Yorùbá Interrogative Proverbs
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: This study examines the forms and functions of Yoruba interrogative proverbs. It posits that almost all interrogative proverbs in Yoruba contain question words which appear in the sentence initial or sentence final. The study shows that Yoruba interrogative proverbs have two basic forms: proverbs with declarative discourse preceding the interrogative sentence and proverbs that are direct question(s). The paper shows that to fully understand the functions of Yoruba interrogative proverbs; there is need to take cognizance of the semantic and contextual features of the proverbs. On the basis of this, the study shows that interrogative proverbs in Yoruba are not used to seek information, rather, they are used rhetorically to express an assertion, doubt, affirmation, creation of comic effect and to provoke people to think about what the obvious answer to the question(s) in the proverbs must be.
Source: European Scientific Journal ESJ
Author: Tèmítọṕẹ́ Olúmúyìwá
Institution: Adekunle Ajasin University
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W1550061172