IDEATIONAL AND INTERPERSONAL ANALYSIS OF INSTRUCTIONS TO SONS-IN-LAW DURING IGALA TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE

Abstract

This study analyzes the ideational and interpersonal function of language in the instruction from fathers-in-law to sons-in-law during Igala traditional marriage. The study is premised on the theory of determinism by Yule (1996). The researchers used participant observation and interviews as means of data collection. The data collected were analyzed using ideational and interpersonal metafunction as an aspect of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). After the analysis, the findings of the study show that the examination of linguistic features of a text not only helps in understanding the structure of the text but also the deep meanings of it. This reveals the hidden-self of the characters bringing out their intentions behind the utterances which may appear difficult for a non-native. The study equally reveals that the interpersonal metafunction’s contextual analysis demonstrates how situational context, particularly the variable register of tenor, plays a significant role in determining interactants’ lexical choices appearing in the clauses used in communication to display their social role relationships. The work concludes that marriage institution is a fundamental Micro Social Component of the Society that requires linguistic attention.