AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SPEECH EVENTS IN KAJJU
1 Department of English and Drama, Kaduna State University, Kaduna
2 Department of English and Drama, Kaduna State University, Kaduna
* Corresponding author: dronahpat@yahoo.com
2 Department of English and Drama, Kaduna State University, Kaduna
* Corresponding author: dronahpat@yahoo.com
Abstract
This study entitled “An Ethnographic Analysis of Selected
Speech Events in Kajju” examines different communicative
events and how the Jju speakers deploy both the linguistic
elements and the cultural resources available to them to
produce successful communicative engagements. The
motivation for this study stems from the view held by some
linguists that every language is sufficient to express the
communicative needs of its speakers; therefore, an
examination of Jju, the language of Bajju people in
Southern Kaduna, their speech events and world views
would provide an empirical basis for generalisation. The
data for this study were sourced from selected live events
though surreptitiously using recording gadgets (devices)
from which the transcription was made for presentation. A
total of five events that underpin the social reality of
virtually every human society were covered. Dell Hymes'
Speaking Grid was adopted as the theoretical and analytical
framework. The choice of this model was based on the fact
that the power dynamics of the people are locked up in their
relations and how language steeped on social events are the
windows through which they can be appreciated. From the
study, we found out that the in-group identities of a people
are defined by their participation in certain speech events.
Also, the cultural beliefs of the Bajju people reflect some
degree of similarities with other indigenous people of the
Southern Kaduna. The study concludes that research of this
nature should be encouraged for cultural reorientation at a
time such as this when younger generations of native
speakers of many minority languages do not make up the
list of active speakers of their native languages.
References
- Duranti, A. (2009) Linguistic Anthropology: A Reader. 2nd edn. Malden, M.A: Blackwell
- Hall, J. K. (2002) Teaching and Researching Language and Culture. London: Pearson Education
- Hymes, D. H (1972). "Models of Interaction of Language and Social Life". In: J.J. Gumperz and D. Hymes (eds) Directions in Sociolinguistics: The Ethnography of Communication. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
- Labov, W. (1972). Sociolinguistic Patterns. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
- Labov, W, (1972) "The Study of Language in the Social Context". In: J.B Pride and Janet Holmes (eds), Sociolinguistics, Penguin Education, Penguin Books ltd, England
- Lofland, J., David S., Leon A. and Lyn H. L., (1984), Analysing Social Settings; A Guide to Qualitative Observation and Analysis, New York Work, Wadswoth
- Obiora.T. (2009) Ethnographic Application in Igbo Communication. A Study of Selected Communities. www.academicexcellence society. Accessed 12 August, 2020
- Philipsen, G. and Coutu, M. (2005). "The Ethnography of Speaking." In: K. L. Fitch and R. E. Sanders (ed.) Handbook of Language and Social Interaction.
- Saville-Troike, M. (1997) "The Ethnographic Analysis of Communicative Events." In: Coupland, N. and Adam J. (eds) Sociolinguistics. A Reader and Coursebook. New York: Palgrave
- Sherzer, J. and Regna D. (1986) "Outline Guide for the Ethnographic Study of Speech Use.". In: Gumperz, J. J. and Hymes, D. (eds) Directions in Sociolinguistics: The Ethnography of Communication. Oxford:Basil Blackwell
- Wardhaugh, R. (2002) An Introduction to Socio-linguistics. London: Blackwell.
- Yule, G. (2002) The study of Language 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
How to Cite
EL-KANEMI, O. P., & NKOM, G. K. (2023). AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SPEECH EVENTS IN KAJJU. Humanity - Jos Journal Of General Studies, 14(1), 119-126. https://doi.org/10.67862/hjjgs.2023.s38k1xus
O. P. EL-KANEMI, and G. K. NKOM, "AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SPEECH EVENTS IN KAJJU," Humanity - Jos Journal Of General Studies, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 119-126, January 2023. doi: 10.67862/hjjgs.2023.s38k1xus