AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF PIDGIN ENGLISH USAGE IN BROADCAST MEDIA

AUDIENCE PERCEPTION OF PIDGIN ENGLISH USAGE IN BROADCAST MEDIA

ABSTRACT

The research examined audience perception of Pidgin English usage in Broadcast Media with a study of WASOBIA TV and WASOBIA FM. It was observed that pidgin English otherwise known as broken English is now gaining popularity in Nigeria society particularly in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Aba, Onisha, Enugu, Owerri, Uyo, Edo and most of the cities in Nigeria.Although, Pidgin English is still considered as a language of the uneducated and there will be declined in pure English language if Pidgin English continues to thrill in broadcast media. But today is been used in both formal and informal setting to include radio programme. Survey research method was used in this study, questionnaires were administered to the selected respondents of 100 who were accidentally selected while 90 copies of questionnaires were returned for analysis, however, the frequency and percentage method of data analysis was used. Language planners in Nigeria should work towards improving the status of pidgin by borrowing from the experience of Papua New Guinea and Tanzania where Pidgin has become the official language used in parliament. Even in Cameroon, pidgin language is very popular, though it is not an official language. Findings show that people especially in the cites, both the enlightened the less educated enjoy pidgin programmes and offers them quick understanding of issues debating.