ERROR ANALYSIS OF SELECTED BILLBOARD ADVERTS IN BENIN METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the conclusion of the error analysis of selected billboard adverts in Benin Metropolis. Twenty-one (21) billboards adverts, in various locations in Benin Metropolis, were analyzed for grammatical errors. The research found that among the 21 advertisements, 12 (57.1%) are categorized into omissions/misspellings, 1 (9.5%) are categorized into additions, 11 (52.4%) are categorized into misinformation, while 5 (23.8%) are categorized into disorders. The results of the study also finds that the language of advertising characterizes in features including brevity incorrectness, grammatical incorrectness, choice of improper words, and lack of verb and predicate. As they very often refer to the culture, history, literature and tradition of a particular set of people, their language may not always be “correct” language in the normal sense. However, the language of advertising is normally positive and emphasizes why one product stands out in comparison with another. Therefore, although they may be analysed on the errors, they will be on their ongoing ways because language of advertisement is now as an art of expressing and conveying.