An Interactional Sociolinguistic Study of Greetings in Selected Traditional Nupe Films Using Dell Hymes' Ethnography of Speaking

Abstract

Greetings are a ubiquitous form of communication found in nearly all societies, serving as a crucial tool for initiating and maintaining social interactions. This study, therefore, explores the diverse sociolinguistic aspects of greetings in Nupe culture, aiming to understand how they function as socially meaningful acts and contribute to the construction of social identities and relationships. Guided by Dell Hymes’ Ethnography of Speaking, this study employs a quantitative approach to analyse data collected for this research. The raw data for this research were obtained from four different traditional Nupe films: Usman Mokwa’s Rakpe (2021), Tsado Felix’s Ndanusa (2020),  Bagi and Amina’s Etan Chin Chin (2021) and Hussain Koda’s Teacher Eyekondudu (2006). The findings revealed certain sociolinguistic variables that shape Nupe greetings in selected films, namely, age, gender, status and religion. In terms of the representation of greeting forms, Formal greetings accounted for the highest proportion at 23%, indicating that structured and official exchanges were most prevalent. Respectful greetings followed closely at 19%. Informal greetings made up 15% of the interactions. Playful or teasing greetings and spiritual or eulogizing ones each accounted for 12%. Congratulatory greetings represented 11%. Condolence greetings were the least common at 7%, suggesting fewer observed situations involving expressions of sympathy. The study reveals that greetings in Nupe films are not mere rituals, but dynamic expressions of identity, hierarchy, and cultural continuity in the Nupe community.