Volume 1 · Issue 1 — 2023

Proverbs are important aspects of verbal discourse within the socio-cultural contexts in which knowledge, ideas and emotions are communicated. They reflect people’s perspectives and system of the society, as well as people’s social and cultural orientations, philosophy, and worldviews. They also reflect the psychological and literary make-ups that generally depict the experience of life. In other words, proverbs are used as vehicle to unravel the culture, morals, philosophy, education and religion of the people in an aesthetic manner through contextual setting. This study investigates the imagery exhibited in some selected Igbo proverbs with focus on chicken. Chicken imagery in proverbs has been widely used among the Igbo to portray certain behavioural traits related to human beings. The paper looks at the way chicken is used in Igbo proverbs to depict various human experiences, behaviours and attributions; based on the socio-traditional values, beliefs system and general worldview of the Igbo people. Chicken proverbs are assessed to understand the underlying societal meaning since it is used symbolically to represent humans in all contexts. The study adopts the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), which demonstrates the metaphorical ‘mapping’ across conceptual domains; where the animals represent the source domain through which other human experiences are conceptualised as target domain. The data for the study were collected from both primary (interviews, non-participant observations and focus group discussions) and secondary (published materials) sources. The paper finds out that, chicken is used to express figuratively the parent-child relationship among the Igbo. The proverbs are used symbolically to direct people towards positive behaviours; such as tolerance, love, care, forgiveness, unity, patience, cooperation, obedience, kindness, faithfulness and hard-work. 

Interaction engagements in political communication are the types of activity that politicians engage in, to articulate their ideologies and manifestoes and account for their stewardship. Most of the existing studies on political discourses have focused largely on textual patterns that address forms, content and diction, almost to the exclusion of interaction engagements in television-based political interviews within the Nigerian political space. This study, therefore, investigated interaction engagements in the discourse of Channels Television’s Politics Today (CTPT) by identifying different engagements involved in by both the guests and the anchor, to describe the importance of these engagements to sustainable political development in Nigeria. The study adopted Conversation Analysis (CA) and Speech Acts Theory as frameworks. Eleven episodes of Politics Today spanning between the years 2011 and 2015, which featured major political events, were purposively selected and downloaded from the official website of Channels Television Station. The data were transcribed and subjected to content-based qualitative analysis by identifying and describing the interaction engagements in the selected data through the tenets of Conversation Analysis and by tracking the functions of the engagements through the tenets of Speech Acts Theory. Eight interaction engagements characterise the discourse of CTPT. Electioneering manifests primary elections, election campaigns and the general elections; political appointments feature criticisms; parliamentary issues describe the happenings in the National Assembly; political defection illustrates how and why politicians defect to another political party; opposition is about criticism; security covers national security challenges; corruption manifests illegal behaviour of people in authority; while economy features the relationship between production, trade and the supply of money in Nigeria. Dialogic discussion of these identified engagements by politicians and political analysts keeps the public informed of the political happenings in Nigeria. Based on this information as well, the Nigerian populace is equipped with what they need to do to ensure sustainable political development in the country.  

The correct use of the standard alphabet aids readers in understanding what the writer is trying to convey, and a language's orthography enables its users to accurately express speech in writing for communication reasons. One of the fundamental challenges in ?do language literacy has been that of inconsistency in the spelling forms which create difficulty for readers especially from a pedagogic perspective. The goal of the study is to address and provide suitable literary tactics for resolving issues that arise while implementing the correct orthography for the language being studied. The study used Jacob Egharevba’ novel Itan ?dagb?nmw?n to explore orthographic disparities that have been found in written texts. The study takes lexical elements with noted spelling mistakes, groups them, and applies Pitt Corder's model of error analysis to them. The study found out that there are four types of orthographic errors in the text –orthographic errors of addition, selection, ordering and omission. The analysis also reveals that each of these errors has one of two resultant effects on the words in terms of how they affect the meaning of the words in which they occur. The findings and recommendations of the present study will be useful to the publisher of the text in revising its orthography for ease of reading by students and teachers. 

