Code Switching among the Nigerian Pidgin Speakers in Masaka Market Area of Nasarawa State

Abstract

This study examined code-switching among Nigerian Pidgin speakers in Masaka market area of Nasarawa State. The study was based on the use of the instruments of observation that involved recording, question and interaction sought to discover and account for the nature of code-switching among Nigerian Pidgin speakers in Masaka market of Nasarawa State. The population of the study was drawn from traders and buyers who patronised the Masaka Market. Purposive sampling technique was used to identify participants randomly in Masaka market. The data was generated through two (2) audio-tape recording and oral note (personal observation).  The study was anchored on the anthropological approach of Dell Hyme’s Ethnography of Communication with the application of both description and qualitative analysis as methods in the analysis. The findings showed both buyers and sellers irrespective of gender, age and educational background use Nigerian Pidgin in Masaka Market to establish effective communication in the market. The findings further revealed that the Nigerian Pidgin speakers communicate in Nigerian Pidgin by code-switching to achieve the goal of business transactions and social interaction. The study concluded that Nigerian Pidgin is the most popular and the widely spoken language in Masaka Market, it serves as effective language of communication between people of different ethnic groups, increases sales, breaks language barrier and bridges the gap of inferiority complex for those who could not communicate in English. The study recommended that Nigerian Pidgin should be standardised to exhibit regional and social variance in the country.