Sociolinguistic Study Of Code-Mixing And Code-Switching In Nigerian Institutions

Code-switching refers to the practice of switching between two or more languages, dialects, or language varieties in a single conversation, text, or even sentence. Code-mixing refers to the act of combining words, phrases, or sentences from two or more languages within a single utterance or text. It involves switching between languages within a single conversation, sentence, or even word, often without a clear boundary between the languages. Code-mixing can be seen in spoken or written language and is a common phenomenon in multilingual communities, where individuals blend languages to convey meaning, express identity, or facilitate communication. Unlike code-switching, which involves switching between languages at sentence or clause boundaries, code-mixing involves a more fluid and integrated use of multiple languages within a single linguistic unit. The objective of this study is to carry out a sociolinguistic study of code-mixing and code-switching in Nigerian higher institutions. The relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. The data we’re collected through audio-recording of conversations of students of Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Social and Management Science and Faculty of Science who were randomly selected and were recorded. The data were analyzed using frequency and simple percentage. The findings shows that the use of code-mixing and code-switching in conversations have largely contributed to low proficiency in the use of English language. The study concludes that For students to improve their proficiency in English language, there is need to reduce the use of code-mixing and code-switching.

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

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. When two or more languages come in contact, there is tendency of mixture of varieties or a shift or transit from one linguistic system to another. One major influence of globalization is increase bilingualism. This refers to an individual or societal ability to use / speak two languages. It is a usual phenomenon to see bilinguals’ code switch or mix in discourse situations. Due to the fact that people are increasingly becoming bilinguals and even multilingual, it therefore brings the issue of code switching and code mixing as glaring day to day linguistic phenomenon. In a typical urban setting like Lagos, Nigeria, with a heterogeneous population involving people of diverse ethnic enclaves; there is bound to be the existence of many varieties like English, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Nigeria Pidgin English and even indigenous languages of neighbouring Benin and Togolese. It is a common phenomenon to see people shift from one variety of language to another. Likewise a child , who is a product of bilingual marriage, for instance, an Igbo speaking mother with an Hausa speaking father living in Lagos; will automatically be exposed to at least three or more languages; and one of the major consequences is code switching. Code switching occurs when a speaker uses two or more languages in the course of a single utterance. It is common to see second language speakers of English usually switch between their L1 - mother tongue and their L2 - English language and vice versa during their interpersonal conversation (informal communication). 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....

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