THE PRAGMATIC INTERSECTION OF PROVERBS AND HUMOUR IN NIGERIAN PIDGIN

ABSTRACT

 Proverbs and humour are two important forms of communication in Nigerian Pidgin and has become an everyday form of communication for most Nigerians. This study focuses on the Pragmatic Intersection of Proverbs and Humour in Nigerian Pidgin. The method of data collection for this research was the primary and secondary source of data collection. The method used in the study for data collection is the participant observation method with the use of pen and paper. The theoretical framework adopted for this research is the Speech Act Theory  which was developed by J.L Austin (1975) and the data was analyzed using the locutionary act, illocutionary act and the perlocutionary act. The findings underscored the cultural richness and linguistic complexity inherent in Nigerian Pidgin, showcasing how proverbs and jokes serve multiple functions: from preserving cultural wisdom to fostering social cohesion and humor. The study concludes that through the analysis of commonly used linguistic expressions,  proverbs and jokes serve multiple functions in everyday communication, including cultural preservation, social cohesion, and identity expression.