many Nigerian universities will include dental care in their staff members health package. I give kudos to the University of Ghana for the extensive health care covering of the staff members.

Anyway, I had the filling done on two teeth rather than just the one identified by the doctor I saw the last time the polishing of my teeth was done. 

I was able to talk about Christ to some young men selling the ubiquitous coconut milk drink not far from the hospital grounds. They not only gave their lives to Christ, they also agreed to come to church. I was happy about that. God has prospered my journey today, indeed.

I had ridden my bicycle past the fountain at the Main Gate when I thought that this was a beautiful scene to photograph. You see, since it was re-opened for public use after its renovation, this was my first time of passing there. I even forgot to buy the UG souvenirs I was planning to buy on my way back from the hospital because of the photographs. I had to commandeer two young men going on their way at two different times to take the photographs, apart from the one I took by myself. God bless them for obliging me. I really appreciate their cooperativeness. 

So, I present to you the UG Main Gate.

Your comments will be appreciated.

Princess Omolara Authe