A Critical Discourse Analysis of Àyìnlá Ọmọwúrà‟s IléAyé n Yí lọS’ópin

Abstract

Singing is art and art is society. From time immemorial, song has been one of the indispensable tools that develop societies. Music is produced for specific motives, messages and dedications and sometimes directed at specific sets of audience or listeners. In music, different subject matters such as social, economic, religious and contemporary problems and issues are embedded whereby the musician or the songwriter tries to communicate his or her views, feelings, thoughts or ideologies to the targeted audience or readers. Language is an essential component of music for songs are composed of it . Language of song can be spoken or written depending on the situation and purpose . This study therefore attempts a critical discourse analysis of ÀyìnláỌ mo ̣wúrà's IléAyé ń Yí Lọ S'ópin(1978) using Teun A. van Dijks's (1988) Critical Discourse Analysis model. Using this model reveals that the text is related to the social context of the period in which the social song was produced. The study adopted qualitative method of analysis which is analytic, critical, descriptive and discursive in nature. The study reveals that social cognition and social context shape the choice of words songwriters adopt and at the same time, choice of words reveals the ideologies and beliefs of songwriters. The study encourages other researchers in the field of CDA to carry out CDA of Yoruba songs, especially the historical and political ones to enhance the field of CDA better.