Linguistic Analysis of Kwesi Brew’s “The Mesh”

Abstract

The notion of linguistic analysis has been examined in many ways by various researchers. In several studies, linguistic analysis has been referred to as the scientific analysis of a language sample used to describe the unconscious rules and processes that speakers of a language use. These studies have looked at linguistic analysis from concept extraction, as is the case with rules-based linguistic analysis, to textual analysis, as well as analysis of language and its structures. Studies have further shown that the goal of linguistic analysis is to understand the content of a text. In view of the foregoing, this paper examines the various linguistic concepts employed by African literary writers and how they “wrestle with words and meaning” to convey their unique visions. The paper revolves around how sentence patterns and linguistic concepts serve as tools for linguistic analysis of Kwesi Brew’s “The Mesh”. Findings of the study showed evidence in support of the use of several linguistic patterns employed by the poet for creative effects. Such linguistic tools include: linguistic concepts at the phonological, morphological, syntactic, semantics and lexical levels; parallel structures (“leave” and “come”) that are in antonymous relation; the use of synonymously related lexis as in cross-road, darkness, doubts which belongs to the same semantic category /+uncertainty/; the use of paradigmatic relation as seen in “darkness” and “doubts” for sharing the same alveolar at the initial position. Other analytical tools worthy of mention are pattern repetition, parallel structure, sentence patterns structure and linguistic foregrounding which are used for stylistic effects.