A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis of Spousal Conflictual Language in a Nigerian Play (Published)
This paperx-rayed language use drawn from excerpt of utterances by the spouses (characters) in the play, Clark’s The Wives’ Revolt anchoring on the Hallidayan Systemic functional linguisticas the theoretical framework known for analysing language structure and function. The purpose of this study is to reveal the experiential representation of conflictual language of the spouses in J.P. Clark’s Wives’ Revoltsthrough its transitivity processes. Twenty – nine (29) excerpts that depict the spousal conflictual lexico-grammatical forms are purposively selected from these plays after thorough readings and they are represented accordingly for easier referencing during analysis in order to determine the frequencies of the transitivity features, their roles, functions, and meanings. A qualitative method is used for data analysis. Results from descriptive analysis showed that spouses applied four (material, mental relational and verbal processes) out of six Hallidayan’s transitivity process types to express their experiences/actions feelings for each other, negative image of themselves, and their central point of argument during their conflictual interactivity. The result showed that experiential is construed through dominance of material process, followed by mental, relational, and verbal. The prevalence of the material is found to be as a result of spouses’ more of physical actions in their relations. Again, transitive verb which transfers action to an object is also found more prevalent and is used more by the male spouse. This reveals male dominance of power over his female counterpart. The occurrence of the transitive processes will help the reader to agree with the kernel structure of the conflicting issues.
Keywords: Conflict, Processes, experiential meaning, lexico-grammar, systemic functional linguistic, transitive system
The Social Media, Human Dignity and Linguistic Violence in Cameroon: A Socio-Pragmatic Perception (Published)
Conflicts, violence, human rights abuses, and the influence of the social media are the most serious challenges the modern world and emerging democracies face today, and Cameroon, in which verbal and nonverbal violence, has become a daily social fact, is no exception. The language that we speak or write influences our cultural identities, and perception of our social realities. The aim of the present study is to collect and examine specimens of speech acts specific to acts of violence used by the social media practitioners as sociolinguistic facts in Cameroon, in order to analyse the different expressions that typify instances of use depicting verbal or linguistic violence in their discourse. The types of words, phrases and linguistic forms identified and analysed characteristically describe these texts as authentic lexicon specific to discourse of conflict and violence within Cameroon in the context of social tension and the Anglophone crisis. The objective being to create more public awareness on the devastating consequences of violence to unity, human dignity, insecurity, peace and living together in Cameroon. To handle complex sociolinguistic data of this sort, the mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology was used to collect online reports from content creators, trained and untrained media practitioners and to analyse these from a sociopragmatic perspective in order to describe its impact on the readers and Cameroonians in situ. The qualitative discourse analysis used was based on a combination of different theoretical frameworks including the Critical Discourse Analysis, Speech Act Theory, Semantic theories, communicative acts, and sociopragmatics relevant to pragmatically explain some of the vocabulary, frequently occurring in the corpus and characteristic of the lexemes of violence, referred to as linguistic violence. Note that words carry and transmit powerful vibrations and emotional energy discharges capable of igniting feelings of hatred, anger, insecurity, intolerance, bitterness, and consequently gruesomely unacceptable acts of human rights abuses. Equally, after the analysis, findings reveal that the different discourse types employ different performative speech acts and stylistic devices including connotation, imagery, symbolism, synonymy, polysemy, and neologism in the forms of verbal abuses, insults, minimisation, and stigmatisation that characterise the contemporary Cameroon society, which suffers from verbal abuses and indecent language use that communicates specific hate-filled and hurtful messages characteristic of linguistic violence in Cameroon, with an urgent need to be addressed. After the analysis, several findings reveal an unprecedented increase in violence and atrocities committed by both separatists and government military on the Anglophone population in particular and on Cameroonians as a result of the Anglophone crisis in violation of human rights and dignity. While suggesting the need to seek for a genuine and an inclusive dialogue, tolerance, the use of polite and decent speech acts, for peace to return is imperative, findings equally reveal that conflict and acts of violence has greatly enriched the Cameroon English language vocabulary, compounding old words to take on new meanings and introducing new words with connotative meanings from other languages like French, local and Pidgin English languages.
Citation: Willie Mushing Tamfuh (2022) The Social Media, Human Dignity and Linguistic Violence in Cameroon: A Socio-Pragmatic Perception, European Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, Vol.10, No.7, pp.24-120, 2022
Keywords: Conflict, Discourse, Human Rights, Perception, Social media, Socio-pragmatics, Violence
Intergenerational Discrepancies and Alienation in Selected Plays by Horton Foote (Published)
This paper examines intergenerational discrepancies and consequent sense of alienation in Horton Foote’s theatre, where traumatized youth are brought to life by dramatizing their sufferings in coping with the elderly and transforming into positive and fruitful members in American society. Foote also explores respective tropes, like alcoholism, death, and racism. The subject matter of his plays illustrates the power of cohesion within the society. Foote’s plays present a serious allegation of the parent’s personal intricacies and selfish exploitation of their children; but their essential theme of alienation and intergenerational discrepancies deserves a deeper view and treatment socially and psychologically.The paper shows the varying manifestations of social status as a power (re)shaping the lives of young and old men. Foote visualizes society as a fragmented, disappointed and alienated. He has fought against sentiments of deprivation, deficiency, oppression, and alienation, advocating intimacy, adequacy, and harmony between the two generations. The 20th cent. American playwright has recently received recognition and praise for his narrative plays about the nuances of negotiations and conflicts between the different generations within the same family. His talent emerged in developing conditions for a better world, a harmonious one that should start with the two generations by evoking real negotiations. His power came clear in illuminating the melancholic history of society around him where the gaps and differences between generations come to surface.
Keywords: Alienation, Conflict, Foote, familial relation, intergenerational discrepancy