Language on the move: analyzing communication pattern between drivers and loaders in uyo

Abstract

This study investigates the language exchanges and communication techniques used by loaders and commercial drivers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State's urban transportation system. The study looks into how people use language to manage interpersonal relationships, coordinate activities, and negotiate positions in the hectic setting of automobile parks. To give a comprehensive picture of the communication context, data were gathered using the survey method with assistance from focused group interviews, non-participant observation, and pertinent secondary sources. AKTC Park, God is Good Park, and Itam Motor Park are the three main parks in Uyo from which fifty informants were purposefully chosen. A descriptive analysis of the data was conducted using Speech Act Theory as the analytical framework, emphasising the usage of directives, expressives, commissives, and assertives, among other speech acts, in daily encounters. The findings demonstrate a dynamic, context-dependent use of language characterized by informal codes, slang, gestural complements, and culturally anchored expressions that enhance effective communication and job performance. The study highlights the socio-pragmatic roles of language in transport hubs and provides insightful information about workplace talk in informal urban settings.