ABSTRACT
Words form the basis for a Linguistic analysis at any level of
language study. The aim of this essay was to identify the various
Lexical and Syntactic elements that make up personal text messages among
the students of the University of Ilorin. Lexical features, Lexical
relations, Word-formation processes and Word Sequences were employed to
unravel the Lexical and Syntactic elements contained in selected text
messages. Among the findings in the work were that nouns are the most
prominent lexical features in the personal text messages of the students
of the University of Ilorin, while adverbs are the least used lexical
features in the composition of these messages. It was also discovered
that most of the words that were used in composing the messages were
created through the word-formation process of derivation and that simple
sentences in the most used sentence sequences in these messages. The
conclusion in the essay was that effective communication through
personal text messages among the University of Ilorin students can be
ensued, if the receivers of the messages take into cognizance the
various Lexical and Syntactic elements identified in their
interpretation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents
List of Tables
Abstract
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Statement of the Research Problem
The Purpose of the Study
Scope of the Study
Justification of the study
Methodology
Data Description
Summary
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Meaning of Lexis
2.3 Lexical Features
2.4 Lexical Relations
2.5 Word-formation Processes
2.6 The Sequence of Words
2.7 A Brief Examination of Semantics
2.8 Lexico-semantics
2.9 SMS Text Messaging in Nigeria
2.10 Summary
CHAPTER THREE
DATA ANALYSIS
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Lexical Features
3.3 Lexical Relations
3.4 Word-formation Processes
3.5 Sequence of Words
CHAPTER FOUR
DISCUSSION
4.1 Summary
4.2 Findings
4.3 Conclusion
REFERENCES
APPENDIX
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
Communication through an effective use of language is a tool that
makes a good human relationship. Human beings are considered higher
animals because of their ability to communicate effectively through the
use of language. Language as a tool for effective communication is the
most important part of a human being that makes him different from
animals, Adedimeji (2005,p.1). As a result of this great role language
plays in a man’s life, language is studied at five major levels in
linguistics (Tomori,1977,p.21 as cited by Adedimeji,2005,p.1). These
levels are Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics.
Words are very essential in every level of language analysis.
A Lexeme as defined by Crystal (2008) is “a term used by some
linguists to refer to the minimal distinctive unit in the semantic
system of a language”. Crystal (2008) also defined Semantics as “a
major branch of linguistics devoted to the study of meaning in a
language”. Lexico-semantics therefore combines both the meaning of
‘Lexemes’ and ‘Semantics’. It originated from the linguistic fields of
Lexicology and Semantics. Lexico-semantics as a subfield of Semantics
addresses words and their meanings. It investigates the daily use of
words among interactants with the aim of effective communication.
Lexico-semantics deals with the relationship that exists between words,
their meanings and the messages they convey.
SMS is a short message service that allows information to be passed
across from one person to another, over a network at a particular rate.
SMS is used as an abbreviation for all types of short text messaging in
many parts of the world. SMS text messaging is one medium of
communication that has found its way into the system of communication
over the past few years. It is one technological device that its use is
fast growing over a wide range in the whole of Africa and even the
globe.
Communication through SMS is done by no other means but by the use of
words. Lexemes are used to facilitate the effectiveness of this device.
The effectiveness of this medium of communication depends on the
appropriate combination of the words it carries, and in the combination
of these words lies what is known as the message. Therefore, the
relationship that exists between Lexico-semantics and SMS text messaging
is effective communication, which is made possible through an
appropriate combination of words into text messages.
