ABSTRACT
Stylistics is the study of literary and non-literary texts using linguistic and literary descriptions. The aim in this research work was a stylistic analysis of Akachi adimora-ezeigbo’s Trafficked. The study critically analysed the data through the use of some levels of stylistic description namely; graphology, morphology, syntax, lexico-semantics and cohesion. The study discovered that at the graphological level, the author used italics, comma and dash. Among these, it was found out that the author used italics for stream of consciousness in order to reveal the real intention of the speaker. At the morphological level, it was noticed that the author only gave the full meaning of ‘OYSCO’,’WON’, etc which she introduced in the novel and takes for granted the full meaning of other acronyms. She also idiosyncratically employed more hyphenated compounding. The marked lexico-syntactic patterns used in the text are basically for emphasis. At the lexico-semantics level, proverbs was used to introduce the readers to the rich culture of the African society. Also, cohesive devices employed by the author were used to create links within the text. The conclusion to the work was that the employment of stylistic tools in the analysis of literary and non-literary text enhances better understanding of such texts and the authors.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgment vi
Abstract vii
Table of contents viii
CHAPTER ONE
General Introduction 1
1.1 Introduction to the study 2
1.2 Statement of the problem 2
1.3 Purpose of the study 3
1.4 Scope of the study 3
1.5 Justification of the study 3
1.6 Data description/synopsis of the novel 4
1.7 Biography of the author 4
1.8 Summary 5
CHAPTER TWO
Literature review 6
2.1 Introduction 6
2.2 The Concept of style 6
2.3 Stylistics 8
2.4 Levels of stylistic description 11
2.4.1 Graphology 11
2.4.2 Morphology 13
2.4.3 Syntax 14
2.4.4 Lexico-semantics 15
2.5 Cohesion 16
2.6 Summary 22
CHAPTER THREE
Stylistic elements in Akachi adimora-ezeigbo’s Trafficked
3.1 Introduction 23
3.2 Graphology 23
3.2.1 Italics 23
3.2.2 Comma 28
3.2.3 Dash 29
3.2.4 Capitalization 30
3.3 Morphology 32
3.3.1 Compounding 32
3.3.2 Acronymy 34
3.4 Lexis and syntax 34
3.4.1 Parenthesis 35
3.4.2 Anaphora 37
3.4.3 Polyptoton 38
3.5 Lexico-semantics 38
3.5.1 Proverbs 38
3.5.2 Simile 40
3.5.3 Deviant words 41
3.6 Cohesion 44
3.7 Findings 59
3.8 Summary 61
CHAPTER FOUR
Introduction, Summary, Recommendation and Conclusion
4.1 Introduction 62
4.2 Summary 62
4.3 Recommendation 63
4.4 Conclusion 63
References 64
INTRODUCTION
Stylistics, a branch of linguistics which developed from the ancient Greek rhetoric through the Swiss linguist, Charles BALLY during the 20th century, is an aspect of language study that has attracted a great deal of attention from scholars. Young as this discipline is, it is open to so many fields of study most especially to related disciplines such as theory of literature, poetics and aesthetics, among others.
However, over the years, there have been various arguments among scholars about the application of linguistics to the analysis and interpretation of literary texts. This is because, “they operate at different levels that are hardly reconcilable”. Literary criticism on the one hand operates on terms of value, purpose and aesthetics while linguistic analysis focuses on phonetics, stress, syntax, and lexico-semantics (Kolawole, 2003, p.1)
In the words of Short (1996, p.1), stylistics is “an approach to the analysis of 'literary texts using linguistic description”. Stylistics, from his submission deals with how literary and non-literary texts are analyzed through linguistic tools. As observed by Short, stylistics is both relevant in studying literary and non-literary texts. One of the prominent areas in literature in which stylistic theory could be of great benefit is in the study of a novel. This is so because the language employed by an author in a novel should help in contributing to the overall development of the text.
Trafficked, by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo is a literary text that was written in 2008. The novel in 2009 received Honourable mention as Runner-up for the ANA/NDDC Flora Nwapa prize for women and also that same year, Chris Anyoku wrote an article which he titled “Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s Trafficked: Re- defining the ‘New’ Nigeria Novel.
Therefore, this research attempts to analyse Trafficked using stylistics as the theoretical basis. The stylistic tools that will be used as mode of analysis include Graphology, Morphology, Syntax, Lexico-semantics and Cohesion.
