Analysis of Sociolect in the Movie: Selina Tested

Cite this article as: Danjuma, A. A. (2026). Analysis of sociolect in the movie Selina Tested. Sokoto Journal of Linguistics and Communication Studies (SOJOLICS), 2(2), 214-220. https://doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2026.v02i02.019

By

Andrew Ali Danjuma

Department of English

Modibbo Adama University, Yola

andrewakuwo@gmail.com

08165813420

Abstract

This work studied the sociolect in Selina Tested from Dell Hymes' sociolinguistic perspective. It explained the social meanings of expressions used by the characters in the movie. The empirical review of this study revealed that scholars have worked on sociolect in films and television series using different linguistic theories. However, no work has been done on the sociolect in Selina Tested from an ethnographic perspective. This paper therefore, filled the gap. Dell Hymes' Ethnography of Communication was used as a theoretical framework. Analysis was based on three of the SPEAKING models which are setting, participants and instrumentalities. The research is qualitative in nature. YouTube served as the source of data. Observation and documentation were the two methods used for data collection. 15 samples of sociolect were purposively selected as texts for analysis. This study found out that the culture of a speech community is expressible in their language.

Keywords: Sociolinguistics, Sociolect, Ethnography of Communication, Communicative Competence, Speech Community.

1.   Introduction

Scholars have defined language in diverse ways. Sharndama (2018) for instance, defines language as a functional device to communicate meaning. Language in this sense is not only a means of communication; it also has a social function. Sharndama observes that "any definition of language must first consider it a means of communication, employed by homo-sapiens to convey emotions, or thoughts". Cameron and Ivan (2014) argue that whatever personal views individuals hold about language, its meaning and appropriateness are ultimately determined by collective social judgments rather than isolated perspectives. What these views buttress is that there is an interface between language and society and that is within the scope of sociolinguistics.

Hudson (1981) conceives sociolinguistics as the study of language in relation to society. He further notes that:

Speech has social function both as a means of communication and also as a way of identifying social groups. And to study speech without reference to a society who is using it, is to exclude the possibility of finding social explanations for the structures that are used. Language is thus, a means of communication and an identity marker.

Society comprises different speech communities that are using different linguistic varieties. Sociolect is one of such language variations.

Although a series of studies has examined sociolect in films and television series, has provided an ethnographic analysis of sociolect in the movie Selina Tested. This study therefore fills this gap. The aim of this work is to analyse the sociolect in Selina Tested with a view to unravelling the social meaning of expressions as used in the movie. This study adopts Dell Hymes' Ethnography of Communication as a theoretical framework.

1.1.  Synopsis of the Movie

Selina Tested is a crime action web series, produced by Lightweight Entertainment sometime in 2021. The drama is set in Portharcourt. It revolves around the lives of two main characters named Chiboy and Aboy. The duo grows to perceive life as the survival of the fittest. Therefore, in order to survive the harsh realities of life, one must be fortified. Consequently, they dabble in black magic. They engage in cultist activities - killing and extorting from people in the streets of Holy Ground. In the end however, these protagonists die in a gun battle leaving Tallest the only survivor. This shows the ephemerality and vicissitude of life and the nemesis of man's cruel actions against humanity.

2.   Literature Review

2.1.  Sociolinguistics

Adeyanju (1998) underscores the importance of sociolinguistics thus:

Linguistics is merely interested in accounting for the structure of language at various levels without taking into consideration the socio-context in which such linguistic structures are used. Such a study cannot be complete, hence the relevance of sociolinguistics. Trudgil (2011) notes that:

The internal differentiation of human society is reflected in their languages. Different social groups use different linguistic varieties and as experienced members of a speech community, we have learned to classify speakers accordingly. HymesV(2003) notes that in meaning there is social as well as referential import. He argues that in between the social and referential layers of meaning there are other relationships which though are present in social life are not evident in ordinary grammar.

The study affirms the necessity for a study, a description of the means of speech and inseparably their meanings for those who use them. These views suggest the necessity for a study that examines social meanings as contained in linguistic materials that embody the culture of its users as against linguistic meanings.

