Sociolinguistic Analysis of Greetings in Igbo, Yoruba and Nigerian English
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Date
2015-06
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Rossen Publications Ltd
Abstract
Greetings are essential in introducing and maintaining contacts and interactions in Igbo, Yoruba and the Nigerian English. Yet, greetings in the three languages have not attracted much research attention from a comparative point of view. This study then explains the sociolinguistic variables accounting for greetings in the three languages by deploying the interactional sociolinguistic theory. The paper comparatively explores interpersonal/casual, occupational, departure/arrival, seasonal, festival, felicitating and condoling greetings in the three languages. It is observed that age (respect), time, number of persons being greeted, occasions and contexts determine the choice, nature and functions of greetings in varying degrees in the languages. Though greetings in Igbo and Yoruba are largely similar, greetings in Nigerian English differ by short, informal and devoid of intimacy or warm affections. It also came to the limelight that some greeting terms and customs in Igbo and Yoruba are transferred to the greetings of Nigerian English and vice versa. The paper concludes that greeting is a sociolinguistic feature employed by the Igbo, Yoruba and Nigerian English speakers to enrich interpersonal and group relationships by expressing best wishes and enquiring the welfare of one another.
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Keywords
Igbo,, Yoruba,, Nigerian English,, Sociolinguistics,, Interactional sociolinguistics