ETHNOGRAPHY OF DISCOURSE INTERACTION IN OCHANJA MARKET

This study examines the sociolinguistic aspects of language use in traditional market settings, where goods and services are exchanged. A traditional market, in this context, refers to a space where transactions follow indigenous African customs. The research focuses on the discourse structure, speech acts, and contextual language use in Ochanja Market, Anambra State. The study employs Hymes’ (1974) S.P.E.A.K.I.N.G model from The Ethnography of Communication to analyze data collected from traders and other market participants. Data were obtained through a tape recorder and a questionnaire to assess linguistic preferences in market transactions. Findings indicate that the majority of traders at Ochanja Market prefer to communicate in Anambra Igbo, followed by Nigerian Pidgin. This preference aligns with the linguistic composition of the market, where a
significant proportion of traders and buyers belong to the Igbo ethnic group, influencing the dominant language used in commercial