Authors
SHAGBA, E. I., ADZER, V. C., ANTE, G. E., ADZER, M.
Abstract
This current study entitled: ‘Analysing Officialese in the Benue State Civil Service' aims at critically analysing the language used in file processing by civil servants, especially as it pertains to the Benue State Civil Service. The study therefore appraised the codes and language system used by Benue State civil servants in file processing, identified the difficulties in understanding such language system and provided clarification and explored how office language can be seen as an asset to its users. Language is used variously, but for the sake of this current study, the researcher limits the study to the style of language used in Benue State civil service, the challenges therein and clarifications. To successfully achieve the set goals for the study, the researchers adopted Conversational Maxims Theory by Grice (1969) and Foregrounding Theory by Leech (1969). The analysis of data in this current study was guided by the principles and parameters of the theories mentioned above. Data for this study was generated from both primary and secondary sources. The primary sources of data were files collected and examined at the different sections and departments of the Benue State Civil Service. The researchers subjected the documents collected at the Benue State Civil Service to diverse levels of stylistic analysis such as graphological, lexical and syntactic which covered sentences/clauses, passivation/pronominalisation, the formulaic adjunct and adverbials. It was then found that, officialese is polite, impersonal and formal; and is characterised by the preponderance of passive structures and the use of the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘you’. It was also concluded that, the Benue State Civil Service has many channels through which it communicates with not only its members but also members of the public. Some of these are; written, oral, or non- verbal channels. The researcher then recommended that: Studies such as this current one should be sought by the government and made available to Benue State civil servants, in order to equip them with the knowledge of the ideal language to be used in file processing and how to use it.
Keywords
Civil Service, File Processing, Foregrounding, Language, Officialese
Introduction
Language is one of man's greatest gifts. It is an indispensable as well as an efficient tool which enables human beings to communicate, relate and share ideas, feelings, emotions and thoughts. It is a phenomenon which singles man and sets man apart from all other creatures. Language is the basic and fundamental tool for communication because, without language, human communication will be difficult. Omachonu (2011:1) opines that, language is so vital to human existence that there is hardly any situation or human function where language is not required. This can be seen as the reason why humans are born with the Language Acquisition Device (LAD). Omachonu (2011: 3) further adds that "language as a means of communication is essential in all speech communities and there is power in language (speech). Language is a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves. The functions of language include communication, the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.
Content
Human language is specie-specific. Only human beings make use of a system of verbal codes in communication. One of the things that distinguish man from every other creature is his possession of an organised system of communication called language. As a social phenomenon, language is basic to all societies because people use it to express their hopes, convey their thoughts, feelings and experiences. It is a system through which we engage in meaningful discourse (spoken or written). The message we intend to communicate is conveyed when we use language within the scope of the rules guiding its effective use.
Conclusion
After subjecting the documents to diverse levels of stylistic analysis such as graphological, lexical and syntactic which covered sentences, clauses, passivisation, pronominalisation, the formulaic adjunct, adverbials and so on, the study discovered that officialese is polite, impersonal and formal; and is characterised by the preponderance of passive structures and the use of the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘you’. It was also concluded that, the Benue State Civil Service has many channels through which it communicates with not only its members but also members of the public. Some of these are; written, oral, or non-verbal channels. Which depends on: What is to be communicated? Who is doing the communicating? At whom is the communication targeted and what the feedback is. The researcher concluded that, just like some other government institutions, the Benue State Civil Service communicates through both written and oral channels, the written channels include: Memorandum, Minutes, Reports, Press Release, Press Conference, Executive Orders, Gazettes, Letters, Pamphlets, Handbooks, Bulletin Boards, Circulars, Petition and Newsletters.
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