DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS STUDIES

This study examines requests and commands in Nigerian Pidgin English(NPE), focusing on their structure and pragmatic functions. The research investigates how speakers convey directives and negotiate social relationships through language. The study is motivated by the wide spread use of NPE in Nigeria and the lack of detailed research on its directive forms. Guided by Speech Act Theory (Austin, 1962; Searle, 1969) and Politeness Theory (Brown & Levinson, 1987), data were collected from adult NPE speakers in urban settings using participant observation, audio recordings, and semi-structured interviews. Analysis shows that requests and commands often employ uninflected verbs and pragmatic markers such as abeg, which serve to soften, intensify, or emphasize directives depending on context. Social factors, including power dynamics, age, and familiarity, influence whether speakers use direct or indirect forms. The study concludes that NPEis a pragmatically rich language capable of managing complex social interactions. Findings contribute to the descriptive study of NPE, enhance understanding of directive speech acts in multilingual settings, and support the recognition of NPE as a legitimate language in Nigeria.

The Edo people of Nigeria have a rich cultural heritage and their traditional marriage are marked by variety of songs and rituals that carries significance meaning. This project aims at conducting a semantic review of the songs and rituals use in the Edo traditional marriage ceremony through an interdisciplinary approach that combines linguistics analysis, and cultural interpretation. This study seeks to explore the linguistic, cultural, and social dimensions of these songs and rituals by delving into the lyrics of the songs and also by analyzing the symbolic significance of various rituals. This study employed data collected from participation observation at a selected traditional marriage in Benin using a phone camera, and also the interviews of native speaker who are well grounded in the Edo marriage rituals. In analyzing the marriage song, the difference level of translation will be use to analyze the lyrics of the songs. By the end of this research

Language is a dynamic and multifaceted tool of communication, often characterized by polysemy and lexical ambiguity, which contribute to depth and richness in meaning. This study examines the phenomena of polysemy and lexical ambguity in Urhobo proverbs, exploring how multiple meanings of words shape interpretations, cultural wisdom, and linguistic expression. Given that proverbs serve as an essential comp nent of Urhobo oral tradition, their meanings are often layered, requiring contextual understanding to fully grasp their implications. The study investigates various polysemous words in Urhobo proverbs, such as "evun" (which can mean stomach, pregnancy, or inside), "oto" (ground, movement, or meaning), and "hwe" (kill, punish, or break), among others. These words introduce lexical ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations depending on the speaker’s intent, audience, and cultural setting. By analyzing specific proverbs, this research highlights how ambiguity is intentionally used to convey moral lessons, social values, and philosophical insights within the Urhobo language. A qualitative approach was employed, drawing data from Urhobo oral literature, linguistic analysis, and interviews with native speakers. The findings reveal that polysemy and lexical ambiguity are deliberate linguistic strategies that enrich Urhobo proverbs, making them flexible tools for storytelling, education, and moral instruction. Moreover, the study emphasizes the role of context in deciphering the intended meaning of ambiguous expressions, underscoring the complexity of Urhobo semantics.

This study presents a stylistic analysis of language in advertisements, focusing on the Vanguard new spaper as a case study. The study explores the techniques and strategies employed in crafting persuasive messages within this specific print media context. By examining linguistic choices, rhetorical devices, and visual elements, it aims to uncover the unique stylistic features that contribute to the news paper's advertising effectiveness.The data forthe study were collected from vanguard newspaper respectively, each adverts were scanned and attached to the work, these adverts encompasses a wide range of adverts types, which include text and display adverts (with visual elements). Using the linguistics stylistics theoretical frameworkthrough a comprehensive analysis, this research sheds light on the intricate relationship between language and advertising within the Vanguardnewspaper,providing valuable insights in to the art of persuasion,use of metaphorical expression and social influence in print media. Our findings therefore reveal that language of advertisement employ the use of different devices to drive home its effectiveness, these findings include; Advertisements frequently employ rhetorical devices such as metaphors, similes, and hyperbole to create vivid and memorable messages. These devices enhance the overall appeal of the advertisements, The language in Vanguard Newspaper advertisements often incorporates cultural references, idiomatic expressions, and local context to resonate with the target audience and establish a sense of familiarity, Careful selection of words and phrases is evident, with advertisers opting for persuasive and positive terminology to promote products or services effectively. This includes the use of buzzwords, Beyond language, visual elements such as color schemes, fonts, and layout play a significant role in reinforcing the message The implications of these findings have a big impact on how languages are necessitating concise/careful approaches in advertisements.