The thematic thrust of dramatic narratives among most African playwrights usually highlights ideological and ethnocultural experiences between the coloniser and the colonised. Therefore, the theatre space provides the avenue where such colonial experiences are re-enacted, and challenged. Ahmed Yerima's theatrical endeavor follows in this pursuit, with creative dimensions. His representative play - Atthiru, is examined in this paper to provide an ethnocultural perspective to the historical realities of leadership, governance, socio-economic and communal engagements, that depict the African enactment of history, and yet prevalent in contemporary Nigeria. New Historicism theory is utilised to situate the plays in context, with thematic discourse, characterisation and dramatic techniques deployed for elucidation. The study accentuates drama plays, as veritable tools for historical reconstruction and development that depict leadership assertion, conflicts of tradition, religion, identity, power and economic sustenance of the past and present, in contemporary Nigeria.  

This stduy examines the poor performance of Students in English language and takes a look at the position of security and good governance in Nigeria. In other to achieve this, the paper considers the language policy and the of it in ensuring effective communication. The crisis of security and good governance as discussed by writers like Oladejo and Akinwumi are the determinant factors militating against considerable performance of Students in English. The study brings to the fore the concerns of educationist on issues of security challenges in the society. The study reveals the theme of security threats as menace to education and good governance in Nigeria. The writers assert that unless the teaching and learning of English language is given the priority it deserves, issue of security and challenges of leadership and good governance will remain unattainable. The study recommends that the Nigerian government at all levels should take the security of life and property of the citizens seriously so as to bring about the expected and effective teaching of English that may result into outstanding performance of students in examinations.  

Proverbs are short witty sayings which do not only contain a lot of wisdom, morals, truth as well as metaphors, but also constitute part of the linguistic and cultural repertoire of many African languages. This study examined proverbs in Ogu, a minority language spoken in Southwestern Nigeria, with the aim of ascertaining their extent of entrenching and preserving the core values of the Ogu people, including their ethno-linguistic heritage. Data were gathered using the research instruments of key informant interviews and focus group discussions to establish the role and effects of proverbs as linguistic forms among the people. The study adopted the framework of metaphoric analysis in analysing the conceptual metaphors that are embedded in the proverbs while data were subjected to descriptive and content analyses. Findings show that proverbs are regarded as a very intricate part of the linguistic repertoire of the Ogu people and are highly valued. They represent their core values and act as checks and balances in maintaining decorum, both in the family and in the wider community. Data from interview sessions, however, reveal that Ogu proverbs are disappearing as only the elderly ones now use them. Findings from focus group discussions also reveal that parents hardly transfer proverbs to their children while the younger speakers neither understand proverbs nor use them. The study submits that Ogu people need to revisit the use of proverbs as a problem-solving tool in the 21st Century. 

This study investigated the syntactic uses of coordination and apposition in energy reports in selected Nigerian newspapers published online. Fifteen energy reports were purposively selected from three Nigerian online newspapers – The Guardian, The Punch and Vanguard. The data analysis was guided by Hengeveld and Mackenzie’s Functional Discourse Grammar. The results showed that coordination was a crucial process in combining grammatical structures as applied to virtually every element of the sentences. The results also showed that coordination helped to give comprehensive details that were difficult to capture with a single lexical item and enhanced the level of details in syntactic situations in groups involvement. Where the coordination and was dominant, it was mainly used for the semantic purpose of addition. Furthermore, the findings showed that apposition was a useful grammatical element which catered for details such as names, positions and designated departments of officials and agencies mentioned in energy reports. It is therefore concluded that coordination and apposition are useful grammatical elements which can aid not just the cohesion of scientific reports but also improve their comprehensiveness and comprehensibility. 

