A Sociolinguistic Study Of Code-mixing And Code-switching In Nigerian Institutions: A Study Of University Of Ilorin Undergraduates’ Conversations

 

 

Title page          i

Certification          ii

Dedication          iii

Acknowledgements         iv

Table of contents         vi

Abstract          viii

CHAPTER ONE 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION 

1.0 Introduction         1

1.1 Aims and objectives        2

1.2 Justification         3

1.3 Significance of the study       3

1.4 Scope and Delimitation       4 

1.5 Methodology         5

CHAPTER TWO 

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction         6

2.1 Sociolinguistics        6

2.2 Scope of sociolinguistics       8

2.3 Concepts of sociolinguistics       9 

2.3.1 Speech community        9

2.3.2 Language contact        11

2.3.3 Multilingualism/Bilingualism      12

2.3.3.1 Types of Multilingualism/Bilingualism     13

2.3.4 Effects of Bilingualism/Multilingualism     15 

2.3.4.1 Diglossia         15

2.3.4.2 Code-switching        17

2.3.4.3 Code-mixing        21

2.3.4.4 Differences between code-mixing and code-switching  22

2.3.4.5 Reasons for code-mixing       23

2.3.4.6 Categorization of code-mixing      25

CHAPTER THREE 

DATA ANALYSIS  

3.0 Introduction         26

3.1 Data presentation and analysis      27

3.2 Conclusion         39

CHAPTER FOUR   

 SUMMARY, FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION 

4.0 Introduction         40

4.1 Summary         40

4.2 Findings                                                                                              41

4.3 Recommendation        42

4.4 Conclusion         43

 Bibliography        44

 

One aspect of language study that attracts much attention today is sociolinguistics. It examines the use of language by considering social parameter. This field is relatively wide and it encompasses a lot of variables like the context of the situation, age, status etc. among other variables that can be found in sociolinguistics are code mixing, diglossia, Code-switching, language death etc.

Code-mixing and code-switching are important aspect of sociolinguistic given their use and status in the society. Different reasons have been advanced by various writers and scholars as to why people code-mix and code-switch. Whatever the reasons, they are to some extent reasonable. However, it obvious that they have both the negative and positive effects closely associated with them. It there becomes necessary that these concepts which are directly related to human society and our educational system be given adequate attention so that they are known and also used effectively where necessarily. 

In a society where individuals speak more than one language there is usually a language that is naturally influenced by the others. Some of the effects of multilingualism are code-mixing and code-switching, bilingualism, diglossia etc when a speaker comes in contact with two or more languages he or she may start to use the languages together even though it might not be with equal proficiency. However these languages affect one another and often lead to code-mixing and code-switching. 

Code-mixing and code-switching occurs when elements of two or more languages are mixed between sentences, clauses and phrases. These concepts are products of bilingualism and they are the focus of this research work. Some researches have shown that students code-mix and code-switch in order to be admitted into some social situations. 

It is on this note that this research work intends to find out if undergraduates of University of Ilorin code-mix and code-switch, and also intend to find out why if they code-mix and code-switch. Thus in carrying out this research work, code-mixing and code-switching as concepts of sociolinguistics will be given attention thereby bringing it to the notice of the people who are not linguistics.