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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Proverbs as iconic and indexical markers of culture: exploration of proverbs of four Nigerian cultures
Authors:Esimaje, Alexandra llzoaku
Mosagbor, Richard Abekhe
Ezirim, Chukwuma Daniel
Year:2014
Periodical:Okike: an African Journal of New Writing (ISSN 0331-0566)
Issue:51
Pages:255-271
Language:English
Geographic term:Nigeria
Subjects:proverbs
Hausa
Yoruba
Igbo
Ivbie North-Okpela-Arhe language
Abstract:Language is not only a vehicle of individual thought but of also collective thought. One of the ways it performs the latter function is by the use of proverbs, which carry the burden of a peoples' beliefs, customs and traditions. As communicative medium, proverbs seem to be iconic and indexical of the cultures that produce them. ln this paper, this assertion was investigated through the exploration of the proverbs of four Nigerian cultures to see to what extent proverbs serve to identify and define their users. To do this, a total of forty (40) proverbs were selected from four cultures: Hausa, lgbo, Yoruba and lvie; ten (10) proverbs from each culture were analysed using the frameworks of Habermas' (1998) validity claims and Peirce's (1958) sign triad of symbol, icon and index. The authors discuss proverbs from a linguistic perspective as bearers of definite semiotic/cultural meaning by identifying and discussing motifs and patterns of modality in the proverbs across the four cultures. Bibliogr, sum [Journal abstract]
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