Voices from the waterside: a sociolinguistic study of fish trade communication in itu

Abstract

The linguistic dynamics and communication patterns of fish dealers in three important waterside communities: Obot Itu beach, Mbiabo bridge beach, and Oku Iboku water front are examined in this study. Using a sociolinguistic approach, the study examines the strategic use of language in the context of fish trading, emphasising the interaction of communication, culture, and commerce. To guarantee a thorough analysis, the study used a survey method in addition to focused group interviews, non-participant observation, and secondary data sources. Thirty informants in all were purposefully chosen from the previously stated locations. Speech Act Theory served as the analytical framework for the descriptive analysis of the data, allowing for the identification and interpretation of a variety of speech acts that define the transactional and interpersonal interactions among fish dealers, including directions, commissives, expressives, and assertives. The results show that the trading communities' socioeconomic realities and cultural values are reflected in the abundant use of indigenous linguistic resources, context-specific jargon, and practical techniques. In addition to providing insights into how language shapes social interaction in local marketplaces, this research advances our understanding of grassroots economic communication.