LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13 : 2 February 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Semantic Implications of Authors’ Names in Creativity:
A Study of Wole Soyinka’s Name as Reflected in His Selected Works

Adedoyin Eniola Olamide

ABSTRACT

Names deal in a process of identification. They constitute language which could be individually, socio culturally, psychologically or group influenced. Often metaphorically used, names could reveal the thought of its users. This paper studies the impact of authors? names on their creative use of language. We focus on the name of Africa?s world acclaimed author; Wole Soyinka, deriving the utmost import of meaning(s) embedded in his name and the inseparable presence of these meaning significations in his works. We conclude that generic names absorb the creative faculty of an individual and ultimately find expression in his or her perceptions. KEYWORDS: Ake, Aptronym, Idea initiation, Pract, Soyinka, Worldview, Yoruba.

INTRODUCTION

This study is presented in two broad perspectives; the semantic as well as the pragmatic dimensions by which Wole Soyinka?s name not only generates ideas that transform into character types and traits in his play texts, but also becomes noticeable in the general thematic preoccupation of his poems. We study the meaning of Soyinka?s name and what it is used to mean in that the ideas, philosophies and phenomena that generate from his name, have onomastic implications. These implications can be tagged, and the tag by which a certain „thing? is called is a name which justifies its functioning. Recognizing this, Odebode (2010:25) records that onomasts have identified the various ways in which naming occur. Of these typologies, our work is centered on Aptronym; a generic name that is aptly suited to its owner. These names are ultimately impacting because they are pivotal to the bearer?s psycho-social realities.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Adedoyin Eniola Olamide
Redeemer's University
College of Humanities
Department of English
KM 46 Lagos-Ibadan Express Way
Redemption City
PMB 3005 Redemption
Post Office Mowe
Ogun State
Nigeria
adedoyine@gmail.com
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