A Stylistic Analysis Of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s The Thing Around Your Neck

Stylistics is the study and interpretation of texts from a linguistic and literary perspectives. This work was done to examine the basic linguistic features that have been used by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in The Thing Around Your Neck to pass some messages across to the readers and the society. A functional approach was adopted, an approach where particular note is taken of the stylistic function, effect and thematic significance of linguistic features in a literary text. The stylistics tools employed were morphology, graphology, phonology, syntax, lexico-semantics and point of view. After applying these tools the novel, it was discovered that language is an integral part of any work of art and that the success of a work depends on how the writer has been able to manipulate language. Adichie had effected changes through a systemic use of language which helped a better understanding of her work.

 

Title pagei

Certificationii

Dedicationiii

Acknowledgementiv

Abstractv

Table of Contents

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1Introduction1

1.2Statement of the problem2

1.3Purpose of the study3

1.4Scope of the study3

1.5Justification4

1.6Methodology4

1.7The Author5

1.8Data Description6

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1Introduction8

2.2The concept of style8

2.3Historical Development of Stylistics9

2.4Criticism and the meeting point of linguistics and literary stylistics10

2.5Stylistics11

2.6Levels of stylistic study15

2.6.1Morphology15

2.6.2Graphology16

2.6.3Phonology17

2.6.4Syntax18

2.6.5Lexico-semantics19

2.7Point of view20

2.8Conclusion22

STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE THING AROUND YOUR NECK

3.1Introduction23

3.2Morphology23

3.3Graphology26

3.4Phonology31

3.5Syntax33

3.6Lexico-Semantics39

3.7Proverbs44

3.8Point of view45

3.9Findings46

3.10Conclusion48

Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion49

References50

INTRODUCTION 

Carter (1989, p.162) suggests that the practice of stylistics comes about at any point of intersection of the language of a text with the elements which constitute literariness of that text. The point of focus in stylistics is the recognition of how a text works as a whole. It attempts to establish principles capable of explaining the particular choice made by social groups in their use of language and the production or reception of meaning. Stylistics is practiced as a part of understanding the possible meanings in a text. It is also generally assumed that the process of analysis will reveal the qualities of a work.

Stylistics is the study of style used in literary and non literary texts and the effect a writer or speaker wishes to communicate to the reader or hearer. It is mainly concerned with the idea of style, the analysis of literary texts and the application of linguistics to literary and non literary texts. Since every writer possesses his or her own particular way of writing and thinking, language use is different from one writer to another. To appreciate a literary work, it is important to see how the language and style used by the writer affect the interpretation of the work. Stylistics focuses on texts and gives much attention to the devices and style. It therefore, discusses theoretical matters alongside whatever practical analysis they provide.

Stylistic analysis besides helping one to acquire an explicit basis for deciding between interpretations also helps one to become more consciously aware of the processes of interpretation which are used in order to get to grips with the text one has read.