The Language of Satire in Nigerian Politics: A Study of the Syntactic Parameters in Wale Okediran's Tenants of the House

Abstract

In every society, language serves as the means of human communication and interaction for establishing and maintaining social relationships. Language is the literary and linguistic tool which literary artists deploy for the conveyance of their individual artistic visions and sensibilities in literature. Political corruption is the major cause of the socio-political problems in Nigeria. The contemporary Nigerian literary artists deploy the language of satire as a means of exposing the socio-political problems responsible for poverty and underdevelopment in Nigeria. Moreover, they advance the measures to proffer lasting solutions to the socio-political problems, in order to usher in growth and development. Nigerian political leaders are exploitative and corrupt. They are not only exploiting Nigerians, but have plunged them into abject poverty and hardship through corrupt practices and bad governance. Unlike what obtains in many developed countries, politics in Nigeria like in most African countries is characterized by corrupt practices due to avarice and greed associated with political leadership. Employing content analysis, this article examines Wale Okediran's satirical use of the language of politics in Tenants of the House for aesthetic as well as communicative purposes.

Keywords: Language, Nigerian politics, Satire, Wale Okediran, Corruption, Tenants of the House