Language plays an important role in the society and this leads to the study of code mixing in relation to sociolinguistics and how code mixed utterances have been triggered as a result of language gap, stylistic motivations, domains, societal factors, message intrinsic factors, physical settings and situational factors. This work examined how these motivations have resulted in code mixed utterances by critically analyzing randomly selected utterances from the randomly selected songs of artistes in the Nigerian music industry. It was discovered that English language has adapted to the Nigerian context which brings out the creative and unpredictable nature of language users. It is therefore safe to conclude that motivations for code mixing enhance communication among cadres of people linguistically united or disjointed.

N.E - Nigerian English

B.E - British English 

L1 - First Language

L2 - Second Language

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Abstract v

Operational Definition of Terms vi

Table of Contents vii

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study 1

Statement of Research Problem 1

Aims and Objectives 2

Delimitation and Limitation 2

Justification 3

Methodology 4

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction 5

Sociolinguistics 6

Code Mixing 8

Motivations for Code Mixing 11

Message Intrinsic Factors 12

Situational Factors 12

Language Gap 13

Societal Factors 13

Physical Setting 14

Domain 14

Stylistic Motivations 14

Functions of Code Mixing 15

Nigerianism 15

Phonetics and Phonology 15

Morphology and Syntax 17

Lexis and Structure 18

Summary 19

CHAPTER THREE

DATA ANALYSIS

Introduction 20

Datum One 20

Datum Two 22

Datum Three 24

Datum Four 25

Datum Five 27

Datum Six 28

Datum Seven 30

Datum Eight 33

Datum Nine 35

Datum Ten 38

Discussion 41

Summary 42

CHAPTER FOUR

SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSION

Summary 43

Findings 44

Conclusion 44

Bibliography

 

Society impinges on language, and language impinges on the society. Hence, there must be a relationship existing between language and society. The interdependency of these two entities – language and society led to the study of sociolinguistics. Sociolinguistics is the study of all aspects of linguistics applied towards the connections between language and society, and the way we use it in different language situations.

Language is seen as a unifying force and a common ground among various people through which effective communication is carried out. It has however been noticed that even within the same language, there are different ways or styles of speaking. The contact English language had with Nigeria and her indigenous languages and a bid to communicate effectively across and within ethnic boundaries (cases of intra and inter ethnic communication), led to code mixing.