International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 9(1), pp. 24-32, January 2021

 ISSN: 2360-7831

DOI: 10.14662/IJELC2021.005

 

Research paper

 

Abstract

 

By �code alternation� in this paper, we mean both �mixing� and �switching� of codes. Code alternation is a common phenomenon in sociolinguistics, it is the inevitable consequence of bilingualism/multilingualism. Much research attention has been devoted to this concept since its first appearance in 1971, (at least with regard to its occurrence in normal language use in general). However, little attention has been devoted to it as a common feature in music in Nigeria, especially, gospel music. This research endeavour is our attempt to fill this obvious lacuna. Five gospel artistes (two males, three females) have been purposively selected for analysis in this paper. Myers Scotton�s Matrix Language Frame (MLF), whose main proposal is that code-mixing has a dominant language called Matrix Language (ML) and a subordinate language, called Embedded Language (EL) form the theoretical framework employed for the research. One feature that is common to the artistes whose works are selected is the fact that they are all bilingual in Yoruba and English. They all have Yoruba as their mother tongue and English as their second language. Of the twenty tracks selected for analysis, 13 have the Yoruba language as the Matrix Language, while the remaining seven have the English language as the matrix language. As for the main reason why gospel artistes code-mix in their songs, it is obvious that they code-mix because majority of their fans are youths, at least over 60%. Knowing fully well that code-mixing is a common feature among the youths, these gospel artistes resort to this phenomenon to gain acceptability among them. Code-mixing is fast becoming a significant practice in the Nigerian music industry (especially gospel and hip-hop genres).

                                           

Keywords: Code-mixing, Gospel music, Language use, Matrix language framework, Myers-Scotton

 

Cite This Article As: Oluwadorọ, J.O (2020). Code Alternation in Nigerian Gospel Music: A Matrix Language Frame Analysis. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 9(1):24-32