DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF EMMY UNUJA IDEGU’S THE LEGENDARY INIKPI

Abstract

This study examines selected excerpts from Emmy Unuja Idegu’s The Legendary Inikpi to assess how contextual variables determine speech distribution among participants. Four excerpts were purposively selected and analyzed using Ethnography of Communication as the theoretical framework. The analysis revealed the important role of power and gender in a traditional Nigerian speech community where political and spiritual authority are highly respected. The study concludes that social status and gender influence language use in traditional Nigerian settings.