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ABSTRACT
The research is a sociolinguistic analysis of the use of Nigerian Pidgin for transactions in Igbudu market, warri, Delta State. Pidgins are contact vernacular normally not the native language of any speaker in the situation requiring communication between persons who do not speak each other native language. It is characterized by a limited vocabulary and an elimination of many grammatical devices such as number and gender. This research investigates the extent to which buyers and sellers make use of pidgins along with other languages such as Urhobo and other varieties of English which are widely spoken in Igbudu market. It also investigates whether there is any significant impact of switching and mixing codes and Nigerian Pidgin for interactions in the selected markets. The study adopts the anthropological approach by Hymes (1974) as its theoretical framework using “ethnography of communication”. The methodology used to collect data for this study includes questionnaire. The population for this study comprises some traders that own shops and buyers who patronize Igbudu market in Delta State. One hundred and fifty (150) copies of questionnaire were administered to the buyers and sellers in market by direct contact. The data collected were analysed using arithmetic calculation. The analysis revealed the extent to which Nigerian Pidgin is used in the market and concludes that Nigerian Pidgin is a language for ef ective communication in the markets. Also, the findings show that, the native speakers of Urhobo and other indigenous languages communicate in Nigerian Pidgin by code-switching and code mixing.
