LANGUAGE USE AND SOCIOLINGUISTIC VARIABLES IN DELTA STATE: A CASE STUDY OF ADULTS AND YOUTHS IN URHOBO

ABSTRACT

This project is titled “language use and sociolinguistic variables in delta state: A case study of adults and youths in Urhobo language. It aims to investigate how social variables affect the use of Urhobo language by youths and adults in Delta state. The method used to carry out this research is a structured interview method with the use of swadesh 100word list and some sentences from both the youth and adult. The theoretical framework used for this study is “variation theory” propounded by William Labov in 1966 and has been modified; its most recent modification was in 2006. The phonological and lexical variable of William labov was used to analyze the data collected. After this research was carried out, it was found out that variation indeed existed in the Ujevwin dialect of Urhobo language using the variable of age.