Welcome to Open Science
Contact Us
Home Books Journals Submission Open Science Join Us News
The Role of Oral Proverbs in Dagbani
Current Issue
Volume 6, 2019
Issue 1 (March)
Pages: 1-10   |   Vol. 6, No. 1, March 2019   |   Follow on         
Paper in PDF Downloads: 32   Since Jan. 27, 2019 Views: 897   Since Jan. 27, 2019
Authors
[1]
Abdul-Razak Inusah, Department of Languages, Tamale College of Education, Tamale, Ghana.
[2]
Sadia Jomo Issahaku, Department of Languages, Tamale College of Education, Tamale, Ghana.
Abstract
This paper examines Dagbani oral arts and describes the role of oral proverbs as a trigger for traditional development, peaceful cohesion, and conflict resolution. The theoretical contribution is centered on the mnemonic SPEAKING model developed by Hymes as a framework for the analysis of a speech event within its cultural context. This paper suggests that the intricate resources of oral literature, exemplified by Dagbamba textual references are viable ingredients for sociocultural empowerment. The ideas conveyed in the genres of oral literature, representing key cultural realities of Dagbamba people offer insights and ideas for development and social good. Based on the data, it examines different types of proverbs that are used in different context depending on the purpose in the society. It also examines the oral proverbs in folktales. The paper calls for the preservation and effective education of oral competence and performance with emphasis on its unifying properties as a means to achieve societal unity, peaceful cohesion and development.
Keywords
Proverb, Dagbani, Role, Ŋaha, Dagbamba, Oral
Reference
[1]
Agyekum, K. (2013) Introduction to Oral Literature: third edition, Legon Accra, Adwinsa Publications Ltd.
[2]
Agykum, K. (2010). The Ethnography of Thanking in Akan. Nordic journal of African studies 19 (2): 77-97.
[3]
Agykum, K. (2002). The Communicative role of silence in Akin. Pragmatics international Association (IPrA), Quarterly Publication, 12 (1). 31-51.
[4]
Agyekum, K. (2000). Aspects of Akan Oral Literature in the Media: Research Review New Series. 12. 2 p1-18.
[5]
Agyekum, K. (1999). Afisem Programme, Radio Univers, Accra.
[6]
Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do things with words. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[7]
Awouma, J. (1970). “Literature Africaine Orale et Comportements Sociaux: Etude Literaire et Socio- culturelle des Contes et Proverbes Bulu du Sud Cameroun”, unpublished Doctorat de III Cycle, University of Paris.
[8]
Bauman, R. and Sherzer, J. (1975). The Ethnography of Speaking: Annual Reviews.
[9]
Coker, O. and Coker, A. (2009). Cultural Exploration as Alter/Native Route to National Development: Insights from Yoruba Verbal Arts: University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
[10]
Diabah, G. and Amfo, A. N. A. (2014). Caring Supporters or Daring Usurpers? Representation of Women in Akan Proverbs. SAGE, 1-23.
[11]
Duranti, A. (1997). Linguistic anthropology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
[12]
Finnegan, R (2012). Oral literature in Africa. Nairobi: Oxford University Press.
[13]
Hymes, D. (1962). The ethnography of speaking. In Gladwin, Thomas; Sturtevant, William C. Anthropology and Human Behavior. Washington, D. C.: Anthropology Society of Washington, 13-53.
[14]
Inusah, A. (2017). Patterns of relative clauses in Dagbanli. SAGE. 1–9.
[15]
Inusah, A. (2016) Dialectal Variations in Dagbani Phonology, Mphil Thesis, University of Ghana.
[16]
Luke, E. (2011). Indigenous Oral Poetry in Nigeria as a Tool for National Unity: Department of English, University of Uyo, Uyo, Nigeria.
[17]
Ndimofor, N. D. (2011). Oral Literature of the Akum People: A Study of the Folksong and Cultural Elements: University of Yaounde.
[18]
Nketia, J. H. (1958). Folklore of Ghana, The Ghanaian, Tema, Ghana Publishing Corporation.
[19]
Okpewho, I. (1992). African Oral Literature. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
[20]
Yakarika, A. (1998) Dagbani Proverbs, Tamale, Tamale Institute of Cross-Cultural Studies.
[21]
Yankah, K. (1997). Nana Ampadu, the Sung-Tale Metaphor, and Protest Discourse in Contemporary Ghana. In Adjaye J. K. and A. R. Andrew (eds.), Language, Rhythm and Sound: Black Popular.
Open Science Scholarly Journals
Open Science is a peer-reviewed platform, the journals of which cover a wide range of academic disciplines and serve the world's research and scholarly communities. Upon acceptance, Open Science Journals will be immediately and permanently free for everyone to read and download.
CONTACT US
Office Address:
228 Park Ave., S#45956, New York, NY 10003
Phone: +(001)(347)535 0661
E-mail:
LET'S GET IN TOUCH
Name
E-mail
Subject
Message
SEND MASSAGE
Copyright © 2013-, Open Science Publishers - All Rights Reserved