Perception Of Pidgin English Broadcasting Among Residents Of Lagos State

This study was carried out on the perception of pidgin English broadcasting among residents of Aja, Lagos State. The survey design was adopted and the simple random sampling techniques were employed in this study. The population size comprised of residents of Aja, Lagos State. In determining the sample size, the researcher conveniently selected 147 respondents and 141 were validated. Self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection. The collected and validated questionnaires were analyzed using frequency tables. While the hypotheses were tested using chi-square statistical tool. The result of the findings reveals that the extent pidgin English has been accepted among people of all classes in Lagos state is high. The study also revealed that the use of pidgin English enhances adequate dissemination of broadcast messages among residents in Lagos State. And the use of pidgin English promotes effective communication between the broadcast media and residents of Lagos state. Therefore, it is recommended that pidgin English should be given national recognition as an indigenous language due to its widespread appeal and acceptability by a generality of Nigerians from all walks of life.

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Communication is also the transmission of experience from one person to another, from one person to a group of people or from a group of people to another group of people. Communication is pervasive. It is an index of existence and regarded as lively. Okunma (1996) sees communication as a complex process of sharing information or a message which requires certain basic components. It is essential to conclude that communication is pervasive and a fundamental way by which human beings interact through language and other symbolic means. Communication sustains, lubricates and dominates every facet of human existence.

Communication is pervasive, ubiquitous and takes place everywhere, every time n and every day. Man existence can be traced to communication. Communication started between the first man and his Creator. Biblical account noted that God established communication with the first man, Adam. Since the creation of first Man, communication has come to stay as Adam communicated with his family and the animal folks. It is vital to conclude that communication is the basis of human and animal existence and interaction.

This paper examines the interrelatedness of language and communication, how language can aid and how misuse of language obstructs communication as well as tips for communicators on effective use of language.
Effective communication require concerted effort on the part of message encoder, the appropriate choice of words, correct contextual application and simplicity Communication is traced to a Latin word "communis" meaning to share and that it is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, visuals, signals, writing or behavior.

The existence of Pidgin English began as a result of the colonial masters coming into Africa. Well respected philosophers noted that there is no language that is an island meaning that language can also develop through a pre-existed one (Akinfeleye, 2008). The existence of Pidgin English was through the English language. The use of Pidgin English began in the colonial era, when it was necessary for Africans to understand the language of the white man in order to be able to fit in the happenings of the society. At that period, if an African man gets to be able to understand the language of the white man, he is placed on a big position ahead other fellow Africans (Ihemere, 2006). As a result, a lot of African"s endeavor to try to fit in with the English language and during the process of change developed the Pidgin English.

The term Pidgin English refers to a language that is developed in the situation where the speakers of another language have to communicate but do not have a common language to share with another (Ndolo, 2005).
Pidgin English is a mixture of English and local languages which enables individuals who do not share a mutual language to communicate (Akinfeleye, 2008) Stated that the Nigerian Pidgin English accommodates fun and creativity, therefore, it has been able to fill significant actual space of communication in Nigeria.

All these must have been considered by Ihemere (2006) stating that the Pidgin English flourishes better being an inter-ethnic medium of communication. It is identified as being important to be adopted at some state or private broadcasting stations to give daily news in it and generally believed to be a very useful broadcasting language in the country. At recent times, job opportunities arise for those that are well spoken and fluent in the Pidgin English language. For instance there are job opportunities within the movies industry, newspapers published in Nigerian Pidgin, magazines and radio programs that are presented on Nigerian Pidgin entertainment.

Generally, the Nigerian Pidgin is proposed as being a replacement to standard English broadcasting in Nigeria such that the uneducated people are able to survive the society, knowing very well that the language appeals to wider audience from all parts of the societies in the country (Deuber, 2005). Therefore, since communication stands as a major life wire of all societies, at all sphere of the societal, cultural, industrial, educational, and all the levels needs information to optimally function in the society (Akinfeleye, 2008).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

It is clear that with the level of illiteracy and knowledge-gap between the literates and the illiterates in the country, there seem to be an ignorant discrimination in the rate at which information is disseminated at the time it is, its accuracy and the populace in the country that it reaches. There is however, the general perception that majority of the Nigerian populace, especially those in the rural areas are not carried along on issues of national interest due to their inability to understand what is being broadcast on television and radio.

Consequently, there has been a lot of misinterpretations and misconceptions of broadcasted messages by a good number of residents in Lagos state due to the elitist language used in disseminating these massages. They seldom understand broadcast messages made in Standard English language and as such try to ignore these information not made in Nigerian Pidgin English. Based on the aforementioned, this study seek to assess perception of pidgin English broadcasting among residents of Lagos State.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

This study generally is focused on the perception of pidgin English broadcasting among residents of Lagos State. Below are the specific objectives;

Assess audience perception on the extent pidgin English has been accepted among people of all classes in Lagos state.

Assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English for broadcasting is promoted in the Nigeria media industry.

Assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English enhances adequate dissemination of broadcast messages among residents in Lagos State.

Assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English promotes effective communication between the broadcast media and residents of Lagos state.

Assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English facilitates effective broadcasting in the media industry of Lagos State.

1.4 Research Question

The study will be guided by the following questions;

What is the extent pidgin English has been accepted among people of all classes in Lagos state?

Is the use of pidgin English for broadcasting promoted in the Nigeria media industry?

Does the use of pidgin English enhance adequate dissemination of broadcast messages among residents in Lagos State?

Does the use of pidgin English promote effective communication between the broadcast media and residents of Lagos state?

Does the use of pidgin English facilitates effective broadcasting in the media industry of Lagos State?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Ho: The use of pidgin English does not facilitate effective broadcasting in the media industry of Lagos State.

