Impact of Short Messaging Service (Sms) Language on the Written Essays of Rural and Urban Senior Secondary School Students In

IMPACT OF SHORT MESSAGING SERVICE (SMS) LANGUAGE ON THE WRITTEN ESSAYS OF RURAL AND URBAN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN

ZARIA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE

OKAFOR ABUMCHUKWU EBERE

B.Ed (ENGLISH)

M.Ed/EDUC/0901/2009-2010

BEING A THESIS SUBMITTED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION IN FULFILMENT OF THE AWARD OF MASTER IN EDUCATION (TEACHING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE) AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, KADUNA STATE.

DECEMBER, 2014.

i DECLARATION

I hereby, declare that this thesis is written by me and that it is a record of my research work except where reference is made to published literature and assistance sought which were duly acknowledged.

…………………………………. ……………………………. OKAFOR ABUMCHUKWU EBERE DATE (Candidate)

CERTIFICATION PAGE

This thesis titled “ Impact of short messaging service (SMS) language on the written essays of rural and urban senior secondary schools in Zaria metropolis, Kaduna state” by Okafor Abumchukwu Ebere has met the requirement governing the award of the degree of master of Education ( Teaching English as a second language ) of Ahmadu

Bello University, Zaria. Therefore, is hereby approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation.

………………………………. Date……………………………… Dr. Ramlatu Jibir Daura Chairman, Supervisory Committee

……………………………….. Date……………………………… Dr. Sadiq Member, Supervisory Committee

……………………………….. Date……………………………… Prof F.S.M Koya Head of Department Arts and Social Science Education

………………………………. Date………………………………… Prof A.Z Hassan Dean School of Postgraduate

iii

DEDICATION

This work is dedicated to my late mother Mrs. Beatrice Okafor for her unforgettable support while she was alive, and Professor K.O.K Okafor Udeozor for the good foundation he inculcated in me. Also to friends who in one way or the other gave their moral and spiritual support throughout this research work.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Foremost, I would like to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to my supervisorDr. Ramlatu Jibir Daura, for her continuous support, patience, motivation, enthusiasm and immense knowledge. Her exemplary guidance, monitoring, suggestions, criticisms and constant encouragement helped me throughout the course of this thesis.

My sincere thanks go to Professor Isaac Olaofe my lecturer for his cordial support and valuable information which helped me in completing this task through various stages. His suggestions were really helpful.

I am obliged to Dr. Amodu Eneojoh Jonah of the English Department, Ahmadu Bello university, Zaria for his contribution to the success of this research work, Iam grateful for his cooperation during the period of my assignment, his material was quite useful.

I give my deep sense of gratitude to Professor Onyemelukwe of the French Department, ABU, Zaria for her encouragement and advice right from the beginning of the programme.

I shall not forget my uncle chief Chukwuma Anueyiagu whose hard work made me to attain this level today and Engineer Chukwujekwu Okafor for his support and encouragement.

I am indebted to Mrs Binta Ahmed Saka who had always been there for me right from the onset of this research work and to all my friends and colleagues for their concern and useful contributions.

Above all, my profound gratitude goes to God almighty for his divine wisdom and guidance throughout the period of this programme.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the impact of Short messaging Service (SMS) language on the written essays of rural and urban senior secondary school students in Zaria metropolis, kaduna state. The design adopted for the study is the descriptive survey design.