Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun as a Tool for Countering Ethnocentric Language Use: Implications for Applied Peace Linguistics

Abstract

Prevailing ideological, political and ethnic divides in Nigeria make it a fragile state. One of the drivers of these divides is inflammatory language. Inflammatory language that exacerbates conflict abounds in spoken and written fictional and non-fictional discourse. Inflammatory language in the form of ethnocentric language use deepens hate, sustains distrust and engenders insecurity. The objective of this study is to expose how fiction can be used by English language scholars to counter ethnocentric language use thus enhancing peaceful communication and peaceful co-existence in Nigeria. In order to achieve this, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Half of a Yellow Sun was analysed. It was found that the writer uses the principle of verisimilitude to make characters use ethnocentric language and ethnic profiling in the novel. Using the principles of critical thinking and peaceful communication, the study exposes the effect of the ethnocentric language – used by the characters in the novel – to peace, security and development. The study suggests how peace linguistic theories can be used by scholars of English to raise the consciousness of learners of English, to identify how ethno-centric language use flouts the principles of politeness. It is envisioned that, such will make the learners imbibe the skills of becoming communicative humanizers through critical thinking as such minimizing ethnocentric language use and facilitating peace, security and development in Nigeria.