ETHNOGRAPHY OF SPEAKING IN PAYING OF BRIDE PRICE IN NKPORO DIALECT OF THE IGBO LANGUAGE

Abstract

Language is a means through which people express their social groups and culture. Hence, there is hardly any conceivable human activity or function where language is not required. In other words, the primacy of language cuts across all facets of human life. Ethnography of speaking is the study of the place of language in culture and society. This research examines the ethnography of speaking as it concerns the paying of bride price in Nkporo dialect of the Igbo language, with the sole aim of investigating language use from the angle of paying bride price to ascertain how language is structured or organized, reflecting the culture of Nkporo town and that of the Igbo people in general. The methodology is simply descriptive. The data for the research were collected through audio-recording of event. The researchers adopt Hymes (1962) SPEAKING model in analyzing the data. The study discovers that the language use in paying of dowry in Nkporo dialect is rich in proverbs and figurative expressions like ónwó úkòm ànyí fhù-rù íbe à ànyí chò-rò kà ànyí gbù-rù kà ó yé-é ànyí hòó ànyí This expression means that there is a beautiful girl whose behavior impresses them that they would want her to be part and parcel of the family; while the word úkòm here refers to the beautiful and well behaved girl that is marriageable. Also, another figurative expression observed during the paying of bride price in Nkporo speech community is igbù éwú mmà na nkólo which means to hit the nail at the head. Furthermore, the proverb izù gbáárá ndí mmànwú, à káálá ónyé ágbààrà emphasizes the act of making private discussions or decisions public. Conclusively, these proverbs and idioms beautify and enrich the language use in paying of bride price in Nkporo dialect.