Shades of Intimidation in Language Use: A Study of Selected Nigerian Film

Abstract

It has been established in sociolinguistics that language is a social tool used in communication;hence, anybody can learn any language for effective flow of communication. Nevertheless, noteverybody has access to the learning of some languages that affect their lives. Consequently,languages have become not only a way of perfecting inequality but also a weapon formanipulation and intimidation of others. Against this backdrop, this paper explicates someshades of language intimidation using a Nollywood film titled The Village Bride. A limitednumber of studies have investigated language intimidation using movie paradigm. The paperhighlights shades of classification, discrimination, inequality and above all intimidation using theabove mentioned film. The study adopted a qualitative research design and de Hann’s andMaxwell’s Theory of Exclusion forms the theoretical framework. The work concludes that it issheer intimidation to use a language in a situation which the interlocutors do not have onelanguage in common and worse still, when both are literate in another language. Again, trying todeprive someone of his/her cherished belonging or property on the premise of lack of educationin a particular language or dialect is a clear intimidation as being observed. The studyrecommends that interlocutors should try to accommodate other language users irrespective oftheir class.