FRANCIS NDIMKOHA M.A WORK

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FRANCIS NDIMKOHA M.A WORK

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the Study

Language is an important aspect of a peoples’ life. It enables man to give act to thought and organize thought in such a way that it makes meaning. Language also enables man to collect, sort, relate, transform and record ideas.

Language is made up of a complex inventory of all ideas, interests and occupations that take up the attention of a community (Ijeoma, 1988). Therefore, language can be said to play a very important role that cannot be neglected by any group or community, and every language has the culture specific meanings or message which it carries. One of the fundamental functions of language is its communicative work. Communication is of vital importance for meaningful human existence. For the peaceful co-existence of man and his fellows, communication must take place, and language makes this happen. It is a people’s identity. Language does not exist in a vacuum, it does exist in a society, and as a result, language and society are functionally and socially inseparable. Therefore, language can be said to carry the burden to expressing the societal needs. Awuzie defines language as “the oldest human institution and the most sophisticated medium of expression” (41). Being a tool for social communication, language is both an instrument and an expression of society. Wilkins comments on the usefulness of language by saying that “language will occur almost wherever we come in contact with other people” (134).

Human expressions generally are centered on language. The meaning derived from language is peculiar to the people involved. Ogunsiji quoting James (1979) posits that one can rarely discuss language activity without considering the relationship that exists between those who must communicate and the circumstances that give rise to the communication. This is because what makes sense to a particular group of people, for example, the Hausas might make no meaning to another group like the Urhobos. Ujomu in Igboanusi (ed). notes that “given the culture dependent character of language, the meanings ascribed to specific concepts or statements in one language are defined by the totality of the culture in question”  (169). This, therefore, is all the more evident when you consider that the language and speech choice employed by both Tanure Ojaide and Chris Onyema is that which, to a large extent, fits into their societal needs of expressing the ills

FRANCIS NDIMKOHA M.A WORK

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