A socio-linguistic study of English and Ibibio idioms

Abstract

This study examined selected English and Ibibio idioms with a view to showing, through sociolinguistic tools how English-Ibibio bilinguals leverage on linguistic and socio-cultural hints in their understanding and interpretation of idioms. The study, among other objectives,  sought to show how idioms can be deployed to meet specific communication needs of Ibibio-English bilinguals. It also indicated how the  occupational and economic potentials of English and Ibibio people are revealed through the use of idioms, how the historical, mythical,  beliefs and socio-cultural practices of English and Ibibio people are revealed through the use of idioms. The study is also to show whether  there are idioms in the two languages for the expression of worldviews and whether there are English idioms that can express  the same thoughts and propositions as Ibibio idioms. The data for the study comprised eight (8) extracts that contained four idioms each  for English and Ibibio languages. The extracts were sourced from a combination of audience participant‟s Observation Method, Face-To- Face-Communication (FTFC) and data from purposive reading of online and hard copies of some Nigerian Newspapers comprising the Vanguard and the Punch, newspapers. The data obtained were analyzed following Dell Hyme‟s SPEAKING model and they yielded  findings that showed that idioms fulfil different social and linguistic functions like, admonition, appeal, criticism, mockery, resentment,  compliment, praise, encouragement, instruction, knowledge, and giving information. Findings also revealed that the interaction of idioms  within a language through sociolinguistic tools can meet specific communication needs of speakers and that through idioms, the  occupational and economic lives of a people can be revealed.