From the foregoing, this work aims to investigate and identify the
processes involved in the creation of these words, the various lexical
relations and features that exist among the words that make up text
messages. This will enhance a better interpretation and prevent
misinterpretations among participants.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The problem which this work intends to solve is the problem of the
misinterpretation of text messages as a result of a wrong choice of
words or arrangement of lexemes in the composition of text messages,
thereby leading to a breakdown in communication. This work intends to
identify the various word-formation processes involved in the creation
of new words, the lexical features and relationships that exist among
words and also how these words are sequenced to build larger grammatical
units. This work also intends to examine how these words contribute to
the interpretation of a text message, thereby leading to better choices
of words on the part of the sender and a more precise interpretation on
the part of the receiver.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of this study is to contribute to the body of knowledge
through an investigation into the combination of word and their meaning
in conveying an SMS. This work seeks to examine selected personal text
messages sent by the students of the University of Ilorin between the
ages of 18-25 years, identify the word-formation processes, lexical
features and relations that exist among the lexemes that are contained
in them. Also, how the knowledge of the lexical and semantic relations
contribute to the meaning of the text messages would be examined. This
will help to promote a better understanding of text messages.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This work will focus basically on the analysis of thirty personal
text messages of the University of Ilorin students between the ages of
18-25 years. The analysis will be carried out through an identification
of the word-formation processes, lexical features and relations and the
word sequences among the words that make up these messages. The study
will also take a look at the sequencing of words in the messages and how
all these features contribute to the understanding of these messages.
1.5 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
This work is based on an analysis of SMS text messages using a
Lexico-semantic approach. Several other studies have been conducted on
SMS text messages. Among these are Awonusi (2004), who did “A
Sociolinguistic study of SMS text messages as a register in Nigerian
English”, Egbe (2005), discussed the “Aspects of the Grammar of SMS text
messages”, Alabi, (2010b), wrote on “Stylistic creativity via schemes:
Tropes, Lexical cohesion and Descriptive Adjectives in SMS text
messaging among Nigerian university Graduates”.
However, going by the above, it can be observed that SMS text
messages have been studied from various fields of linguistics ranging
from Sociolinguistics, to Grammar, to Stylistics, etc. This study is
however adding to the knowledge and analysis of SMS text messages in the
Lexico-semantic field. This work will be of great relevance and a
reference point to students of communication studies, users of SMS text
messaging as a medium of communication and students of English language
and literature.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
The selection of data for analysis in this study has been done
randomly. The sources for the data for analysis in this study are text
messages sent by the University of Ilorin students between the ages of
18-25 years. Out of these text messages, this work will focus on
personal text messages (Chiluwa,2007, p.98 as cited by
Alabi,2010b,p.1). Thirty personal text messages have been selected for
analysis in this work. These messages represent the whole body of
personal text messages and are considered suitable for the purpose for
which this work is conducted. The analysis ofthese messages will be done
through an identification of various elements that characterize lexemes
i.e. word-formation processes, lexical relations and features and word
sequencing in contributing to the messages they pass across as a result
of their co-occurrence in an expression.
1.7 DATA DESCRIPTION
SMS was first used in December 1992 by a 22-year-old named Neil
Papworth. The concept of SMS was developed by Friedhelm Hillebrand,
Bernard Ghillebaert and Oculy Silaban in 1984, in the Franco-German GSM
cooperation. However, following the inception of the Global System of
Mobile communication (GSM) in Nigeria, in the year 2001, Alabi, (2010b),
SMS text messaging has become a major medium of passing across
information from one person to another irrespective of the distance
between the ‘sender’ an ‘receiver’. MTN, which happened to be the first
GSM Company in Nigeria, commenced its commercial services in August
2001. This commencement brought the Short Message Service (SMS) to
limelight in the Nigerian communication system. Ever since then, text
messaging has taken different turns.
The data for analysis in this study are personal text messages, as
described by Chiluwa (2007) as “well wishing messages and messages that
are used to express emotions”. Thirty of these messages have been
selected for analysis using certain tools that will be discussed in the
next chapter.
1.8 SUMMARY
So far in this chapter, an insight into the variables of the topic of
this study has been created, the purpose, scope, justification and
methodology for this study have been discussed. A more extensive and
detailed discussion of the approach to the study and its elements is
hoped to be discussed in the next chapter, which is the literature
review.