Occupational Slangs: Their Socio-cultural Effects on some Igbo Community Markets

Abstract

As the world gradually progresses towards the promotion of creativity, the invention of lexical items and expressions is paving way for the indigenization and appropriation of such expressions to meet the intended communicative purposes. This paper highlights the effects of the invention of new lexical items on the socio-cultural system of Nigeria, using two markets: Emeka Offor phone and phone accessories plaza in the main market and Ochanja footwear market in Onitsha as case studies. This research emanated from the bid to look out for the reasons behind the extensive use of slangs among the traders in the various markets. The objective is to show the effects of these slangs on language users, examine the extent to which the slangs used among the traders in the various markets affects their social life and to also examine the extent to which the slang affects the customers. This research adopts the use of questionnaires, spontaneous interviews and non-participatory observation for the collection of the data. The findings from the analysis show that there are slangs peculiar to the different markets and not only do they use them as powerful means of communication and identity enhancement, also, as a way of shutting out those whom they do not want to be part of their in-group communication. The findings also shows that those who were mostly excluded from the in-group communication of the subjects of this study through the use of coded slang words were potential customers and suppliers from outside the market. This paper provides insight on the effects of occupational slang on the socio-cultural system of Nigeria in the metropolitan area of Onitsha markets.