A Pragmatic Study of Selected Utterances in Asare Konadu’s a Woman in Her Prime

A Pragmatic Study of Selected Utterances in Asare Konadu’s a Woman in Her Prime

ABSTRACT

This research is a pragmatic study of selected utterances in Asare Konadu’s A Woman in Her Prime. In focus, the study discusses the application of the conversational maxims in the text to interpret the implicatures arising from the breaches in the selected utterances.

Findings show among other things that: The language of the text conveys, specifically, the traditional customs of the Ghanaian people and the African worldview in general; the meaning in the text is not tied to only the language use of the characters but extra linguistic features.

The language use of the characters flouts the conversational maxims. In addition, the noticeable maxims flouted are those of quality, quantity, relations and manner; although there are just few cases of flouting the manner maxim.

Apart from flouting, the characters also breached, opted out and violated the maxims. These flouting of the maxims leading to implicatures also affected the meaning of the characters conversations.

Lastly, the flouting and implicature give spontaneity to the language use of the characters which make their conversations seem real and true to life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page………………………………………………………………………………………i
Declaration…………………………………………………………………………………….ii
Certification…………………………………………………………………………………..iii
Dedication……………………………………………………………………………………..iv
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………….v
Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………………….vi
Abstract………………………………………………………………………………………….ix

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1. 1 Background to the Study…………………………………………………………………..1
1.2 Konadu as a Writer……………………………………………………………………………2
1.3 Statement of the Problem……………………………………………………………………4
1.4 Research Questions…………………………………………………………………………..5
1.5 The Aim and Objectives of the Study……………………………………………………….5
1.6 Significance of the Study……………………………………………………………………6
1.7 Scope and Delimitation of the Study……………………………………………………….7
1.8 Methodology…………………………………………………………………………………8
1.8.1 Research Design…………………………………………………………………………..9
1.8.2 Population of the Study……………………………………………………………………9
1.8.3 Sample Size and Sampling Procedures……………………………………………………9
1.8.4 Method of Data Analysis…………………………………………………………………10

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….….11
2.1 An Overview of Pragmatics………………………………………………………………..13
2.2 Literary Narrative and Pragmatics…………………………………………………………18
2.3 Politeness Issues in Pragmatics and Story Narrative……………………………………….23
2.4 Politeness Theory……………………………………………………………………………25
2.5 Approaches to Politeness Theory………………………………………………………….28
2.7 Politeness and World View………………………………………………………………..32
2.8 Conversational Implicature and the Cooperative Principles………………………………37

CHAPTER THREE

APPLICATION OF MAXIMS OF QUANTITY AND QUALITY TO THE TEXT
3.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….49
3.2 Analysis……………………………………………………………………………………..49

CHAPTER FOUR

APPLICATION OF MAXIMS OF RELATIONS AND MANNER IN THE TEXT
4.1 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………….66
4.2 Analysis………………………………………………………………………………………66
4.3 Discussion of Findings……………………………………………………………………..78

CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION
5.0 Summary…………………………………………………………………………………….81
5.1 Summary of findings………………………………………………………………………81
5.2 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………82
Works Cited………………………………………………………………………………………84

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