Indexicality of wọ́n: Yoruba language and culture
The Yoruba pronoun wọ́n is equivalent to the English pronoun they, and can occur in various syntactical constructions including passives. Indefinite pronouns of passive constructions by definition are silent about the identity of their subject. However, Yoruba peoples' cultural interpretation a...
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| Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of African cultural studies Jg. 24; H. 2; S. 195 - 207 |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
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Routledge
01.12.2012
Taylor & Francis |
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| ISSN: | 1369-6815, 1469-9346 |
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| Abstract | The Yoruba pronoun wọ́n is equivalent to the English pronoun they, and can occur in various syntactical constructions including passives. Indefinite pronouns of passive constructions by definition are silent about the identity of their subject. However, Yoruba peoples' cultural interpretation attributes definiteness, concreteness, and agency to the indefinite pronoun wọ́n in specific usages. Based on the study of utterances obtained from popular, contemporary usages, and individual narratives all featuring the passivized pronoun wọ́n, this article examines Yoruba habitual practices. It argues that understanding the cultural meaning of wọ́n is invaluable for understanding the Yoruba peoples' habitual view of causality in addition to the way it guides their interpersonal interactions. Further, wọ́n is shown to index a certain Yoruba worldview and to guide their efforts to achieve their presumed goals of earthly existence. The article does four things: (1) it explicates the content of the pronoun wọ́n, exemplifying its various manifestations in contemporary popular Yoruba usages; (2) it shows the spiritual foundation of wọ́n; (3) it provides evidence to argue for its cultural continuity in spite of modernity and western/eastern religious traditions; and (4) it discusses its place in the socio-political continuity and identity formation of Yoruba peoples. |
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| AbstractList | The Yoruba pronoun wọ́n is equivalent to the English pronoun they, and can occur in various syntactical constructions including passives. Indefinite pronouns of passive constructions by definition are silent about the identity of their subject. However, Yoruba peoples' cultural interpretation attributes definiteness, concreteness, and agency to the indefinite pronoun wọ́n in specific usages. Based on the study of utterances obtained from popular, contemporary usages, and individual narratives all featuring the passivized pronoun wọ́n, this article examines Yoruba habitual practices. It argues that understanding the cultural meaning of wọ́n is invaluable for understanding the Yoruba peoples' habitual view of causality in addition to the way it guides their interpersonal interactions. Further, wọ́n is shown to index a certain Yoruba worldview and to guide their efforts to achieve their presumed goals of earthly existence. The article does four things: (1) it explicates the content of the pronoun wọ́n, exemplifying its various manifestations in contemporary popular Yoruba usages; (2) it shows the spiritual foundation of wọ́n; (3) it provides evidence to argue for its cultural continuity in spite of modernity and western/eastern religious traditions; and (4) it discusses its place in the socio-political continuity and identity formation of Yoruba peoples. The Yoruba pronoun won is equivalent to the English pronoun they, and can occur in various syntactical constructions including passives. Indefinite pronouns of passive constructions by definition are silent about the identity of their subject. However, Yoruba peoples' cultural interpretation attributes definiteness, concreteness, and agency to the indefinite pronoun wọ́n in specific usages. Based on the study of utterances obtained from popular, contemporary usages, and individual narratives all featuring the passivized pronoun won, this article examines Yoruba habitual practices. It argues that understanding the cultural meaning of wọ́n is invaluable for understanding the Yoruba peoples' habitual view of causality in addition to the way it guides their interpersonal interactions. Further, won is shown to index a certain Yoruba worldview and to guide their efforts to achieve their presumed goals of earthly existence. The article does four things: (1) it explicates the content of the pronoun won, exemplifying its various manifestations in contemporary popular Yoruba usages; (2) it shows the spiritual foundation of wọ́n; (3) it provides evidence to argue for its cultural continuity in spite of modernity and western/eastern religious traditions; and (4) it discusses its place in the socio-political continuity and identity formation of Yoruba peoples. |
| Author | Agwuele, Augustine |
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| Cites_doi | 10.2307/524903 10.3998/mpub.17541 10.1093/mind/XIV.4.479 10.1017/UPO9781580467094.004 10.1163/157006602760599944 10.2307/1159867 10.1007/BF00258436 10.1515/9783110852820.164 10.2307/1159606 10.4159/9780674029019 |
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| References | Wiredu Kwasi (CIT0028) 1980 CIT0011 Adesanya A. (CIT0003) 1988 Jegede Dele (CIT0015) 1995 Chomsky Noam (CIT0009) 1986 Hountondji Paulin J. (CIT0014) 1996 Adeboye Gbenga (CIT0002) Falola Toyin (CIT0010) 2004 CIT0016 Hountondji Paulin J. (CIT0013) 1983 Oladipo Segun (CIT0021) 2000 CIT0017 Ọpẹfeyitimi Ayọ. (CIT0022) 1988; 18 Brunner Jerome (CIT0008) 1986 Appiah Anthony Kwame (CIT0006) 1992 Mbiti John S. (CIT0019) 1969 Ogunyemi Wale (CIT0020) 1996 CIT0023 Lyotard J. F. (CIT0018) 1984 Rosaldo Renato (CIT0025) 1988 Poastal Paul M. (CIT0024) 1968 Adeboye Gbenga (CIT0001) CIT0005 CIT0027 CIT0004 CIT0026 CIT0007 Habermas J. (CIT0012) 1984 |
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| Snippet | The Yoruba pronoun wọ́n is equivalent to the English pronoun they, and can occur in various syntactical constructions including passives. Indefinite pronouns... The Yoruba pronoun won is equivalent to the English pronoun they, and can occur in various syntactical constructions including passives. Indefinite pronouns of... |
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| SubjectTerms | African culture Children Cultural studies Cultural values Destiny Existence Medical practice modernity Pronouns Proverbs Spirituals Yoruba culture Yoruba language Yoruba pronoun - wọ́n Yoruba worldview |
| Title | Indexicality of wọ́n: Yoruba language and culture |
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