M. S. AGBO

This study examines the pragmatic aspects of Yoruba taboo folktales, with special focus on selected tales from Ogbomoso. While Yoruba folktales have often been explored for their literary and artistic merits, their pragmatic roles, particularly as acts of communication, have received less attention. The aim of this research is to investigate how taboo folktales function as speech acts and employ politeness strategies that uphold social, moral, and spiritual order in Yoruba society. The study relied on eight taboo folktales, which were collected through oral interviews with competent Yoruba speakers and later translated into English. The data were analyzed using Speech Act Theory (Austin, 1962; Searle, 1969) and Leech’s Politeness Principle (1983). Direct and reported utterances from the folktales were examined at the locutionary, illocutionary, and perlocutionary levels, and further classified according to Austin’s and Searle’s categories of speech acts. The politeness analysis assessed the cultural purposes of the utterances, as well as the ways in which they conformed to or violated conversational maxims. Findings reveal that Yoruba taboo folktales are not merely entertaining stories, but performative acts that sustain cultural values. They preserve spiritual balance, instill discipline, and transmit ancestral wisdom across generations. Further research can focus on the linguistic philosophy underlying Yoruba taboo folktales, with attention to the deeper cultural beliefs and worldviews they embody

This study presents a contrastive analysis of gender-base idioms intheIgbo and English languages. The research investigates the differencesand similarities in the usage, meanings, and cultural implicationsofgender-related idiomatic expressions in these two languages. Whileprevious studies have explored idioms or gender language featuresseparately, this research focuses on the distinctiveness of gender-basedidioms and how they are utilized differently in Igbo and English. Thisstudy contributes to a comprehensive understanding of howgenderislinguistically represented through idiomatic expressions. The theoretical framework of this research draws fromsociolinguisticsand cognitive linguistics. It considers language as a reflection of societalnorms and cultural values, while also exploring howspeakersconceptualize gender roles and relationships through idiomatic languageuse. This approach helps unravel the complex interplaybetweenlanguage, culture, and cognition in constructing gender-based idioms. The method of data collection involves a mixed-methods approach. Acorpus of gender-based idioms is compiled fromauthentic sourcesinboth languages, ensuring diversity in terms of genres and contexts. Acombination of qualitative and quantitative analyses is employedtoexamine the semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic aspects of the idiomatic xii expressions. Additionally, native speakers are engaged in interviewsandfocus groups to provide insights into the cultural connotations andsocialmeanings of these idioms. The findings reveal intriguing disparities between the two languages. InIgbo, gender-based idioms often emphasize communal relationshipsandresponsibilities, reflecting the collective ethos of the culture. Meanwhile, English idioms tend to centre on individual attributes and actions. Theanalysis also uncovers instances where the same concept is conveyedthrough different idiomatic expressions in each language. This suggeststhat cultural nuances play a substantial role in shaping the linguisticrepresentation of gender-related ideas. In conclusion, this study highlights the intricate interplaybetweenlanguage and culture by examining gender-base idioms inIgboandEnglish. The research underscores that idiomatic expressions aremorethan just linguistic units; they encapsulate cultural valuesandperspectives. By analysing these idioms, the study contributes tocross-cultural understanding and linguistic research. Furthermore, itilluminates how the conceptualization of gender is linguisticallymanifested and opens avenues for future exploration in sociolinguistics, cognitive linguistics, and intercultural communication studies. Thisresearch underscores the importance of considering idiomatic expressions as vital components of language and culture, deepeningourappreciation for the intricate ways in which societies communicateandperceive gender roles.

This research work scrutinized the Lexical Innovation Strategies in Nigeria Youth Language. This work intends to fill the gap of the Nigerian Youth language and the lexical innovations in the language. The theoretical framework used to carry out this work is ‘Linguistic relativity theory of Sapir”. The source of this project is gotten from the texts, books, dictionary and the internet. The findings of the study are the lexical strategies in Nigeria youth language which involves compounding, borrowing and coinage. In conclusion, new words are constantly coined and borrowed to make communication easier and shorter.