The engagement of Nigerian drama in the landscape of ecocriticism has been in the front burner of scholarly discourse in the last three decades. Many have argued that little is known or heard about the contributions of drama to this already vexed issue of arts and ecology. Literary critics over the years have x-rayed works done in this regard and findings have revealed that lierature have contributed to the ecodiscourse in the five decades. However, drama overtime especially has not spared the neglect of nature and its eco-elements by the human race in its quest for survival. This paper takes a cursory look into the sphere of ecocriticism and the contributions of two notable Nigerian dramatists - Chris Nwanmuo and Tess Onwueme to the field of eco-humanism. Nwanmuo’s Wisdom of the King and Onwueme’s What Mama Said come into focus as among the many voyages of drama into the world of science. The objective here is to excavate the echoes of nature in these plays and from the discoveries in the study, these plays represent an apt description of the state of Africa’s ecological landscape and the role mankind plays in this eco-degradation. Drama no doubt has a role to play and has been doing so in creating the needed awareness on humanity’s place in curbing the anti-environmental activities going on in many parts of the African continent. The paper concludes that largely eco-problems are not just a consequence of exploitation and exploration of natural resources but largely a result of decades of neglect, inhumanity and poor leadership.

This is a pragmatic study of the naturally occurring speech situations from Praise/Worship songs in the church context. The study involves a detailed consideration of the various contextual features needed and necessary for the understanding of discourse by identifying and systematically interpreting the various conceptual forces behind the utterances of the people in the songs selected. The author integrates the Mey’s pragmeme and Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) conceptual Metaphor. Conceptual Metaphor according to Lakoff is a powerful instrument to facilitate communication. It is a conceptual precepts shared by members of the same culture. The findings shows that contextual features are most attached to the production and interpretation of speech. And that language is understood as a product of general cognitive abilities (Timothy & Aremu, 2016). It establishes the fact that there are other aspects of meaning which the congregation derived that are not taken solely from the meaning of words in the praise/worship songs. And as a result of this, the composers and the singers should be mindful of what they compose and of cause what they lead people to sing or what people sing.  

This study investigates the pragmatic functions employed in President Muhammadu Buhari's inaugural address, aiming to fill a research gap in the analysis of Nigerian political discourse. While existing studies have examined linguistic features in political speeches, there is a scarcity of research specifically focusing on the pragmatic functions in President Buhari's inaugural address. The purpose of this study is to explore how language is used to convey power dynamics, and communicative intentions within the inaugural address. Employing a qualitative research design, the study conducts a detailed analysis of pragmatic functions, drawing on insights from previous research on political discourse analysis and pragmatics. The findings reveal a range of pragmatic functions employed by President Buhari, including the expression of intentions, promises, acknowledgments, appeals, and reminders. These pragmatic functions serve to establish authority, articulate governance priorities, and mobilize support among the Nigerian populace. This study contributes to our understanding of the role of language in political communication, highlighting the significance of pragmatic analysis in uncovering the features of presidential discourse and its implications for governance and society.  

English Language is a global language based on its usage the world over. It is one of the major languages of the United Nations and indeed a working language. This paper examined the effects that technology, which include use of internet, computers, internet of things, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and the rest, have on the learning of English Language In all of these, words are deployed for communication. This study examined the effects of technology on the learning of English Language and investigated the challenges confronting the use of technology in the learning of English Language among final year students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos. It however included responses from learners on how technology had helped them to correct some anomalies that occurred in the course of interactions; and usage of the emerging technologies. It was evident that technology has shaped the learning of English Language in no small measure. There were situations in which Artificial Intelligence models helped in the correction of pronunciation, translation of words for better understanding and the explication of terms through one to one interactions with learners. It is also worthy of note that a sound knowledge of English got through the use of technology helps in navigating life matters, other subjects and disciplines. The use of internet, through major platforms both social and educational; like Facebook, Whatsapp, Zoom, Skype, You-tube, Google search, Chat GPT and the rest had supported both teachers and learners to improve upon their knowledge of the world through this major language, English. There is no doubt that technology had impacted a lot on English Language Studies which in turn helped in the overall development of the learners and teachers in no small way. Technology has helped human beings to make more sense of the world we live in and English Language is like a driver of the vehicle through which information is transported, gained and used in all its ramifications. 

