Lead Journal of Languages and Literature · ISSN 0000-0000

Pragma-phonological Analysis of Yoruba Proverbs in Agboola’s Film – O TO GEE

Michael O. GBADEGESIN, Godprovides A. JAMES-IDOWU Ph.D

Michael O. GBADEGESIN — Department of Languages and Literature, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria
Godprovides A. JAMES-IDOWU Ph.D — Department of General Studies, Gateway (ICT) Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State.
Vol. 1 (1) Year 2023 Published May 10, 2023 Pages 179-193 Access Open
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Abstract

Abstract

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.

Contributors

Authors

Michael O. GBADEGESIN

Department of Languages and Literature, Lead City University, Ibadan, Nigeria
Corresponding author

Godprovides A. JAMES-IDOWU Ph.D

Department of General Studies, Gateway (ICT) Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State.
How to cite

Citation

APA

GBADEGESIN, M. O. & Ph.D, G. A. J. (2023). Pragma-phonological Analysis of Yoruba Proverbs in Agboola’s Film – O TO GEE. Lead Journal of Languages and Literature, 1(1), 179-193.

MLA

GBADEGESIN, Michael O., and Godprovides A. JAMES-IDOWU Ph.D. "Pragma-phonological Analysis of Yoruba Proverbs in Agboola’s Film – O TO GEE." Lead Journal of Languages and Literature, vol. 1, no. 1, 179-193. 2023

Chicago

Michael O. GBADEGESIN, Godprovides A. JAMES-IDOWU Ph.D. "Pragma-phonological Analysis of Yoruba Proverbs in Agboola’s Film – O TO GEE." Lead Journal of Languages and Literature 1, no. 1 (2023): 179-193.
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