The Effect of Pidgin English Use in Broadcast of Programs in Rivers State (a Case of Port Harcourt Resident)
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To determine the effect of pidgin English broadcasting on residents of Rivers state.
- To determine the influence of pidgin English broadcasting on residents of Rivers state
- To determine the factors affecting pidgin English broadcasting in Rivers state
- To ascertain if the use of pidgin English in the select radio program is effective.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
PREAMBLE
This chapter reviews the literature on the effect of pidgin English use in broadcast of programs in Rivers state. It discusses issues relating to the topic of discuss as viewed from different perspectives, with a view of giving a theoretical and empirical foundation to the study
NIGERIAN PIDGIN ENGLISH AS A MARGINAL VARIETY
Out of many common manifestations of language marginalisation, only one has been extensively researched in Nigeria: the non-recognition of minority languages at the local, state or national level (Oyelaran 1990). However, marginalisation can also come in the form of limited space or attention given to a particular language in printed or electronic forms. A language is considered marginal only when there are other languages to which we can compare it within the same speech community. There is a sense in which NPE can be regarded as a marginal language when we consider the fact that its written form, compared to the written forms of languages like English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo, is on the margin. Not many literary works have been produced in NPE in Nigeria. When we compare the literary works written in any of the four languages mentioned above (i.e., English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo) in Nigeria with the few ones written in NPE, it would be apparent that NPE has been marginalised in the print medium. Apart from the fact that only a few novels or drama texts exist in NPE, most Nigerians do not often read or pay any serious academic attention to works written in NPE. This is born out of the attitudes that they have to the language. More importantly, while English and the other three national languages are codified, NPE is not. Politically, NPE is marginalised. While English and other major languages are recognised in our constitution, NPE is not at all. Two major reasons can be hypothesised for this. First is the fact that most Nigerians, including the elites, see NPE as a mere contact language which cannot be said to belong to any particular region unlike the three major languages which are regionally or ethnically based. As such, it (NPE) is not the language of any ethnic group. We can more or less see it, therefore, as being ethnically marginalised. Secondly, while each of Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and English is studied as a discipline in Nigeria’s secondary schools and higher institutions, as far as we know, there is no secondary school where NPE is taught as a subject. Similarly, there is no department of Nigerian Pidgin English in any higher institution in Nigeria although there are some dissertations which have examined one aspect or the other of NPE. This also implies that NPE is marginalised in Nigeria’s curriculum. The nonintroduction of NPE into the curriculum is political.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to the effect of pidgin English use in broadcast of programs in Rivers state.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
Primary source and Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
CHAPTER FOUR
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
One hundred and sixty (160) questionnaires were distributed and one hundred and forty (133) were returned. This figure was the sample size. Out of the one hundred and thirty-three, only one hundred and twenty (120) were properly responded to. As a result, the researcher used one hundred and twenty for this study when more than 50% of the respondents agree to the questions, the answer is taken as valid for the purpose of this study. In analyzing the data, the approach that will be adopted is to find out the percentage and positive and negative answers to the question posed.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was on the effect of pidgin English use in broadcast of programs in Rivers state. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of pidgin English use in broadcast of programs in Rivers state
Summary
This study was on the effect of pidgin English use in broadcast of programs in Rivers state. Four objectives were raised which included: To determine the effect of pidgin English broadcasting on residents of Rivers state, to determine the influence of pidgin English broadcasting on residents of Rivers state, to determine the factors affecting pidgin English broadcasting in Rivers state and to ascertain if the use of pidgin English in the select radio program is effective. In line with these objectives, four research questions were asked and answered. The total population for the study is 200 residents of portharcourt, Rivers state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made civil servants, students, businessmen and youths were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
Pidgin English has marginally been effective in broadcast programs in portharcourt, Rivers state. Interestingly is that some language use could be effective in communication despite not being structured as grammarians would suggest
Recommendation
The following recommendations are advanced from the study:
- Information on media support to enhance Pidgin English language use and official recognition of language.
- Recognized mass media should adopt the use of communicating in Pidgin English language in order for those who do not understand normal English language to be able to able to understand the happenings around them
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