A Sociolinguistic analysis of address forms in Yoruba

Abstract

This article provides a descriptive analysis of the entire system of address forms in Yoruba, a Defoid language of the Niger-Congo phylum, spoken principally in the western part of Nigeria and to a lesser extent in the Republics of Benin and Togo. With data from short radio and TV plays, unobtrusive observation of actual usage, and introspection, it was discovered that the choices made by interlocutors are guided by the perceived social relationship that exists between them. The principal indices of this among the Yoruba are age, social status, and kinship. Nevertheless, certain peculiarities are noticeable. For instance, the dichotomy of power vs. solidarity (Brown & Gilman 1960) becomes blurred with respect to Yoruba kinship terms of address; thus solidarity does not necessarily imply equality among the Yoruba. (Politeness, address, kinship, Africa, Yoruba)

A Sociolinguistic Study of Husband-to-Wife Address Forms and Functions in Rural Jordanian Community

“…Following the classic studies of Brown and Gilman"s (1960) study on pronouns of power and solidarity and Brown and Ford"s (1961) study on address in American English, research on AFs has been conducted (e.g. Parkinson, 1985;Winchatz, 2001;Farghal & Shakir, 1994;Oyetade, 1995). Brown and Gilman (1960) have presented a two-dimensional model which presents two social relations encoded in language: power and solidarity (as in T/V deictic function).…”

“…Rather, they are governed by speaker-related factors, addressee-related factors, speaker-addressee relationship, and where and when (Parkinson, 1985). Oyetade"s (1995) descriptive analysis of AFs, used in a language spoken in the western part of Nigeria, has ended to that the choices made by interlocutors are influenced by social relationship between interlocutors and some social governing factors such as age, social status and kinship. In his description of the socio-cultural setting-related AFs in Hindi, Mehrotra (1985) has noticed that variation in the used AFs reflects the interlocutor"s social background and they define identity and status of the speaker and addressee.…”

“…The power differential between the wife (the addressee) and husband (the speaker) and the relevant imposition might be related to the social norms that ascertain power and leadership to be in the hands of the man, even if he is uneducated or unable to assume that role. Adopting Brown and Gilman"s (1960), Oyetade (1995) stated that power refers to "authority or superiority of one person over another". This explanation may stand valid in view of appearance of "power" as a social meaning triggered by the husbands" report on their use of zero form in situations that include only spouses as well as other attendees, including the children and spouses relatives, hence making complaining with introductory zero form appear like an expected and routine practice by the one with authority and superiority.…”

Choice of address terms in conversational setting

“…Address terms are used when a speaker already has the listener's attention in interactive, face to face situations through which the behavior, norms and practices of a society can be identified (Afful 2006;Fasold 1990;Dickey 1997;Oyetade 1995). How people address each other is important from semantic and pragmatic aspects since address terms reflect both setting and social relationships.…”

The Address Forms of Spouses in Different Social Strata in Iran and Its Sociolinguistic

“…In this respect, Oyetade (1995) defines address terms as words or expressions used in interactive, dyadic and face-to-face situations to designate the person being talked to.…”