In this study, the researcher found out the relationship between readability indices and students achievement in test. Readability and comprehension test on selected passages from the English Language for Senior Secondary School Book 2 were conducted among students; content analyses of the same passages were equally carried out. The outcome of the content analysis showed that the degree of lexical density and synthetic complexity of the passages are very high while the result of the readability and comprehension test showed the correlation coefficient(r) of 0.890 which indicates a strong positive relationship between readability indices and students’ achievement in comprehension test. Base on this, it was recommended that English language textbook for public schools should be guided by a comprehensive readability test and that government should consider whether or not the recommended textbooks are appropriate for the target students before recommending them, instead of using political or social influence of the authors and the publishers. 

In every religion worldwide, the role of Prophet is highly respected and revered. Prophets are seen as spiritual leaders who bridge the gap between the physical and metaphysical realms, embodying the ideals of their societies. They play a positive role in addressing the issues faced by their communities. This paper focuses on the main character in Wole Soyinka's The Trials of Brother Jero and analyzes him as a prophet. Previous research on the text has explored themes such as abuse of power, the transformation of modern society, the pursuit of happiness, patriarchal representation of women, satire, and social mediation, irony as farce, comedic elements, linguistic and pragmatic analysis, parody, and social conflict. This paper uses a criminological theoretical framework, which examines crime, criminals, law, and criminal jurisprudence from a social scientific perspective. The goal of this study is to prove the protagonist's criminal actions. The objective is to expose the various atrocious acts committed by the hero, demonstrating that the Prophet is a criminal disguised as a benevolent figure. The critic employs a descriptive and content analysis approach, analyzing carefully selected expressions that reflect unlawful thoughts, utterances, and actions of Brother Jero. The study concludes that the main character represents false prophets who deceive and exploit their vulnerable victims for selfish gain. The paper suggests that individuals who use religion to perpetuate evil in society should be exposed and prosecuted in order to improve our communities. 

In a bid to arrest social, economic and environmental challenges on a global scale, the United Nations in 2015 came up with the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 initiative. However, existing studies on SDGs have shown that the achievement of these goals in Nigeria has been limited and the contributing factors have been narrowed down to instability, governance and implementation. Little attention has, however, been paid to the role of indigenous languages in ensuring the achievement of the goals. This study analyses the goals using the Desk Review Research Method and establishes how indigenous languages and new media can play a role in ensuring the success of the 2030 goals. It brings to light how these languages as well as social media can be utilised to reach more people, especially the rural majority of African countries and concludes that avenues such as social media influencing, pop culture, adaptation of technology and mass indigenous communication are possible solutions to the slowdown of the success of the developmental goals. 

The growing interest in literary works has attracted diverse approaches in scholarship. The goal of ecofeminism is the quest for equality for women and environmental justice. The central argument of ecofeminism asserts the connection between the oppression and subordination of women and of nature. The paper examines ecofeminism from the perspective of a culture-centered approach, where ecofeminism view the ecosphere as a binary entity comprising men/women and nature/culture. Thus, the study transcends gender and nature, to the human connections with environmental issues and culture; where patriarchal structures are challenged and transformations are achieved. Varying forms of oppression, subjugation, conflicts of motherhood, tradition and environment are explored. Selected works of first-generation female writers deployed for the study include, Flora Nwapa's Efuru, Zaynab Alkali's Invisible Borders and Zulu Sofola's Wedlock of the gods. These literary works are selected for their thematic affinity with women and ecology and the literary works were written in consonance with colonial discourse and imperialism. Significantly, this study reveals the need to rethink the environment in African history, from new perspectives by conceptualizing woman/nature and culture/nature connections, beginning from earlier works of Nigerian female writers. Qualitative research methods, via a close reading and critical textual analysis, are adopted for the study. The paper concludes that environmental challenges in Nigeria are situated on patriarchal structures and early Nigerian female writers devised libratory strategies to address them in their discourses. 

