LANGUAGE AND SOCIAL CLASS: AN ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE VARIATION IN THE NIGERIAN AIR FORCE BASE, KADUNA

Abstract

Language is a vital tool for communal interaction and social
mobility. The levels of its application in any given society usually
provide an insight into the social structure of the group.
Consequently, modern linguistic studies have focused their
attention on the relationship between a linguistic code and the
society in which it is being employed. It was in this perspective
that this research, ‘Language and Social Class: An Analysis of
Language Variation in the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna.’ was
carried out. Using Milroy’s Social Network theory in line with
the results from questionnaire analysed via the ANOVA
statistical technique, the findings revealed that there is a
statistically significant relationship between the levels of
linguistic variation and class structure in the Kaduna NAF Base.
The findings also implied that some selected variables, such as
group membership, educational attainment and gender
distinctions, could have an overt effect on the choice and
distribution of linguistic variation in a given speech community.