AN ANALYSIS OF FLIGHT ANNOUNCERS’ LANGUAGE AT THE MURTALA MUHAMMED AIRPORT, LAGOS. BY UGBOKO BERETON-AYE ESTHER 15PBC01093 A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGES AND GENERAL STUDIES, SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES, COLLEGE OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, COVENANT UNIVERSITY, OTA, OGUN STATE IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF THE MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) DEGREE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAY, 2017 1 CERTIFICATION I certify that this research was carried out by Bereton-aye Esther UGBOKO of the Department of Languages and General Studies, Covenant University with Matriculation Number 15PBC01093. The research has been read and approved as meeting part of the requirements for the award of Master of Arts Degree in English Language. -------------------------------- -------------------- -------------- PROF. CHARLES OGBULOGO Signature Date (Project Supervisor) -------------------------------- -------------------- -------------- PROF. INNOCENT CHILUWA Signature Date Head, Dept. of Languages & General Studies -------------------------------- -------------------- -------------- PROF. SAMUEL WARA Signature Date Dean, School of Post Graduate Studies 2 DEDICATION I dedicate this research work to the Holy Spirit, my private teacher for all HIS help. To the strongest woman I know; my first teacher, model and mentor, Mrs. Apakiribia Dick (my MUM), for making this dream of mine a reality. Finally, to my awesome SON, Nathan, who had to stay with Granny while Mummy ‘did her homework’ - I pray that one day you too will achieve your dream of being a pilot. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am extremely grateful to God Almighty for seeing me through this study. I made it this far simply because HE never gave up on me. To Him alone I return all the praise. I am immensely grateful to my academic coach and supervisor, Prof. Charles Ogbulogo for his constant intellectual challenge, pieces of advice and belief in my ability. Most admirable is the fact that he operates an open door policy and is always on hand to instantly read every write-up I submit, correct it and/or constructively criticize as well as commend excellent work. God bless you, Sir. To my sister from another mother, Dr. Chimuanya - who encouraged me endlessly, painstakingly read and corrected my work despite her very busy schedule – you are engraved in gold in my heart. God bless you. My run-to persons - who are always there to help me out - Dr. Uba (for answering my endless questions), Mrs. Ezeike (for supplying me invaluable materials) and Mrs. Olatunji; you all made it happen. Thank you and remain ever blessed. I thank my family – beginning with my beautiful mum, Mrs. Apakiribia Dick for her huge sacrifice of love in giving me the opportunity to take my dream to the next level. Next is my husband, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugboko, for saying ‘No’, and when you said ‘Yes’, your encouragement stepped up. To Mrs. Oraka, my wonderful sister and Mrs. Ohayenrenwa, my other mother; thanks for your encouragements and prayers. My sons, Franklin and Nathan – thanks for your understanding. Mummy loves both of you dearly. I also appreciate all my tutors – Prof. Awonuga, Prof. Ogbulogo, Prof. Abioye, Prof. Chiluwa (who also doubles as my H.o.D), Dr. Owoeye and Dr. Bello – for giving me a good academic foundation. I was not only taught but I learnt from the best. Finally, Miss Ajiboye, Dr. Maduagwu (my PG co-ordinator), Ijeoma (IJ), Mrs. Adeniji, and my team mates - Miss Meshioye, Mrs. Quaggar, Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Olawuyi - it is my prayer that God crowns all your effort with outstanding success. 