ABSTRACT
In the course of the several other researches done in the past, it was realised that many works have been done on stylistics but none is related to sports columns and so this essay aims at visiting these vacuums and filling them. Two of the most widely read newspapers were selected for this study. In the study, it was found out that most of the columnists use sports registers and words peculiar in their field. It also realised that they use reader friendly features like pictures, colours and short paragraphs. We can then say that sports columns use simple and less formal languages they try to avoid the use of bogus words for easier understanding and readers’ comprehension.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MASS MEDIA
1.2 PURPOSE OF STUDY
1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATION
1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 STYLE
2.2 STYLISTICS
2.3 MORPHOLOGY
2.4 COMPOUNDING
2.5 GRAPHOLOGY
2.6 COHESION
2.6.1 REFERENCES
2.6.2 CONJUNCTIONS
2.6.3 ELIPSIS AND SUBSTITUTION
2.7 LEXICO-SEMANTIC CHOICES
2.7.1 ACRONYMING
2.7.2 COLLOCATIONS
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 ANALYSIS OF DATA
3.1.0 GRAPHOLOGY
3.1.1 BOLDENING
3.1.2 CAPITALISATION
3.1.3 PICTURE/IMAGES
3.1.4 COLON
3.1.6 GOTHIC WRITING
3.1.7 QUOTATION MARKS
3.1.8 DASHES
3.1.9 APOSTROPHE
3.1.10 ELLIPSIS PERIODS
3.1.11 TOPIC IN TOPIC
3.2.0 MORPHOLOGICAL PROCESS
3.2.1 COMPOUNDING
3.2.2 ACRONYMS
3.3.0 COHESION
3.3.1 REFERENCE
3.3.2 CONJUNCTION
3.3.3 LEXICAL COHESION
3.4.0 LEXICO-SYNTACTIC PATTERNS
3.4.1 ANASTROPHE
3.4.2 PARENTHESIS
3.5 ANALYSIS OF DATA B (COMPLETE SPORTS)
3.5.0 GRAPHOLOGY
3.5.1 BOLDENING
3.5.2 CAPITALISATION
3.5.3 SYMBOLS AND BULLETS
3.5.4 COLOURS
3.5.5 UNDERLINE AND BORDERS
3.5.6 PICTURE
3.5.7 GRAPHICS
3.5.8 QUOTATION MARKS
3.5.9 BRACKETS
3.5.10 APOSTROPHE
3.5.11 COLONS
3.6.0 MORPHOLOGICAAL LEVEL
3.6.1 COMPOUNDING
3.6.2 ACRONYMS
3.7.0 COHESIVE DEVICES
3.7.1 REFERENCE
3.7.2 CONJUNCTIONS
3.7.3 LEXICAL COHESION
3.8.0 LEXICO-SYNTACTIC CHOICES
3.8.1 HYPERBOLE
3.9 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
CHAPTER FOUR
SUMMARY
FINDINGS
CONCLUSION
BIBLOGRAPHY
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This essay is done in an attempt to examine the language and style used in sports columns of some selected Nigerian newspapers.
In recent days, we have known several modes of disseminating information down to the public and the modes are radio, television, digital media and the print media (Newspapers and Magazines). Of the different modes of dissemination, the print media is the most important because it is durable, visible and appealing to the sense of sight at the time of its reading, because of its durability it can be kept for several years and it allows for its keeper or owner to go through them over and over again thoroughly. Another of its edge over the electronic media (Television and Radio) is that it can be kept and stored either in the homes, schools, institutions, public and private universities, places of worship and companies. The print media (Newspapers and Magazines) is for all purposes.
Due to the importance of sports columns to newspaper, we cannot but look into the way their language and styles are used by the various newspapers.
1.1 A BRIEF HISTORY OF MASS MEDIA
Mass media came into existence in Western Europe during the authoritarian government when the emergence of the middle class and what the printed matter would do to empower the people against the power centres.
We can say that “mass media helps in connecting people and brings the globe into our glance”. It is wide in nature and the features include the print media which is common and examples are newspapers and magazines. We also have the electronic media which includes the television and radio and video. Lastly, we have the new age digital media e.g. Blogs, Mobile Phones and the Internet.
“History of mass media can be traced back to the early days of dramas that were performed in various cultures”. The term mass media was coined in the 1200 and it originated from the print media which happened to be the first example. The first newspaper was printed in China 868 A.D but failed due to the “high cost of paper and illiteracy amongst people”.
Europe can boast of being the primary source of mass media when looking back at the origin of mass media as it was Johannes Gutenberg who for the first time printed a book in a primary press in 1453. Gradually, during the era of post-second world war, radio, television and video were introduced; the audio-visual became prominent as the give infortainment. But most recently, the internet has taken over the fame and prominence of the mass media. It provides information through various web sites and search engines, games can be played, videos seen, listen to radio, chat with people not minding distance in location and it gives in information on various issues like schools, education, jobs, fashion, movies, politics, economics, science, sports, career and relationship.
Wilson and Wilson (2001) says “books are the oldest form of mass communication and despite the rapid advancement of electronic mass media in the 20th century, the book