Ha: The use of pidgin English facilitates effective broadcasting in the media industry of Lagos State.

1.6 Significance of the Study

This study shall also be of significance theoretically, practically and otherwise.

In terms of theoretical impact, this research could increase and add to the existing volume of literature available on the study of Nigerian Pidgin English and broadcasting. This could in turn lead to further investigations, thereby expanding existing depth of knowledge and at the same time, exposing certain areas that require further investigation.

By the same token, the result of the study could be of great value to broadcasting regulatory bodies, advertising agencies and the mass media as well as other relevant organizations as it could reveal areas where decisions should be made to improve effective utilization of Pidgin English as a potent language for broadcasting and advertising.

1.7 Scope of the Study

This study from the general viewpoint will assess the perception of pidgin English broadcasting among residents of Lagos State. Geographically, this study will be carried out among residents in Aja, Lagos State.

1.8 Limitation of the Study

In the course of carrying out this study, the researcher experienced some constraints, which included time constraints, financial constraints, language barriers, and the attitude of the respondents.

In addition, there was the element of researcher bias. Here, the researcher possessed some biases that may have been reflected in the way the data was collected, the type of people interviewed or sampled, and how the data gathered was interpreted thereafter. The potential for all this to influence the findings and conclusions could not be downplayed.

More so, the findings of this study are limited to the sample population in the study area, hence they may not be suitable for use in comparison to other, local governments, states, and other countries in the world.

1.9 Definition of Terms

Audience Perception:

Audience perception, which is the focal point of this study, is employed to denote the attitude, view, opinion and assessment of broadcasting messages which they are constantly exposed to through the major broadcast media outfit operational in the environment of study.

Pidgin English:

In the context of this study, Pidgin English is a non-specific name used to refer to any of the many pidgin languages derived from mainly from Standard English language and two or more dominant languages present among the intended users.

Broadcast Media:

In the context of this research, are the modern channels of mass communication that disseminates its messages via electromagnetic waves, through the sky. The major of these media focused on are radio and television broadcast outfit.

1.10 Organization of the Studies

The study is categorized into five chapters. The first chapter presents the background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, research questions and hypothesis, the significance of the study, scope/limitations of the study, and definition of terms. The chapter two covers the review of literature with emphasis on conceptual framework, theoretical framework, and empirical review. Likewise, the chapter three which is the research methodology, specifically covers the research design, population of the study, sample size determination, sample size, and selection technique and procedure, research instrument and administration, method of data collection, method of data analysis, validity and reliability of the study, and ethical consideration. The second to last chapter being the chapter four presents the data presentation and analysis, while the last chapter(chapter five) contains the summary, conclusion and recommendation.

Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations:

5.1 Introduction

This chapter summarizes the findings on the perception of pidgin English broadcasting among residents of Aja, Lagos State. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.

5.2 Summary of the Study

In this study, our focus was on the perception of pidgin English broadcasting among residents of Aja, Lagos State. The study is was specifically carried out to assess audience perception on the extent pidgin English has been accepted among people of all classes in Lagos state; assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English for broadcasting is promoted in the Nigeria media industry; assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English enhances adequate dissemination of broadcast messages among residents in Lagos State; assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English promotes effective communication between the broadcast media and residents of Lagos state, and assess audience perception on whether the use of pidgin English facilitates effective broadcasting in the media industry of Lagos State.

The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 141 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent were residents of Aja, Lagos State.

5.3 Conclusions

Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that;

The extent pidgin English has been accepted among people of all classes in Lagos state is high.

The use of pidgin English for broadcasting is promoted in the Nigeria media industry.

The use of pidgin English enhances adequate dissemination of broadcast messages among residents in Lagos State.

The use of pidgin English promotes effective communication between the broadcast media and residents of Lagos state.

The use of pidgin English facilitates effective broadcasting in the media industry of Lagos State.

5.4 Recommendation

Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.

Pidgin English should be given national recognition as an indigenous language due to its widespread appeal and acceptability by a generality of Nigerians from all walks of life.

Broadcast stations - Television and Radio who still consider Pidgin English as an unofficial language should accord more recognition to the language by dedicating some of their programs to be aired in Pidgin to accommodate the less-educated target audience.

Pidgin English should be incorporated into the Nigerian educational curriculum and taught as an official language in our schools especially Primary and Secondary levels.

Title Page

Certification

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Content

List of Tables

Abstract

Chapter One:

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

1.2 Statement of the Problem

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.4 Research Questions

1.5 Research Hypothesis

1.6 Significance of the Study

1.7 Scope of the Study

1.8 Limitation of the Study

1.9 Definition of Terms

1.10 Organisations of the Study

Chapter Two:

Review of Literature

2.1 Conceptual Framework

2.2 Theoretical Framework

2.3 Empirical Review

Chapter Three:

Research Methodology

3.1 Research Design

3.2 Population of the Study

3.3 Sample Size Determination

3.4 Sample Size Selection Technique and Procedure

3.5 Research Instrument and Administration

3.6 Method of Data Collection

3.7 Method of Data Analysis

3.8 Validity of the Study

3.9 Reliability of the Study

3.10 Ethical Consideration

Chapter Four:

Data Presentation and Analysis

4.1 Data Presentation

4.2 Analysis of Data

4.3 Answering Research Questions

4.4 Test of Hypotheses

Chapter Five:

Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Summary

5.2 Conclusion

5.3 Recommendation

References

APPENDIX

QUESTIONNAIRE

• Teachers Perception Of The Influence Of Pidgin English On Secondary School Students
• Audience Perception Of Pidgin English Usage In Broadcast Media

• Mass Communication Project Topics and Materials