Chapter One — 1.1 Background to the Study

Scholarly interest in Hausa-English Bilinguals' Radio Commentary has remained strong, reflecting its continued relevance to discussions of Nigerian and African literary identity.

Despite the volume of criticism devoted to Radio Commentary, its use of lexical borrowing in relation to language attitudes has not been exhaustively examined, leaving room for closer textual analysis.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

While Hausa-English Bilinguals' Radio Commentary is widely studied, there is no settled critical consensus on how its lexical borrowing functions specifically in relation to language attitudes. This study undertakes a close textual analysis to address that gap.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To examine the use of lexical borrowing in Hausa-English Bilinguals' Radio Commentary.
2. To analyze how lexical borrowing contributes to the portrayal of language attitudes.
3. To assess the effectiveness of lexical borrowing as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text.
4. To situate the findings within the broader context of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship.

1.4 Research Questions

1. How is lexical borrowing used in Hausa-English Bilinguals' Radio Commentary?
2. In what ways does lexical borrowing contribute to the portrayal of language attitudes?
3. How effective is lexical borrowing as a stylistic/thematic tool in the text?
4. How does this reading relate to the broader body of Nigerian literary/linguistic scholarship?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is significant to students and teachers of linguistics, offering a close reading of Hausa-English Bilinguals' Radio Commentary that can support classroom discussion and further critical work. It also contributes to the broader body of scholarship on Nigerian literary and linguistic studies.

1.6 Scope of the Study

The study is limited to a close textual analysis of lexical borrowing within Radio Commentary, reflecting a clearly defined scope; it does not extend to a full survey of the author's other works.