A SOCIOLINGUISTICS ANALYSIS OF CODE SWITCHING AND CODE MIXING IN THE MOVIE “A TRIBE CALLED JUDAH”
Abstract
The sociolinguistic phenomena of code-switching and code-mixing as they appear in the Nigerian
film "A Tribe Called Judah" are examined in this research. The use of language in Nigerian film often
mirrors the country's multilingual reality, where Pidgin English, English, and native tongues coexist
in conversational settings. In order to find instances of code-switching and code-mixing, the research
employs a qualitative descriptive approach to analyze a selection of linguistic utterances from the
film. These instances are then categorized based on sociolinguistic functions like identity expression, solidarity, social stratification, and contextual appropriateness. The research employs theories that
are suitable for the task, such as the Markedness Model and the Matrix Language Frame Model. In
this study, the researcher serves as the main analytical tool for gathering data, with a transcription
sheet serving as a supplemental tool. Data was gathered by carefully viewing the film and recording
pertinent sequences. The results show that the film uses a variety of native languages, including
Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, in addition to English and Nigerian Pidgin. It also shows how a
character's bilingual conduct affects their personalities and societal responsibilities. Because it
shows authenticity and improves viewer engagement, the research advises Nollywood filmmakers, producers, and screenwriters to keep embracing Nigeria's multilingual reality in their language. In
order to provide students real-world examples of code flipping and code mixing, it also suggests that
Nollywood movies like "A Tribe Called Judah" be included in sociolinguistics and communication
studies courses
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Published in Wellspring University Journal of Social and Management Sciences
ISSN: 2616-1296
This article appears in our peer-reviewed academic journal
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