Abstract 19. Sijoy Paul
Language of Dissent as Assertion in Wole Soyinka’s The Road
Abstract
Akinwande Oluwole
"Wole" Soyinka (born 13 July 1934) is a Nigerian writer, poet and
playwright. He, the 1986 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, asserts his dissidents of the colonial invasion through the
language, culture and religion. More over the author, through the protagonist,
voices his protest against the invaded culture and reinforces the identity of
the tribe through the language. The Language used in the drama is different
from the UK English; the Nigerian local slangs and grammar is included that
makes a little reflection to comprehend the meaning. Vernacular Language like
Yoruba and Pidgin are used; appropriate translations are given where ever it is
necessary. This paper investigates the linguistic resistance over the hegemonic
western language that runs through the play. In short the play is a strong mark
in the literary tradition of dissent. By the employment of the local language
and myth of the tribes in Nigeria the author challenges the conventional idea
of sophisticated English language in any literary work in English. Soyinka
restructures the grammar and spelling of the English language and thus gives a
new perspective of asserting the originality of the native writing.
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