2.2.  Sociolect

Trudgil (2011) defines sociolect as "a variety or lect which is thought of as being related to its speaker's social background rather than geographical background". Sociolect is thus the language of a particular social group. Grabias (2024) clarifies that what distinguishes a sociolect from the standard variety is its lexical repertoire which is activated in group specific contexts. It can therefore be averred that the main prerequisite for a sociolect is the existence of a social group whose members maintain strong bonds socially, professionally and culturally established through frequent contacts with one another. People speak based on the speech community they belong. Labov (2016) asserts that:

people are programmed to learn to speak in ways that fit the general pattern of their communities. Therefore, what they are surrounded with in unison with their environment determine how they speak hence their actions and associations.

Cui (2023) examined the relationship and mutual influence between language and society in film dialogue. He scrutinized four cinematic works - To Kill a Mockingbird, The Vow, My Fair Lady and Mansfield Park. The paper adopted a multimodal discourse analysis as a theoretical framework. The work found out that the language in film influences the way society speaks and acts in the real world. Juan (2022) explored sociolect in audiovisual text. The study illustrated how language levels, slang and scientific language in audiovisual texts create humour. The paper revealed that sociolect goes beyond the linguistic scope and connects with the aural and visual dimensions. Ahsin (2022) analysed socio-lectic variations in the film series, Lara Ata season 1. The research focused on the problem of language variation that occured in the film series. The study used descriptive qualitative method. 15 data were analysed in the aspect of linguistic meaning. The work discovered that social status influences a person's language. Amarizky (2023) investigated sociolect in a 1951 movie version. Observation and transcription were the two methods used in collecting data. Holmes' theory of sociolect was used to explain the linguistic features found in the movie and the factors that influenced the use of sociolect by the characters in the movie. The study found out that people speak according to the norms of their social groups. The empirical review of this study revealed that researchers have worked on sociolect in films and television series using different linguistic theories. However, no work has been done on sociolect in Selina Tested from an ethnographic perspective. This study therefore, fills the existing literature gap.

3.   Methodology

This research is qualitative in nature. Therefore, the analysis of data is both descriptive and discursive. This design presents linguistic features as used in communicative context rather than how they are supposed to be used. It is a design that explains or describes language in its natural and social setting. Observation and documentation are the two methods used to collect data from YouTube. 15 samples of conversations are downloaded from YouTube for analysis. Each speech is tagged "text" and is analysed from Dell Hymes' three of the SPEAKING models which are Setting, Participants and Instrumentalities which will be represented by S, P and I respectively.

4.   Theoretical Framework

This study adopts Ethnography of Communication (EoC) by Dell Hymes as a theoretical framework. EoC is an approach from within Linguistic Anthropology (LA) which emphasises speaking as a social and cultural system in specific context of different speech communities. According to Hymes (1974), the aim of Ethnography of Communication is to describe the knowledge that participants in verbal interaction need and display in order to communicate successfully. This paper finds three of the SPEAKING models important for analysis: setting, participants and instrumentalities. This is primarily because these three items shape the discourse pattern and determine how meaning is construed.

5.   Data Presentation and Analysis

Text 1

R2: Senior man, show love

Text 2

Priest: on to?

Text 3

R2: on to say your face no show for di unit now. Who goes you?

Text 4

Priest: widaunajonson now? (Episode 5)

Text 5

Chiboy :una no know dat man?

Text 6

R2: Senior man im face no show for dis unit

Text 7

Chiboy: Priest face show, im shoe shine. Disembark from dis place. Dissolve!

Analysis

The conversation above takes place in a plantation farm (S). The participants (P) involved are R2, Chiboy and Priest. The channel (I) is oral and the style is informal. Texts 1- 7 depict a scene where Priest is being accosted by R2 on his way to the Holy Ground. R2 asks him to give some money thus he says " senior man show some love now". Priest on realising that he is about to be extorted, then asks why he should give him some money. Thus, he inquires "on to". R2 replies that the reason he must pay is that he is a stranger in the area. Thus, he maintains, "on to say your face no show for di unit". He further asks Priest who he is, he dares "who goes you". Priest is visibly irritated by this action. He asks why R2 is misbehaving. He queries "widaunajonson now?" While this altercation continues, Chiboy comes to the scene. He asks if R2 does not recognise Priest, "una no know dat man". R2 responds that Priest is a stranger in the area. He he replies " senior man im face no show for dis unit". Chiboy in disagreement, says Priest is not a stranger in the area. He is a recognised personality. Thus, he argues "Priest face show, im shoe shine". Chiboy orders R2 to leave the scene. He should disappear completely. Thus, he shouts "disembark from dis place". "Dissolve".

