This dissertation is an investigation into the poetry of Joe Ushie from the perspective of linguistics.
There are different linguistic levels of analysing a literary or non-literary text. These levels include: syntax, semantics, lexis, phonology, graphology and others; in order to achieve the objectives of this study, this essay investigates the deployment of graphology as a device of meaning and aesthetics.
Graphology is the study of language in print; a stylistic instrument which makes Ushie’s writing peculiarity an illustrating example of style as deviation from the actual linguistic norm. The study adopts foregrounding and multimodality as theoretical frameworks to the stylistic interpretations of the poetry of this author. Foregrounding as a theory was first put forward by Jan Mukrovsky at the University of Prague.
Significantly, by establishing a modified model of categorisation of Graphological devices, this research will improve the teaching and learning of graphology as a device of literary composition by way of assisting learners to develop linguistic abilities necessary for them to read, understand and respond to literary and non-literary works sensitively.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
2.1 Statement of the Problem
3.1 Purpose of the Study
4.1 Significance of the Study
5.1 Research Questions
6.1 Scope and Limitation of the Study
7.1 Conceptual Definition of Terms
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.1.1 The Concept of Style: Historical Perspectives
2.1.2 Stylistics and its central concerns
2.1.3 Pedagogical Stylistics
2.1.4 Approaches to stylistic analysis
2.1.4.1 Linguistic Stylistics
2.1.4.2 Literary Stylistics
2.1.4.3 Literary Linguistic Stylistics
2.1.5 Between Stylistic Analysis and Literary Criticism: A Conceptual Separation
2.1.6 Linguistic Levels of Stylistic Analysis
2.1.6.1 Lexical Level
2.1.6.2 Syntactic/Grammatical Level
2.1.6.3 Graphological Level
2.1.6.4 Phonological Level
2.1.6.5 Context Level:
2.1.6.6 Semantic Level
2.1.7 The Concept of Graphology
2.1.8 Levels of analysis within the Graphological Framework: Enquiries into previous Categorization
2.1.9 Present study categorization of graphological devices
2.1.10 Punctuation
2.1.11 Orthography (spellings)
2.1.12 Typography (structure and arrangement)
2.1.13 Pictography (graphical elements)
2.1.14 Fonting
2.1.15 The Place of Deviation in Stylistics
2.1.16 Devices of Linguistic Deviation
2.2 Background of the Author
2.2.1 Joe Ushie as an African Poet and his Thematic Concerns
2.3 Theoretical Framework
2.3.1 Mukrovsky’s Theory of Foregrounding
2.3.2 Theory of Multimodality
2.4 Appraisal of Literature
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Population of the Study
3.3 Sample and Sampling Techniques
3.4 Research Instrument
3.5 Validation of the Instrument
3.6 Reliability of the Instrument
3.7 Procedure for Data Collection
3.8 Method of Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
4.1 Presentation of Data
4.3 Data Analysis
4.3.1 Yawns and Belches (2018)
4.3.2 Lambs at the Shrine (1995)
4.3.3 Popular Stand and Other Poems (1992)
4.3.4 Eclipse in Rwanda (1998)
4.3.5 Hill Songs (2000)
4.3.6 A Reign of Locusts (2004)
4.4 Discussion of Findings
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Summary
5.2 Conclusions
5.3 Recommendations
5.4 Contributions to knowledge
Research Objectives and Themes
This dissertation investigates the linguistic and stylistic peculiarities of Joe Ushie’s poetry, specifically focusing on the deployment of graphological devices as a means to achieve aesthetic and communicative effects. It examines how Ushie utilizes graphological deviations to foreground meaning, protest social injustices, and represent the African experience, thereby providing a pedagogical model for the analysis of literary texts.
- The role of graphology as a tool for linguistic stylistic analysis.
- Application of the theories of Foregrounding and Multimodality to poetry.
- Socio-political themes in Joe Ushie’s poetic works.
- The pedagogical potential of graphological awareness in literature classrooms.
- Analysis of orthographical, typographical, and pictographical deviations in specific poetry collections.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.15 The Place of Deviation in Stylistics
Mukarovsky, a member of the Prague school of thought, opines that the deviation of poetic language is necessary because the ordinary language may not be enough to capture the real mood and feeling of a creative writer. Deviation then becomes imperative style to meaning delivery. The exponents of this view characterize style as a deviation or departure from the norm. The norm is constituted by the totality of a particular language system. In 1960’s this notion of style was introduced by Mukarovsky (1964). The Prague school holds the assertion that language of literature ‘poetic language’ is distinct from the standard language in its being deviant. The distinctiveness of poetic language is characterized by deliberate alternation of the norms of standard language. Such deliberation in many cases amounts to rule-breaking. The distinctive function of poetry, according to the Prague’s theory, consists in achieving ‘the maximum fro-grounding’ of the writer’s thoughts and intention by violating the ‘norms’ of ordinary language and thus by de-automatizing the familiar world against the automatatized standard language to describe certain deviation which has the function of laying emphasis on some items for an artistic purpose.
Chapter Summaries
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the shift from traditional literary criticism to linguistic stylistics, establishing the study's focus on Joe Ushie's poetry and the specific significance of graphological analysis.
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE: This section establishes the conceptual and theoretical framework, discussing the evolution of stylistics, pedagogical applications, and various models of graphological categorization, including the author's modified framework.
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the case study research design, the selection of the twenty-eight poems from six collections, and the instruments of close-reading and observation utilized for data analysis.
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION: The core section presents a rigorous graphological analysis of the selected poetry collections, interpreting specific deviations in punctuation, orthography, typography, pictography, and fonting.
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION: This final chapter synthesizes the research findings, concludes on the necessity of graphology in capturing the poetic intent in Ushie's work, and offers recommendations for future scholarly research.
Keywords
Graphology, Pedagogy, Stylistics, Deviation, Foregrounding, Multimodality, Poetry, Joe Ushie, Linguistics, Linguistic Norms, Literary Analysis, Poetic Language, Orthography, Typography, Pictography
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the "Device of Graphology" in the poetry of Nigerian poet Joe Ushie, exploring how his unique use of visual and printed language serves as a stylistic device to convey meaning.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work centers on stylistic analysis, the theory of foregrounding, the role of graphology in literary interpretation, and the socio-political context of Joe Ushie’s poetry, particularly regarding human suffering and systemic injustice.
What is the core research question?
The primary questions are: What are the patterns of graphology in Ushie's poetry? How do these patterns signify meaning? And what are the pedagogical influences of graphology in understanding his work?
Which scientific method is utilized in this study?
The study employs a case study research design using close-reading and observation as instruments to analyze twenty-eight poems selected from six of Joe Ushie's collections.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body covers a comprehensive review of literature regarding stylistics, the establishment of a modified graphological categorization model, and an extensive analysis of selected poems from collections such as Hill Songs and A Reign of Locusts.
Which keywords define this dissertation?
The defining keywords include Graphology, Pedagogy, Stylistics, Deviation, Foregrounding, and Multimodality.
How does Joe Ushie use graphological deviation?
Ushie uses graphological deviation—such as unusual capitalization, lexical truncation, and non-traditional stanza arrangements—to disrupt the reader's routine and emphasize his socio-political messages, making the "street" voice of the common man prominent.
What is the significance of the "Present study's model"?
The model is a modification of previous frameworks by Levenston and Lennard, specifically designed to address the "invading trends" of graphology and to categorize devices like fonting and pictography more systematically for modern stylistic analysis.
- Citation du texte
- Imikan Nkopuruk (Auteur), 2019, The Device of Graphology in Joe Ushies Poetry. Stylistic and Pedagogical Implications, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/494017