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE i ACCEPTANCE ii CERTIFICATION iii DEDICATION iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS v TABLE OF CONTENTS vi LIST OF TABLES x LIST OF FIGURES xiii ABSTRACT xiv CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study 4 1.4 Significance of the Study 4 1.5 Scope of the Study 5 1.6 Research Questions 5 1.7 Organization of the work 5 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Introduction 7 2.1 Language and Communication 7 2.1.1 Language as Directive 8 2.1.2 Language as Interaction 9 5 2.2 The English language use in Nigeria 10 2.3 The Nigerian English 10 2.4 International Intelligibility and Nigerian English 13 2.5 Aspects of the Phonology of Nigerian English 15 2.5.1 The Consonants of Nigerian English 15 2.5.2 The Vowel system of Nigerian English 17 2.5.3 The Suprasegmental features of Nigerian English 25 2.6 Problems of Nigerian English Phonology 26 2.7 Air travel and the English language 29 2.8 Announcers and Announcements 32 CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction 35 3.1 Theoretical Framework 35 3.1.1 Labovian Paradigm in the study on Social Stratification (r) in New York City 36 3.1.2 Identification of Linguistic Variables in this study 39 3.2 Conceptual Framework 40 3.2.1 Education as variable 41 3.2.2 Ethnicity as variable 41 3.2.3 Age as variable 41 3.2.4 Experience/exposure as variable 41 3.2.5 Gender as variable 41 3.3 Description of Study Area 42 6 3.4 Selection of Sample 44 3.5 The Demographics of Sample 44 3.6 The nature of Research Instrument 50 3.7 Validity of Instruments 52 3.8 Method of Data Analysis 52 CHAPTER FOUR DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS 4.0 Introduction 54 4.1 Summary of Respondents’ Demographic report 54 4.2 Analysis of Linguistic variables in Respondents’ reading tests 57 4.3 Respondents’ Performance scores in Wordlist 60 4.3.1 Respondents’ Pronunciation of /ǝ/ in individual words 61 4.3.2 Respondents’ Pronunciation of / / in individual words 62 4.3.3 Respondents’ Pronunciation of /ðӨ/ in individual words 63 4.4 Respondents’ Linguistic Performance of items in Wordlist at a glance 63 4.5 Respondents’ Performance scores in Phrase list 65 4.6 Respondents’ Performance scores in Sentence list 68 4.7 Mean distribution of Respondents’ Percentage scores 75 4.8 Correlation between respondents’ performance and sociolinguistic variables 80 7 CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.0 Introduction 89 5.1 General Summary 89 5.2 Findings 90 5.3 Implications 93 5.4 Conclusion 93 5.5 Recommendations 93 REFERENCES 94 APPENDIX I 107 APPENDIX II 108 APPENDIX III 110 APPENDIX IV 111 8 LIST OF TABLES Table No. Title Page Table 2.1 Models of Nigerian English Consonants and their variants 16 Table 2.2 Models on Monophthongs and their variants/alternants in Nigerian English 18 Table 2.3 Models on Diphthongs and their variants/alternants in Nigerian English 20 Table 2.4 Discrepancies on the number of vowels inventories in Nigerian English 21 Table 2.5 Josiah and Babatunde’s model on the Consonants of Nigerian English 23 Table 2.6 Josiah and Babatunde’s model on the Monophthongs of Nigerian English 24 Table 2.7 Josiah and Babatunde’s Model on the Diphthongs of Nigerian English 24 Table 3.1 Percentage of r-use in the three New York City department stores 37 Table 3.2 Respondent’s Age 45 Table 3.3 Respondents’ Ethnic Origin 45 Table 3.3.1 Mother tongue/Ethnic group 47 Table 3.3.2 Number of languages spoken 47 Table 3.3.3 Types of languages spoken 47 Table 3.4 Respondents’ Qualification 48 Table 3.4.1 Respondents’ Course of Study 48 Table 3.4.2 Respondents’ training 49 Table 3.5 Work Experience 49 Table 3.5.1 Exposure to Native Speakers 49 9 Table 3.5.2 Exposure to Native Speakers (2) 50 Table 3.5.3 Why announcing 50 Table 4.1 Summary of Respondents’ Demographics 55 Table 4.2 Distribution of the Linguistic Variables in the Wordlist 59 Table 4.3 Distribution of the Linguistic Variables in the Phrase list 60 Table 4.4 Distribution of the Linguistic Variables in the Sentence 62 Table 4.5 Percentage representation of the correct use of /ǝ/ by Respondents 62 Table 4.6 Percentage representation of the correct use of /ð/ by Respondents 63 Table 4.7 Percentage representation of the correct use of /Ө/ by Respondents 64 Table 4.8 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in PL1 66 Table 4.9 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in PL2 67 Table 4.10 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in PL3 68 Table 4.11 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in PL4 69 Table 4.12 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in SL1 70 Table 4.13 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in SL2 71 Table 4.14 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in SL3 72 Table 4.15 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in SL4 73 Table 4.16 Percentage representation of Respondents’ correct pronunciation of Linguistic variables in SL5 74 10