Hip-hop lect in Nigeria

Adaorah Stellamaris Nweke

Abstract


The hip-hop music is popular among the youths in Nigeria today. As it is obvious, it has not only influenced the lifestyle of the youths, it has influenced their use of language. This study focuses on its influence on the language of the youths. The Labovian variation theory has driven the study. Twelve hip-hop tracks of four Nigerian hip-hop artistes have been selected. The lyrics of the tracks shows expressions which are found in the language of many Nigerian youths today: an indication of the emergence of a variety, which this study has identified as hip-hop lect. This variety characterized by lexical forms that English and the local languages based. However, there is evidence of innovative introductions which has been referred to in this study as onomatopoeic and aesthetic creations. The forms even though have no particular language identity are used to mean whatever the artistes have used them to mean. This is one quality of the lect that makes it flexible and equips with the capacity to grow words very productively.

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References


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