Sociolinguistic Changes in an Expanding Urban Context

The ultimate goal of this work is to attempt a sociolinguistic analysis of changes in the patterns of language use in Port Harcourt metropolis. The work is a deviation from what seems to represent the tradition in the study of language change. Instead of investigating the changes that take place within the structure of any particular language, the investigation will primarily be on the manner in which speakers use the numerous languages in Port Harcourt, the social meanings attached to the choice of these languages, and factors responsible for the shift in the patterns of language use. To achieve these, the sociolinguistic factors responsible for the noticeable shift in the pattern of language use in Port Harcourt are discussed. These include such society and language related issues as multilingualism, migration, language contact, goverment policies and social accommodation.