Code-Switching and Code-Mixing in Kemi Adetiba's Nigerian Nollywood Movie: "Wedding Party "
Keywords:
Code-Switching, Code-Mixing, Nollywood, Wedding Party 1, Nigerian PidginAbstract
Code-switching and code-mixing are linguistic phenomena where speakers alternate or blend multiple languages or language varieties within a conversation or text. These practices are prevalent in multilingual societies, such as Nigeria, and are often depicted in the Nigerian film industry, known as Nollywood. This study aims to explore the extent, patterns, and sociolinguistic motivations behind code-switching and code-mixing in Nollywood, with a focus on the movie Wedding Party 1 by Kemi Adetiba. A qualitative analysis of the script and dialogue from Wedding Party 1 was conducted to identify instances of code-switching and code-mixing between English, Nigerian Pidgin, and various indigenous Nigerian languages. The study also examined the sociolinguistic factors influencing these language shifts. The analysis revealed three primary forms of code-switching: inter-sentential, intra-sentential, and tag-switching. These occurred across English, Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and, to a lesser extent, Igbo. The analysis reveals that the key sociolinguistic motivations for these switches include the creation of humour, assertion of cultural identity, facilitation of intimacy, signalling of social class, and enhancing the authenticity of interpersonal exchanges. Notably, Nigerian Pidgin and Yoruba were used strategically to convey familiarity and solidarity, while English was often reserved for formal or status-marked interactions. These findings highlight how The Wedding Party 1 not only reflects Nigeria's complex multilingual landscape but also positions multilingualism as a resource for narrative humour, cultural representation, and audience engagement. The study contributes to the growing body of work on Nollywood's linguistic creativity, offering insights for comparative studies in global multilingual cinema.
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