Orality And Word Construction In Ahmed Yerima’s Iyase: Conceptual Metaphor Theory Perspective

Abstract

This paper is both a thematic and linguistic analysis of Ahmed Yerima’s Iyase. It critically examines the place of language as a veritable  tool of communication for literary artists. Since the paper delves on orality as one of the remarkable and dramaturgical features of  Yerima’s drama, attempt is made to contextualise orality and its mode as encapsulated in the play. The paper takes cognizance of the  cultural and semiotic universe that Yerima’s play is situated and its dynamics. It also examines the playwright’s deployment and  utilization of African proverbs, aphorisms, metaphors as elements of oral traditions to transmit his ideologies and communicate with his  audience using the appropriate characters who are the repositories of the Edo cultural traditions, and who are also vested with the  oracular and divine powers to speak the language of the elders. The theoretical framework of the paper is based on the Conceptual  Metaphor Theory (CMT) that recognizes proverbs and aphorisms as extended metaphors that are employed in various cultural traditions  of the world to perform certain speech acts such as warning, threatening, directing, persuading, declaring, commissioning, apologizing  etc. through the medium of language in line with the Speech Act Theory of J.L. Austin. Excerpts from the text that contain African and Edo  proverbs, aphorisms and metaphors are analysed to reflect their different speech acts. The paper notes Yerima’s linguistic dexterity in  communicating effectively to his audience the nuances of Edo’s cultural tradition.