THE POLEMICS OF LANGUAGE IN ESIABA IROBI’S CEMETERY ROAD

In the culture of any group of people, language, as a potent means of communication, cannot be relegated to the background. Every good play reflects the people for whom it is written. Esiaba Irobi’s Cemetery Road is not an exception. This essay, therefore, considers the employment of language as one of the major tools of revolt in Esiaba Irobi’s Cemetery Road in the dramatist’s attempt to restructure and build a new egalitarian society. The essence of this study is to reveal how Esiaba Irobi, has been able to deploy language as a revolutionary weapon in his play, Cemetery Road. The study, thus, showcases the ideological concern of the playwright in the play. The play is ideological because it takes a radical position on the issue of change in certain aspects of the Nigerian society. This essay, therefore, seeks to unveil the different aspects of language used in Cemetery Road. An examination of the text reveals that the dramatist employs macabre language or language of violence, persuasive language, wit, mockery and sarcasm, proverbial language, imagery, language of abuse and insensitivity, and language of despair.

American Proverbs and Related Sayings

The collection (paremiography) and study (paremiology) of proverbs has a venerable tradition in the United States. Interdisciplinary and multiethnic approaches have shown that proverbial language is characterized by its polyfunctionality, polysituativity, and polysemanticity. Proverbs continue to play a multifaceted role in the modern American environment. New field research resulting in collections of proverbs that have hitherto not been registered from various folk groups is needed, and future studies should look in greater detail at the use and function of proverbs in modern literature, film, music, mass media, cartoons, and the memes that employ proverbs on the Internet. The traditional and innovative employment of proverbs, quite often in the form of anti-proverbs, is alive in modern American society.

Hope Springs by E. Walters

Walters, Eric. Hope Springs. Illus. Eugenie Fernandes. Toronto, Ontario: Tundra Books, 2014. Print.Author Eric Walters and illustrator Eugenie Fernandes have teamed up to create a collection of beautiful picture books set in an orphanage in Kenya. "Hope Springs" is the second of three written and illustrated by this award winning team. The text is substantial but not overwhelming for elementary age students. Walters makes the significant topics of drought and community struggle accessible for readers of all ages. The story moves at a steady pace with subtly proverbial language that makes it an ideal read aloud.Young orphan Boniface faces hardship as drought overwhelms the valley in which he lives. Boniface reveals his kind heart early in the story and this caring nature develops more fully throughout the text. Stunning illustrations created using rich acrylics, compliment the text beautifully. In fact the layered landscapes add depth to the story. One especially poignant page portraying a watery dreamscape acts as the cover of the book. As an added bonus the book jacket doubles as a poster attracting young readers and foreshadowing the compassionate story within. Walters concludes his optimistic tale with a special non-fiction section, complete with photos, maps, and captions, describing "the story behind the story". All in all this is an inspirational read that highlights the power of kindness and sharing in the face of adversity. Read it for the heart-warming story featuring a struggle far beyond any first world problems and relish in the beautiful artwork.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Michelle HarveyMichelle Harvey is a teacher-librarian at a French Immersion school in Kelowna, British Columbia. After spending six years teaching in northeast China, Michelle is happy to be home and promoting her passions for reading and inquiry at the elementary school level.