A Stylistic Analysis Of Selected Niyi Osundare’s Socio-political Poetry

Language is a vital medium through which human beings express themselves. It is used by its speakers to achieve diverse purposes such as reprimanding, encouraging, admiring, and persuading. Writers also use language to achieve their purposes and it is observed that their writings are attention catching, and thought provoking.

It is against this background that a stylistic analysis of selected socio-political poems of Niyi Osundare was conducted to discover their constituent which make them impacting and interesting. The findings in this research reveal that the language of literary composition is characterized by the use of stylistic elements such as alliterations, similes, proverbs e.t.c. and in judicious application of these elements in writing; poetry accounts for the success of their speeches and why their works are being read all over the world. 

Title Page         i

Certification         ii

Dedication          iii

Acknowledgements       iv

Table of Contents        vi

Abstract         ix

CHAPTER ONE        

General Introduction       

1.0 Introduction        1

1.1 Functions of Language      2

1.2 English Language in Nigeria     4

1.3 Purpose of the Study                                                                 5

1.4 Justification of the study                                                          6

1.5 Scope of the study       7

1.6 The biography of the poet (NIYI OSUNDARE)                       7

1.7  Research Methodology      8

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Introduction        9

2.1 Definitions of Style       9

2.2 Definitions of Stylistics      11

2.3 The History of Stylistics      13

2.4 The Linguistic Features of Analysis                     16

2.4.1 Phonological Features      17

2.4.2 MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES     18

2.4.3 COHESION        21

2.4.4 LEXICO-SEMANTIC FEATURES     23

2.4.5  GRAPHOLOGICAL FEATURES     25

2.4.6 PRAGMATICAL FEATURES     27

2.5 Conclusion        29

CHAPTER THREE       

3.0 INTRODUCTION       30

3.1 Datum One: Villager’s Protest     30

3.2 DATUM TWO: THEY TOO ARE THE EARTH   39

3.2.1 LEXICO-SEMANTICS FEATURE     39

3.4 DATUM FOUR: EATING TOMORROW’S YAM   46

3.5 DATUM FIVE: THE POLICIAN’S TWO MOUTH   47

3.6 DATUM SIX: EATING WITH ALL FINGERS   50

3.6.1  LEXICO-SEMANTIC FEATURES     50

  CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 SUMMARY        52

4.2 FINDINGS        53

4.3 CONCLUSION 

BIBLIOGRAGHY

 Language stands out as the only phenomenon through which human being in certain speech community successfully interact and pass across information. Certain scholars have tried to define what language is; Henry Lee Smith, (1969) sees language as: “A shared, learned, arbitrary symbol through which human beings in the same speech community or sub-culture communicates and hence interacts in terms of their common experiences and expectations.”

 Odebunmi (2001, p.26) opines that “language is the rope that ties members of a speech community together in a continuing relationship”. He goes further to summit that “it is the common instrument that they draw on for socio cultural identification”. From this excerpt, language is portrayed as an inevitable phenomenon and the basis of mutual communication in man’s life. Language is glimpsed as an instrument for social identification and unity in a speech community. It is when they are able to share their thoughts, feelings, and ideas using the same language that they can have understanding which is one of the foundations of unity.

 Also, Adejumobi (2009, p .9) asserts that “Language is human vocal sound, or it is the graphic representation of signs, symbols, gesticulations and signals for the purpose of communication” In this regard, Man uses language in conveying meanings and tends to display different attributes and most cases different styles. These styles therefore, determine the language habits and language use utilized by certain individuals. 

This research therefore, intends to study the style used by Niyi Osundare in some of his selected socio political poems.