A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE USE BY BUS DRIVERS, MOTORCYCLISTS AND THE STUDENTS OF A.B.U. ZARIA.
A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE USE BY BUS DRIVERS, MOTORCYCLISTS AND THE STUDENTS OF A.B.U. ZARIA.
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Date
2010-11
Authors
OKE, OLUROPO CHRISTIANA
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Abstract
Language in a cosmopolitan setting reflects the various features of the
complexities of the different languages that interact in that setting. This
leads to different forms of interaction in order to find common meeting
grounds for communication in a context which would have been made
impossible by the non-availability of a common means of interaction. That
language is sensitive to its context of use, is the defining insights of linguists
on the subject. In Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where this study focused
on, students who come from different linguistic backgrounds are forced to
interact on the platform of a common code of communication. However, the
situation becomes slightly different when the students interact with the
community most members of which (like drivers and commercial
motorcyclists) lack access to the sort of linguistic codes which the students
use. This situation gives rise to different sorts of departures from the norm
which in turn affects the outcome of verbal interaction. This study is
therefore and examination of the pragmatic structure of the interaction
between the students and the commercial transport operators using the
pragmatic theory of H.P. Grice. The maxims are used to analyse data
sourced from the students' interactions while in transit. The analysis shows
that various sorts of implicatures arise as a result of the cooperative nature
of the interaction which would otherwise have led to communication
breakdown.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS
(M.A.) DEGREE IN ENGLISH (LANGUAGE) IN THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENGLISH AND LITERARY STUDIES, FACULTY OF ARTS, AHMADU
BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
NOVEMBER, 2010
Keywords
PRAGMATIC,, BUS DRIVERS,, MOTORCYCLISTS,