REPRESENTATION OF LINGUISTIC IDENTITY AND POWER DYNAMICS IN NOLLY WOOOD MOVIES; A STUDY OF KING OF BOYS AND GANGS OF LAGOS
Abstract
This research focused into the representation of linguistic identity and power dynamics portrayed in the Nigerian film “King of boys and gangs of Lagos “from the Nollywood industry. The aim is to explore how language choices and power portrayal plays an integral role to the construction and representation of social identities within the Nigerian context. This study employs a qualitative research approach to analyze the language and symbolic power depicted in “King of boys and Gangs of Lagos” Qualitative methods such as content analysis, was used to examine the linguistic features, power as a tool for oppression and the contextual implications embedded in the film. Pierre Bourdieu’s language and symbolic power which serves as the theoretical framework for this research. Pierre Bourdieu theory distinguishes between habitus and symbolic violence highlighting how language use reflects social class, education level, and cultural background. By applying this framework, the study aims to uncover how different linguistic choices are used in “king of boys and Gangs of Lagos ” to convey specific social identities. The analysis reveals that characters in the movies strategically utilizes a variety of linguistic identities to represent diverse social identities within Nigerian society. The film showcases a blend of formal and informal speech patterns, pedagogical language, code-switching, and code-mixing, reflecting the complexity of social interactions and cultural diversity present in Nigeria. In conclusion, this research demonstrates the significance of language use inn shaping power dynamics as portrayed in Nollywood’s “King of boys and Gangs of Lagos .” The findings show how linguistic choices contribute to character development, societal representation, and how movies are perceived in Nigerian cinema. By applying Pierre bourdieu language and symbolic power, this study shed light on the complex relationship between language use and power dynamics construction in contemporary Nigerian films.
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