ABSTRACT
Language plays an important role in the society and this leads to the
study of code mixing in relation to sociolinguistics and how code mixed
utterances have been triggered as a result of language gap, stylistic
motivations, domains, societal factors, message intrinsic factors,
physical settings and situational factors. This work examined how these
motivations have resulted in code mixed utterances by critically
analyzing randomly selected utterances from the randomly selected songs
of artistes in the Nigerian music industry. It was discovered that
English language has adapted to the Nigerian context which brings out
the creative and unpredictable nature of language users. It is therefore
safe to conclude that motivations for code mixing enhance communication
among cadres of people linguistically united or disjointed.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
Statement of Research Problem
Aims and Objectives
Delimitation and Limitation
Justification
Methodology
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Sociolinguistics
Code Mixing
Motivations for Code Mixing
Message Intrinsic Factors
Situational Factors
Language Gap
Societal Factors
Physical Setting
Domain
Stylistic Motivations
Functions of Code Mixing
Nigerianism
Phonetics and Phonology
Morphology and Syntax
Lexis and Structure
Summary
CHAPTER THREE
DATA ANALYSIS
Introduction
Datum One
Datum Two
Datum Three
Datum Four
Datum Five
Datum Six
Datum Seven
Datum Eight
Datum Nine
Datum Ten
Discussion
Summary
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSION
Summary
Findings
Conclusion
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Society impinges on language, and language impinges on the society.
Hence, there must be a relationship existing between language and
society. The interdependency of these two entities – language and
society led to the study of sociolinguistics. Sociolinguistics is the
study of all aspects of linguistics applied towards the connections
between language and society, and the way we use it in different
language situations.
Language is seen as a unifying force and a common ground among
various people through which effective communication is carried out. It
has however been noticed that even within the same language, there are
different ways or styles of speaking. The contact English language had
with Nigeria and her indigenous languages and a bid to communicate
effectively across and within ethnic boundaries (cases of intra and
inter ethnic communication), led to code mixing.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
The multilingual nature of the country and some individuals’
multilingual or bilingual competence and the inter-language relationship
existing between English language and over four hundred indigenous
languages in Nigeria have led to code-mixing in conversation, discourse
and communicative competence. These lead to the following questions
- Is there any limit(s) or constraint(s) to code-mixing?
- Is code-mixing really necessary in discourse?
- What informs code-mixing?
1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This research is informed by questions arising from code-mixing in
the lyrics of songs in the Nigerian music industry. This research
focuses on some songs in which Yoruba language predominates in the
Pidginize English medium used. This research attempts at discovering why
the artistes code mix in their songs.
This study will examine the various reasons and motivations for
code-mixing. This study will look at how the artistes have arrive at a
communicative end via code-mixing and examines the success or otherwise
of this trend.
1.4 DELIMITATION AND LIMITATION
Due to the researcher’s level of proficiency, knowledge and
understanding of the English, Yoruba and Pidgin languages, the
researcher will cover some selected songs in the Nigerian music industry
in which these languages are used.
To achieve the success of this research work, the work is limited to code-mixing.
1.5 JUSTIFICATION
This is regarded as an addition to the existing stock of researches
on the subject of code-mixing. However, to the knowledge of the
researcher, no work has done a study of code-mixing as a sociolinguistic
medium in the Nigerian music industry. This study aims at tackling
code-mixing as used in the lyrics of songs of some artistes in the
Nigerian music industry. This study will therefore be useful to students
of sociolinguistics generally.
1.6 METHODOLOGY
Ten songs will be chosen randomly from the lists of songs in the
Nigerian music industry and these songs will be analyzed alongside the
reasons and motivations for code-mixing.