Data Presentation

Text 8

Aboy: Deck. Sit down. Sit down.

Text 9

Dera: You scared me. What are you doing with a gun? If the police sees you what are you going to say?

Text 10

Aboy:You get di ododo lap dis ama

Text 11

Dera: What do you mean? (Episode 9)

Text 12

Aboy: You get di mind enter Holy Ground

Analysis

The dialogue in texts 8 - 12 unfolds in Aboy's house (S). The characters (P) in discourse are Aboy and Dera. The channel (I) is oral and the style is partly informal and formal. Dera comes to visit Aboy in his house. He offers her a seat asking her to sit. He says "deck". Dera does not make out the drift of his expression hence she still stands. Aboy switches to the code known to her. He repeats "sit down", "sit down now". Dera sits. She sees him with a gun and that scares her. She wonders what he would say should the police sees him with such weapon. Aboy is surprised that she takes the risk of coming to Holy Ground, a place replete with criminal activities. He asks, "you get the ododo lap dis ama". Dera contemplates what this expression means. She asks what he means by that statement. Aboy clarifies, " you get di mind enter Holy Ground".

Data Presentation

Text 13

Chiboy: Otuaka! Otuakasalama...Otuakasalama for you (Episode 23)

Text 14

Otuaka: You don't look happy greeting me

Text 15

Chiboy: Otuaka joy soap no come board. Otuaka as I dey cap you now everywhere don sakrakum. See my men dem, dem wan open account for diamond bank.

Analysis

Texts 13-15 are conversations that take place at Otuaka's shrine (S). The interlocutors (P) are Chiboy and Otuaka. Chiboy has brought his friends who have sustained bullet wounds in a duel for treatment. He greets Otuaka the medicine man. Thus, he says "Otuakasalama for you". Otuaka acknowledges his sad countenance. Chiboy goes on to state his plights. He says he has no joy, "Otuaka joy soap no come board ". He says as he is talking to Otuaka everywhere is scattered, "Otuaka as I dey cap you now everywhere don sakrakum". He laments that his men are about to die, "see my men dem, dem wan open account for diamond bank".

5.   Discussion Of Findings

This study finds out that the culture of a speech community is expressible through their language. Selina Tested is a criminal social group, therefore their language reflects criminality. For instance, the expression by R2 in text 1 "show some love" does not entail a depiction of love but an extortion. R2 is simply trying to coerce Priest in to giving him money. This work also discovers that where there is a breakdown in communication, the users of sociolect adopts a strategic competence by switching to the code known to their addressees. For example, in text 10, Aboy asks Dera, "you get di ododo lap dis ama". Dera fails to understand what he means by that expression. She seeks clarification by asking what he means. In text 12, Aboy rephrases his sentence, " you get di mind enter Holy Ground". This research further reveals that interlocutors do not only need linguistic competence in order to use language correctly but that they also need communicative competence in order to speak appropriately in a particular context. Take for instance the expression by Chiboy in text 15, "see my men dem, dem wan open account for diamond bank"; does not imply that his men want to open an account with the diamond bank. It simply means that his men are about to die. Similarly, the expression made by Chiboy in text 7; "Priest face show, im shoe shine" means that Priest is a well-known personality, he is not a stranger. The expression neither has anything to do with any shoe nor any face as contained in linguistic structure. This explicates that language cannot be the same in terms of the assigned role and value therefore, it is the social situation that affects the morpho - syntactic pattern of a language.

6.   Conclusion

This paper analysed the sociolect in Selina Tested using the Ethnography of Communication as a theoretical framework. This study found out that, language varies according to the participants in discourse and the social context in which communication takes place. The work also revealed that, the culture of a speech community is expressible in their language. The finding further affirmed that, language has a social function both as a means of communication and also as a way of identifying social groups.

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