Wittgesten (1921) has once argued that the meaning of any termor expression cannot be interpreted or gotten outside its context, context isonething that cannot be debonked when explaining the meaning of expression. This work is titled the semantic analysis of covid-19 terminologies inEtsakolanguage, the Etsako language is an Ediod language located in Edostate. The data for this study id collected through the use of oral interviewwhileexploring the use of the qualitative research design, the conceptual theoryofmeaning was adopted as the theoretical frame of the study. Relatedworksof literature which forms the basis for which this study can be fromwerereviewed after which the presentation of data, data are presented by grouping them. After a successful analysis done by bringing out the contextual usage of the terms, it be confirmed that meaning cannot exist outside the context of usage, the context of usage has a great influenceindetermining, if the context changes meaning changes.

There is a growing trend in the world of languages going into extinction due to the attitude people have toward their language. In Nigeria alone it has already been reported that many languages have gone already into extinction while others have experienced langauge shift
and there are still some which are currently endangered. This study is aimed at pointing out the attitude of Esan speakers living in Ekpoma toward the Esan language. The Mentalist approach was used taken into consideration the questionnaire method. It was further gathered that the attitude posed by the Esan speakers in Ekpoma was fairly positive.

There is a growing trend in the world of languages going into extinction due to the attitude people have toward their language. In Nigeria alone it has already been reported that many languages have gone already into extinction while others have experienced langauge shift
and there are still some which are currently endangered. This study is aimed at pointing out the attitude of Esan speakers living in Ekpoma toward the Esan language. The Mentalist approach was used taken into consideration the questionnaire method. It was further gathered that the attitude posed by the Esan speakers in Ekpoma was fairly positive.

This study examines the syllable structure and patterning in Ika, spoken in southern Nigeria. It's objectives were to investigate the Language's syllable structure and identify it's Syllable patterns. The study employs synchronic data from Ika native speakers in it's consideration of syllable structure and patterns of the language. The data collection involved 8 Ika speakers aged between 45 and 60 years in Agbor. A University of Benin 200 word-list of lexical basic items was used to collect the primary data, and participants' voices were recorded as they provide the Ika equivalent of each word from the list. The research adopts a descriptive method in it's analysis utilizing the Onset- Rhyme framework to analyze syllable structure and patterns. The study identified that (1) Ika primarily employs open syllables with no coda and was three basic syllable structures: V-syllable, CV-syllable, CVV-syllable, (2) the Sonority hierarchy plays a significant role in shaping these structures,(3) the language exhibits syllable patterns such as v.cv, v.cv.cv, cv.cv and v.cv.cv. This study also observed that syllablic nasals are present in Ika. The research concludes, therefore, that Ika has a simple and light syllable

This project work focuses on socio-semiotic analysis of Itsekiri cultural delicacies. The aim of the study is to examine cultural delicacies in Itsekiri. Data for this study were elucidated from primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected from five native speakers of Itsekiri and a traditional chief by personal communication, Secondary data comprises published materials on food and culture in the related languages, etc. In course of data analysis, the study adopted a descriptive research design for the description and analysis of the data. The study finds that natural languages like Itsekiri exhibit a high rate of culturally especially when it involves delicacies. The study also found out that sensitivity to food rules and customs is important in building and strengthening cross-cultural relationships.

Language is a complex, multifaceted communicationsystemthat enables humans to express thoughts, ideas, emotions, andinformation. It is a fundamental aspect of human culture andsociety, facilitating interaction, knowledge sharing, and meaning conveyance. This study examines the use of language across different agegroups. Language plays a pivotal role in the age-grade systemas it servesasameans of communication and identity among its members. Thisincludes aspects such as vocabulary, grammar, speech patterns, anddiscourse. The theoretical framework utilized in this studyisthespeech act theory (1962) which characterizes the distinctcommunication styles into different speech act. Acrucial element oflanguage use within this system is understanding the specializedterminologies or jargons unique to each age group. Qualitativedataanalysis was employed, highlighting the significant role languageplays among various age demographics. In this research, tenparticipants were interviewed, ranging in age from40 to 80yearsold. The preferred language for the age-grading systemin UrhehueisEdo, viii the indigenous language of the Orhionmwon community. This systemis a traditional social structure where individuals are categorizedintodifferent age groups based on their year of birth. These agegroupsserve as social units and play a crucial role in manyfacetsofcommunity life.