LINGUISTIC HYBRIDIZATION IN NIGERIAN MEDIA: A SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF CODE-SWITCHING AND CODE-MIXING IN JENIFA’S DIARY
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Nigeria’s multilingual nature makes code-switching and code-mixing common in daily communication, yet little research has explored how these practices appear in Nigerian television series and what roles they play. This study fills that gap by examining code-switching, code-mixing, and linguistic hybridization in Jenifa’s Diary. Using a qualitative descriptive design, three purposively selected episodes were transcribed and analyzed. The findings revealed thirty-four instances of code-switching, mainly intra-sentential, and twenty-four cases of code-mixing, mostly between English and Yoruba. These language choices were found to express identity, assert authority, create humor, emphasize ideas, and fill lexical gaps. The study concludes that code-switching and code-mixing in Jenifa’s Diary are purposeful and reflect Nigeria’s multilingual reality, enhancing character relatability and communication. It recommends that media producers continue to use authentic language and that educators and researchers explore Nigerian media as a tool for studying language in context.
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