Sociolinguistic Analysis of L1 in the English Writings of Selected Students of the Polytechnic Bajoga, Gombe State

Abstract

This paper examines issue of sociolinguistic investigation of L1 in the written English of selected students of the Polytechnic Bajoga, Gombe State. Language is used, and learned in a social context and environment which can affect its utilisation. Consequently, various forms of a language present variations and varieties as in the case of English language in most parts of the world and particularly in the Nigerian society. Language has mainly been considered from linguistic perspectives but with the emergence of sociolinguistics its consideration encompasses social factors that affect the use of language in various domains. Hence, this qualitative descriptive survey of the English writings of some selected students of the Polytechnic, Bajoga. The objectives are to examine the role social factors play in the written expressions of the selected students; examine how the English language is shaped as a result of the L1 of the selected students and to determine the extent of use of the new variety of English created by the students. It reveals some forms of variations in the students‘ expressions that steam from the immediate society and its languages; English is shaped alongside indigenous languages where past participle forms are not obtainable, words are written on the basis of sounds as in phonemic languages; the extent of use varies among the students depending on their fluency in English. The implication points to the need for the standardization of these varieties that socially carter for the new environment where English is spoken.