African proverbs remain one of the cultural heritages of Africans; a product of human communication experiences through which philosophy and culture can be expressed, transmitted, and unraveled via the instrumentality of language. Most of the previous studies on proverbs examine written proverbs in literary texts which they analyse from linguistic and literary perspectives. The specific objectives of the study are to identify proverbs used in Agboola’s film O To Gee, examine the phonological features in O To Gee with a view to discussing the conversational implications of the phonological features identified in the proverbs. The study employed qualitative research design,20 out of 86 proverbs used in the films were purposively selected and analysed. The study drew its theoretical insights from Brazil’s discourse intonation and Grice’s Conversational Maxims. The study found that spoken proverbs are different from written ones in form, structure and features; certain features such as assimilation, elision, epenthesis, prominence, vowel lengthening and speaker’s personal idiosyncrasies are noticeable in spoken proverbs which contribute to meaning making. The implication of this difference results in clarity, precision, emotionality, communication effect, assertiveness, context and cultural expressions and speaker versus listener statuses. The study concludes that the beauty and effectiveness of proverb usage are more expressed in their spoken forms and intended meaning appreciated by the interlocutor. It therefore recommends that attention should be given to the study of spoken of proverbs and that proverbs should be written the way they are said in order to retain their original messages.

The ability to translate is not always derived from the understanding of the meaning of the word but the ability to find a corresponding equivalence in the target language. Most researches in translation studies have focused on the linguistic meaning and the problems arising from such translations. It is against this background that this paper seeks to investigate some difficulties encountered in the process of translating lexical and semantic phenomena within Yorubaphone, Francophone and Anglophone space. Drawing on the linguistic approach to translation, which foregrounds the centrality of lexical and semantic relationship in translation, this study discusses some difficulties in finding lexical and semantic correspondence while translating from Source Text to Target Text. Data were randomly sampled and the paper adopts a qualitative method for data analysis. Data were critically analysed using the dynamic equivalence translation theory which proposes the closest natural equivalence of a source text in the target text. The study concludes that a translator mostly recourses to direct translation such as literal translation, borrowing or calque or he may resort to oblique (indirect) translation which consists of modulation, adaptation, transposition and equivalence in order to convey appropriate message in translation.

Language is a source of identity. A language may help to create a community of people who belong to a particular social group. So, there is a strong correlation between language and identity. The internet and cyberspace have created new vistas of interactive fora for real-time conversations among individuals of different age brackets, who are culturally and geographically dispersed. They post and participate in written conversations, which combine speech, writing and online practices.It is also pertinent to note that age identities are also shaped by media presentations. Thus, the study examines the connection between language and identity in the Nigerian cyberspace, with emphasis on Facebook and Nairaland. The theoretical perspective employed is a hybrid of the performativity and symbolic interactionism. Purposively sampled extracts of conversations got from Nairaland and Facebook constitute the data for the study. The authors demonstrate using the theories, that people project their identities through age, gender and Nigerian pidgin. The analysis shows that identities are built in such spacial environments through social interaction and dialogical processes. It is concluded that cyber identities are fluid in representations, affirming that cyber-identity is different from physical identity, hence Interactants construct new psychosocial identities, along ethnocultural lines.  

Youths in motor parks frequently use slang to communicate among groups of people in casual and informal settings. Its application is not limited to a single geopolitical unit, but infests the entire globe. This study examines the deployment of general slang, country slang, territorial slang, and understudy slang, among others. Previous studies have examined slang usages in motor parks in Nigeria but little attention has been paid to linguistic crossing analysis of slangy expressions among youngsters in Badagry-Seme Motor Park. This paper focuses on linguistic crossing analysis of slangy expressions among youngsters in Badagry - Seme moto park. The objective of this study is to examine lexical borrowing and code-switching of words and phrases from one language to another. Linguistic Crossing (1995) by Ben Rampton was adopted as theoretical framework. It is concerned with the use of different language varieties, such as dialects, codeswitching, or borrowing words from other languages.