A SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF CONDOLENCE MESSAGES UN EGGON LANGUAGE

This research study is about Sociolinguistic Analysis of condolence messages in Eggon Language. The study determines how the use of language in social context is dependent on certain sociolinguistic variables. The tool used for the study was based on Hymes’ Ethnography theory of communication. The theory describes how language is used for social purposes within the broad socio-cultural environment at a particular time, bearing in mind the setting, participants, age, religion, ends, act sequence, instrumentalists as well as the norms and genres. The method adopted was through participation. The researcher went to the field to observe how condolences were expressed and the analysis was based on information gathered and performances. At the end, the researcher found out ten basic features of condolence messages which constitute part of greetings that help to perform certain social roles among the Eggon people and expressing them is a type of socialisation that encourages, strengthens and brings more unity among the people. These feature are: eku andakbo, zhega eku, dzu tsalcpa eku, algo eku, zhe eku, eshko eku, ceremonies and celebrations during condolences, -prayers and worship, the use of interjection and silence in condolences.