Linguistic Analysis of the Language of Soldiers in Military Barracks in Nigeria

Abstract

Because of the peculiarity of the spoken language discerned amongst soldiers in the barracks, this study carried out a linguistic analysis of the language that soldiers use in communication in the barracks with a view to understand the issue of language in occupational register and as a variety in English language use. To this end, a survey of English language use of 100 soldiers in the 23 Armoured Brigades, Gibson Jalo Cantonment, Yola was made and language use by soldiers was examined to discern whether such use are linked to and constrained in their Sociolinguistic Contexts by the educational qualification of the soldiers. An eclectic method of data analysis was adopted, focusing, amongst other, on the stylistic, syntactic and lexical features of the discourse. It was found that the language used by soldiers in the barracks is not only an effective and convenient tool for institutionalised occupational communication, but also a reflection of the educational realities of the soldiers. Finally, it is recommended that like study be used to understand the manipulation of language registers used in the realisation of professional discuss. Learners will also be able to use this knowledge to respond to language that has been manipulated to create new forms of discourse to achieve contextual usage.