e-sRC

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study.
Language is the fundamental tool of communication. Language, according to
Lahey (1978: 8), is a code whereby ideas, information, objects, feelings, etc. in human
society are represented through conventional and arbitrary symbols for the purpose of
communication either orally or in written form. Language is the expression of human
communication through which knowledge, belief and behaviour can be experienced,
explained and shared. Cameron (1992) argues that language is the medium through
which we interpret our external world. This means that reality is expressed through
language. If reality is expressed through language, it also follows that language plays an
important role in creating our reality or at least our sense of what reality is. Language
can create our world for us. It can manipulate our concepts of self and identity. This is
threatening for men and women in general in Akụ community since language can be used
to make or mar people.
Akụ is a dialect among over two hundred and fifty dialects in Igbo language and
the primary language of communication in Akụ community. In the pre-colonial era,
according to Ọchọ (1974), there was the modest use of the dialect by men and women in
addressing one another. This means that the use of insulting and denigrating expressions
were less among men and women. He stated that, there were clan or community heads
who served as agents of peace. They employed intelligent, strong proverbs and aphoristic
statements to convey their messages as well as to regulate the assaultive use of language
by men and women on each other. Idiomatic expressions and euphemisms were mostly
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used when discussing unpleasant issues and situations he stressed. Though, the
community was controlled by men (patriarchy), language use was regulated. The women
from birth according toEjuona Acada Front (2000) are taught to speak in a subservient
way by their parents. The acquisition of this special style of speech was an excuse the
men used to keep the women in a demeaning position Lakoff (1975). The ancestral
religion, with its tradition of the masquerade, served as the watchdog of the society. The
use of vulgar language capable of raising nerves could attract a penalty. The use of
indecent expressions by men and women in referring to one another was minimal because
it was a taboo and that was why cases of divorce and domestic violence were less
Ọchọ,(1974).
The colonial period introduced changes that permeated the dialect. The power of
the clan heads and traditional priests was weakened. The colonial army took control of
everything. There was a loss of the sacredness of the ancestral religion and its regulatory
power in the society-Manụ, (1982). The market economy that guaranteed competition
between the men and the women was introduced. Also, western education that is
normally distributed among sexes was introduced. Groups‟ teaching about equality of
humans came up to influence the society. Men and womenstarted clashing at different
tents Lakoff, (1975). This development led to the explosion of the use of expressions that
describes the situation and was veiled with many stereotypes, she asserted.
The celebration of independence in 1960 came with its vices. The powers of
elders and clan heads were lost to rich merchants that cut across sex divide and external
influence of feminist group reduced the submissiveness of women to men Manụ, (1982).
He further stated that complementary relationship of husbands and wives preached by
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Christianity narrowed the hierarchy between men and women. This resulted to
incompatibility of men and women, thus increasing the degree of clashes in the home as
well as the community as a whole. The cases of domestic violence and divorce took a
mathematical progression. With the nature of court settlement of crisis which were not
reconciliation centred, the crisis between men and women rather increased Onyeọkụ et al
(2013) argued.
In contemporary times, many factors have fuelled the use of indiscriminate
expressions by men and women in Akụ community. The experience of the life style in
foreign countries has brought a transformation that is placing women at an equal level
with men. Therefore the tolerance in the use of indecent language to refer to oneanother
has dropped. Language that indicates disrespect of men and women against oneanother
seems to be on the increase today. There are expressions that create class based on
economic success. In the circle of men, the rich, no matter the source of their wealth, are
exalted with expression such as nnukwu mmọnwụ meaning big masquerade,ite-ego
meaning pot of money etc. to refer to them. This has created a fearful competition leading
to a high increase in crime such as drug trafficking, armed robbery, cultism, prostitution
and so on just to get out of a caste that is nurtured and sustained by the forms of
expressions used in Akụ community. It is this progression of the use of insensitive
expressions by men and women to refer to one another in Akụ community from precolonial
times to date that constitute the background to this study.
1.4 Statement of the Research Problem.
Language expresses one‟s intention. The theory behind attitude is language used.
This means that people react to what they hear and not to intentions. Akụ community is
experiencing many more vices today than before.The cases of domestic violence, divorce
and broken homes are on the increase,(Onyeọkụ et al 2013). Many marriages are
surviving just for the task of bringing up children together and for external show, while
the couples are dying in silence. Thereis also a high rate of inter-family conflict, armed
robbery, cultism etc. according to Amadị, (2000) and Ụzọchukwu (2013). There is also
the case of women not participating actively in politics etc.( Charton 1998).
Many factors could be said to be responsible for these vices. But it seems that
their persistence is due to certain expressions used in Akụ community which nurture and
sustain them. In other words, the specific ways in which men refer to the women and how
women addressthe men are possible reasons why the above mentioned problems persist.
Thus, the concern of this study is to examine the expressions being usedin the day to day
communication among the people in Akụ community.