CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

This research focuses on the use of Nigerian Pidginas a means of communication in Samaru and Sabo Gari markets. The research was motivated by the observation that the use of Nigerian Pidgin is prevalent in both markets which are located in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. It must however be noted that, NigerianPidgin is not the only language spoken in the markets. Other indigenous languages (Igbo, Yoruba, etc) as well as Standard English, Broken

English and Hausa, the language of the immediate environment are also spoken there. However, the use of Nigerian Pidgin in these markets is very important because different people of different linguistic backgrounds patronize the market, and need to understand one another. Interaction is sometimes achieved through code-mixing and code-switching of the languages to increase and enhance sales.

Nigerian Pidgincommunication between people in a society is highly important, thus individuals in a society relate and communicate with each other using the language. The universality and diversity of speech has led to a significant inference that language is an immensely ancient heritage of the human race, whether or not all forms of speech are the historical outgrowth of a single pristine form. Communication among people who speak the same language is possible because they share the same common language, (Rajend et al.2000).The expression of the complex communicative needs of people is enhanced by their use of language, which enables understanding among a people who share the same linguistic identity.Edward Sapir defines language as „…a purely human and non-instinctive method of communicating ideas, emotions and desires by means of voluntarily produced symbols‟

(Sapir 1921:6). Sapir stresses that language is the institution whereby human beings communicate ideas, emotions and desires as well as interact with each other by means of habitual oral auditory and arbitrary symbols.When individuals of different backgroundsare forced to interact with each other, a simplified language derived from two or more languages is developedand such resultant language is called a pidgin.Pidgins are simplified languages made up of parts of two or more languages used as a communication tool between speakers, who do not have a common language and which help to sustain interaction in a community.

Labov (1936), one of the pioneers in Sociolinguistics, notes that code-switching takes place in individual utterances, and that speakers form and establish a pidgin language when two or more speakers do not speak a common language. In speech communities like Samaru and Sabon Gari markets in Zaria, communication takes place in a unique way by code-switching and code-mixing between speakers of two or more languages,and Nigerian Pidgin is used especially by traders to facilitate economic and business transactions. Thus traders tend to use thisform of language in the market to aid communication and to promote sales. The value of pidgin in Nigeria as a sociolinguistic variable is of great importance as it is spoken in the market among buyers and sellers to promote trade. It also serves as a language of wider communication between people of different ethnic groups as noted in a market situation. This is why pidginsreceive great attention because of the socio-economic benefits it offers to the educated and illiterate in the country. 

There is the growing data that shows the important roleusers have accorded Nigerian Pidgin as used in social interaction and for business transactions among people of different languages. In spite of the traditional attitude of disapproval towardspidgins, it still flourishes in commercial and social activities where different ethnic groups come together to transact business. The relevance of in Nigerian Pidgin in the success ofbusiness transactions in these markets (Samaru and Sabon Gari) where people from different linguistic backgrounds converge to buy or sell makes the use of pidginsimportant. It is from this background that the present study seeks to analyse the prominence of Nigerian Pidgin used along with other languages in both Samaru and Sabon Gari markets speech interactions of buying and selling.

1.2 Statement of the Research Problem

Language is used for the purpose of communication between individuals. When a common language is lacking, communication becomes a problem.Thisstudy attempts to contribute to the existing literature on Nigerian Pidgin in line with many researchers such as Adeyanju (1989), Todd (1974), Gani-Ikilama (2005)who observe that,Nigerian Pidgin is spokenin market places, barracks, campuses, etc.and that this variety of Nigerian Pidgin is predominantly a market language used in buying and selling interactions. Very little has been done on the extent to which pidgin is used for economic or business transactionsin Zaria markets especially as it is used simultaneously with other languages such as Hausa, Standard English, Broken English and non-indigenous languages spoken in the study area. 

The cosmopolitan nature of Sabon Gari and Samaru markets has made Nigerian Pidginan additional language of business transactions.It is obvious that buyers and sellers communicate, but it has been observed that Nigerian Pidgin is not the only language spoken in Samaru and Sabon Gari markets.Other languages spoken there alongside Pidgininclude Standard English,Broken English, the language of the immediate environment (Hausa) and other indigenous languages. However,Nigerian Pidginisconsidered necessary to meet the communicative needs of people in Samaru and Sabon Gari Markets.It is in the light of this that this study investigatesthe extent to which buyers and sellers make use of  Nigerian Pidgin along with other languages such as Hausa and Standard English which iswidely spoken in Samaru and Sabo Gari markets. The problem this study addressesis that of whether there is any significant impact of switching and mixing codes and the extent of use ofNigerian Pidgin in the course of commercial transactions in the market under study.

1.3 Research Questions

In the light of the observations, the research hopes to answer the following research questions;

1.              In what contexts do buyers useNigerian Pidgin as a language of

communication in both Samaru and Sabon Gari markets?

2.              To what extent do age, sexand occupation determine the use of Nigerian Pidgin by buyers and sellers facilitating commercial transactions in the

                             markets?           

3.              To what extent do the native speakers of indigenous and non-indigenous languages communicate inNigerian Pidginin Samaru and Sabon Gari market

1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of this study is tocarry out a sociolinguistic analysis of the use of Nigerian Pidginin Samaru andSabo Gari marketsbuying and selling interactions.

The specific objectives this research hopes to achieve are to:

1.         investigate the contextswithin which buyers use Nigerian Pidginin communication in Samaru and Sabon Gari markets?

2.         analysethe extent to which age, sex and occupation determine the use ofNigerian Pidgin by buyers and sellers in facilitating commercial transactions in the markets.

3.         examine the extentto which the native speakers ofindigenous and nonindigenous languagescommunicate in Nigerian Pidgin in Samaru and Sabon

Gari markets.

1.5 Significance for the Study           

Whenever pidgins are mentioned, it often evokes in many people a feeling of disgust and uneasiness. This is becausepidgin language is often looked down onas a debased and inferior language that should be swept under the carpet. However, various researchers on pidginshave continued to encourage a consideration of its value as used in communication among people.The significance of this research is that it will enableother researchers in linguistics to continue to acknowledgehow useful Nigerian Pidgin is as used in buying and selling interactions.Also,the study will enableresearchers toascertain the extent, to which Nigerian

Pidginis usedin Samaru and Sabon Gari markets among others like Standard English, Broken English and the language of the immediate environment (Hausa). That is, researchers will ascertain the effectiveness of NigerianPidginin communication.

1.6 Scope and Delimitation

The scope of this study is to carry out an investigation on the extent of the use of NigerianPidgin in the market placesusing data from Samaru and Sabon Gari marketslocated in Zaria, Kaduna State. These two markets were selected by purposive sampling technique based on the fact that both markets are easily accessible to the researcher. The study is limited to the analysis of Nigerian Pidgin used in Samaru and Sabon Gari markets using ten (10) of audio-tape recording recorded interactions of buyers and sellers from the selected markets. Also, four hundred and sixty eight (468) copies of the questionnaires were distributed randomly to buyers and sellers of both markets. Three hundred and twelve copies of questionnaires (312) were distributed to the buyers while one hundred and fifty six (156) questionnaires were distributed to sellers. 

The research work is based on the theoretical framework that centres on the anthropological approach by Hymes (1974). Hymes postulates a theory on “ethnography of communications” which focuses on societal rules and constrains, that the use of language in an environment such as the market conforms to that environment (market) and societal appropriateness in the use of language is more important than grammatical correctness. The research is limited to the grammar and vocabulary of Pidgin English of both buyers and sellers.

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