Abstract

This work is a linguistic study of Nigerian musical artistes, especially
of the Hip Hop genre. The study shows that the artistes skillfully use language
alternation strategies to enhance the aesthetic and rhetorical qualities of
their music. It is revealed in the study that the language alternation patterns
involve major Nigerian languages and English, and, they interact with elements
of the lyrical structure, namely, the lines, rhymes and stanzas to enhance the
musical qualities of the artistes‟ works. Language alternations have other
connotations as they also bear the qualities of identifying the artistes‟
linguistic identity and preferences. It also has semantic significance as when
some lexical items are used to highlight code switching occurrences like
contrastive and expressive code switching as well as reformulations and
repetitions. It is also used to achieve a greater audience/participant
constellation and greater understanding of the discourse/message of the song.

Key Words: Hip Hop; Language Alternation; Code
Switching; Text; Context.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCION

1.1 Background of he Study

1.2 Statemen of the Problem

1.3 Significant of the Problem

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 CONCEPTUAL LITERATURE

2.1.1 The Concept of Hip Hop

2.1.2 Popular Music, Language,
Culture and the Issue of Identity

2.1.3 Background to the Text and
Context of Nigerian Hip Hop

2.2
Theoretical Framework

CHAPTER THREE

AN
INTRODUCTION TO NIGERIA AND ETHNO IDENTIY

3.1
Nigeria: A Short Profile

3:2.1 Nigeria:
The People and Languages

3:2.3
Politics and Governance

3:2.4
Musical Practices

3:2.5
Diversity and Similarity

3.2
Hip Hop, ‘The Street’ and The Nigerian Experience

3.3
‘The Street’ and Hip Hop

3.2.1
‘The Street’ and Hip Hop in the Nigerian Context

CHAPTER FOUR

LANGUAGE ALTERNATION STRATEGIES IN
NIGERIAN HIP HOP

4.1 Data Analysis

            4.1.1
Reformulations

4.1.2 Code Switching Intended for the
Audience

4.1.3 Expressive Code Switching

4.2 Code switching to select a new
audience

4.2.1 Contrastive Code Switching

4.2.2
Repetitions

4.2.3 Code Switching with Rhyming
Function

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

reference