Linguistic Stylistic Analysis of Raji-Oyelade’s “Black Laughter”: A Generative Grammar Approach
CLAREP Journal of English and Linguistics (C-JEL)
Author: Taiwo Adesoji Ayodele
Institution: Oyo State College of Education, Nigeria.
Email: taitoks21196@gmail.com
Abstract
Ohmann’s (1964) transformational manipulations support the School of Linguistic Stylistics that sees style as choice and asserts that choice, a tool in Linguistic Stylistics, is related to performance rather than competence. Consequently, this study explores Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) Approach to Linguistic Stylistic Analysis of texts as it focuses on Ohmann’s identified transformational manipulations; reordering, combination, addition and deletion in “Black laughter”, culled from Raji-Oyelade’s (1997) collection of poems, a Harvest of Laughters, purposively selected as the text for the analysis. The paper identifies the extent to which this text upholds the assertion that style is choice and the extent to which the argument that choice is related to performance rather than competence can be generalized. The study shows that the selected text contains and uses the transformational manipulations that enhance deeper understanding, interpretation and analysis of the selected text, and that it is generalizable that performance is the basis for style as choice since performance is the dexterity that showcases competence. In conclusion, it corroborates Ohmann’s claim that TGG is potentially useful in linguistic stylistic analysis of texts.
Keywords
Transformational Generative Grammar, Linguistic Stylistic Analysis, performance, competence, choice
Pages: 47-63
ISSN: 2698-654-X
ISBN: 978-3-96203-205-0 (Print)
ISBN: 978-3-96203-206-7 (PDF)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56907/gmd1eqm1