Thanking Expressions in Spoken Nigerian English: A Conversational Analysis

Abstract

This paper investigates Conversational Routines of Thanking in Spoken Nigerian English. Everyday utterances are made through the use of language whether spoken or written. Thanking is prevalent basically in conversations. The selected speech acts for this study is thanking. Subjects for this study were drawn from three federal Universities from the South-South Region in Nigeria. They included: University of Uyo, University of Calabar and University of Port Harcourt. Data for this study were collected from three different speech interactions, namely: face-to-face conversations (FTFC), telephone conversations (TC) and vote of thanks (VOT). Data were collected through the use of a mini-tape recorder. Here, a Corpus of conversations were selected using purposive sampling method and surreptitiously collected from strategic points. This enabled the researcher to collect the Corpus in its original form. They were collected at different points where the students meet: lecture halls, hostels, canteens, relaxation centres among others. The framework for the analysis of this study is provided by the Speech Act theory. Frequency of the distribution between the male and female subjects, were calculated using the mean statistical method. This study found out that beyond the main functions of thanking, it also performs an array of other functions. Data have also revealed that the multilingual situation in Nigeria has affected the choices of language use, resulting in features such as code-mixing, slangs, Nigerian English-based pidgin, among others. This study has specifically shown that apart from classifying thanking as expressive speech act, it can further be classified as declarative, commissive and requestive speech acts. Therefore, this study concludes that with regard to thanking, the co-existence of English with other indigenous languages have given rise to linguistic patterns and forms, identifying Nigerian English as a distinct variety of the world Englishes. Keywords: Conversational routines, Thanking, Spoken Nigerian English, Nigerian Identity, Speech Acts.