A Competence and Content Analysis of the English Language of Select Nigerian Paramilitary Operatives.pdf

This paper seeks to investigate language use in select Nigerian paramilitary agencies in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with a view to examining the degree of competence and message content of their verbal interactions. The pa per adopts communicative competence as the linguistic approach for the study. Data for the study were sourced from spontaneous communicative encounters in English, among operatives of the selected agencies through participant observation and field recordings using the parade ground and office environment as settings, with focus on the following role relationships: superior to subordinate, subordinate to superior and rankmate to rankmate interactions. Findings show that the operatives use peculiar forms and expressions that appear difficult for 'outsiders' to understand. In addition, the study provides insights into the degree of competence of the interactants in paramilitary discourse patterns as well as the impact of the hierarchical structure and institutional orientation on regulating the message content of the participants' discourse