A SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED HAUSA IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

Abstract

This paper analyzes the sociolinguistic of selected Hausa idiomatic expressions. It analyzed the Hausa idioms from a sociolinguistic point of view in the context of English as second language (L2). This offers a sociolinguistic prospect to the contribution of Hausa and culture in the sociolinguistic background of English. The data were sourced and collected orally from some competent Hausa native speakers that live in northern Nigeria, particularly in Katsina State from the context of use. A total of  ten (10) Hausa idioms were analyzed using the Ethnography of Communication theory championed by Dell Hymes as theoretical framework. It studies how communication practices are shaped by and reflect cultural context. It also emphasizes the interplay between culture, language, and social interactions focusing on how communication is embedded in specific cultural settings.The key findings revealed that the usage of Hausa idioms by means of apparatus of sociolinguistics satisfies the need of Hausawa (Hausa people). It also shows its worldview. Furthermore, the paper indicates that the historical and cultural lives of Hausawa (Hausa people) can be learned and or studied through idioms. This paper proves that it is impossible to untie the link between Hausa idioms, an aspect of Hausa language, in the context of English as second language (L2). SPEAKING mnemonics of Dell Hyme renders it physically possible to analyze the data socio-linguistically and reach a conclusion of the meaning of Hausa idioms and their implications socio-linguistically.