Cite this article as: Inuwa, I. M. (2025). Stylistic Analysis of Lexical Choices and Expressions in Isa Muhammad Inuwa’s Loud Whispers. Sokoto Journal of Linguistics and Communication Studies (SOJOLICS), 1(3), 163–167. https://www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i03.021
STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF LEXICAL CHOICES AND EXPRESSIONS
IN ISA MUHAMMAD INUWA’S LOUD WHISPERS
By
Isa Muhammad Inuwa
(PhD)
Department of
Linguistics and Translation Studies
School of
Humanities
Bayero University,
Kano
Abstract
This paper adopts
the model of Leech and Short (1981 and 1997) tools of analysis of ‘Lexical
items’ (words) and grammatical categories (expressions) to inwardly study a
poetry book by Isa Muhammad Inuwa, titled Loud
Whispers. The reason for the analyses of words and expressions in the poems
is because Stylistic analysis mainly relates to Language Choice and Language
Use. Also, studies and analysis in the field is account for the effects of
texts on readers. Choice in language use also defines how and why a writer or
speaker chooses or prefers to the words and expressions in his work, instead of
any other option of their substitutes. The speaker’s or writer’s preference to
say or write a word instead of its synonyms, such as ‘see’ instead of
‘witness’, surpasses just grammatical reason. Rather, may be as a result of
stylistic purpose towards achieving certain effects. In this study, some lines
are purposively selected from 6 poems, from a total of 41 poems in the book.
The selection is done to facilitate the process as well as to make the study
more concise. The study reveals that the choice of words and expressions in the
poems is guided by several purposes, such as achieving poetic beauty, achieving
collocation in the poems, as well as eliciting certain ideological notions.
Keywords: Words,
Expressions, Language Choice, Languages, Purposively, Stylistic purposes
1. Introduction
Stylistics has
been variously defined by scholars as the study of various styles of both
written and oral texts in a given context, by a particular person and for a
certain goal. Style is defined as an artistic function in an individual’s work
(Widdowson 1975; Leech 1981; Mukhtar 2004; Simpson 2014). Inuwa (2021) observes
that the study and analysis of oral and written text aim to “appreciate the
effects created by the peculiar linguistic features or style markers contained
therein”. He adds that style is also in relation to the behavior of producer of
the text. Similarly, the definition often focuses on the behavior of the text,
the aesthetic qualities and literary adornment in the text.; Deviation from
linguistic norms, and ideology embedded in the text are also covered by
definitions of Stylistics.
The paper embarks
on an inward analysis of a collection of poems titled ‘Loud Whispers’ authored by the analyst. Thus, the study involves a
critique of self. It involves analysis of use of selected words and expressions
by the author, in selected stanzas of the poems. The choice of terms (words and
expressions) in texts always serves as the basis of stylistic analysis. The
analysis is based on the model of Lexical Categories and Grammatical Categories
by Leech and Short, (1981 and 2007).
Stylistics which
is basically the study of style also explores the various patterns of language
productions. Speech can be both written and oral. It may be originally written
and later read orally to reach wider audience. For instance, speeches of
leaders and public office holders such as the president, governors, directors
and principals are first written. They are subsequently read in order to
communicate important messages to their subjects, at different points in time.
Traditionally, the
focus of stylistics falls on the aesthetic beauty and ornamentation contained
in any language production. However, critical stylistic analysis focuses on
implicit ideological aspects of the texts.
The study and
analysis of language production, particularly in artistic language production,
is categorized into prose, poetry and drama. Stylistics is concerned with the
analysis of all genres and patterns of discourses, and other forms such as the
media and advertisement language, etc.
The genre of
poetry is often considered as rich with aesthetic adornments, such as
metaphorical and figurative expressions, particularly worthy of literary
stylistic study. However, this paper focuses on linguistic stylistic analysis
of language use in poetry, with particularly attention. It studies the use of
words and expressions by the author, using the tool of analysis of Lexical
Categories (words) and Grammatical Categories (e expressions), by Leech and
Short (1981 and 2007) Therefore, the work is an in-ward self-critique by the
author, analyzing poems written by him.
2. Methodology and Theoretical Framework
Some 9 poems from
a total of 41 poems in the book are purposively selected and analyzed. For
convenience and to avoid overly bulky analysis, only few stanzas are selected. This
paper adopts the model of Lexical Categories and Grammatical Categories for the
analysis of selected words and expressions in the poems, titled Loud Whispers.
3. Data Presentation
Selected stanzas are hereby presented at this
section of the paper. The data are categorized into two categories, (i)
Specific words used in the selected poems and (ii) Specific expressions used in
the poems.
3.1 Data Analysis
The analysis is guided by the move to identify
the use of words and expressions by the writer. It also aims to identify the
ideological goals that lead to the effect of the text on the readers.
3.1.1 Presentation of Specific Words Used in the Poems
Following are the
specific words used in selected stanzas of the poems:
i. Poems, bend,
mould, anvil, wisdom. Hammer, artistic,
ii. Pepper-soup,
fleshy portion, meaty chunk, niceties, tears of joy,
iii. Women, men,
nature, block industry
3.1.2 Presentation of Specific Expressions Used in the
Poems
The following words/expressions appear in the
selected stanzas of the poems:
i. Angelic cock,
Heavenly fowl of the fairy world, wonderful beauty, Delicacy of nature
ii. Decorated,
embellished with charming chains of embroidery
iii. Unbiased
morning rains, Harbinger to ambitious farmers, Distraction to avid traders
iv. A blessing in
taming notorious mosquitoes, Cooling the atmosphere; Genuinely terrifying,
Powerful gale of wind, Thrashing roof-tops of dwelling houses
3.1.3 Analysis of Specific Words in the Poems
Excerpt 1: Men
What
do you do
With
your poems?
I bend
mine
And
mould them
On
the plain anvil
Of wisdom
I hammer
them
With
enduring hammer
Of artistic
Endeavour
Example 1 uses the
word ‘poems’ which is the theme of the particular poem, titled ‘Poetic
Gallantry’. Here, the writer began by asking other poems about how they go
about creating their poems, i.e., “what do you do with your poems?” The
question at the very opening serves as teaser that triggers further discussions
in subsequent stanzas. This was followed by another specific term or word
‘bend’, which is a verb describing the poet’s level of creativity, in that he
bends his poems into befitting and required dictions (sizes) and effects
(shapes).
A similar term
‘mold’ immediately followed the earlier term ‘bend’. This further indicates the
flexibility to which he subjects and treats his poems with a view to fit in
appropriately. The poem is molded on the “anvil” of ‘wisdom’. The poem is
therefore symbolized with the metal products being shaped by the blacksmith,
which are placed on the ‘anvil’ and beaten into required shapes and sizes.
The ‘hammer’ used
by the blacksmith is further symbolized as the appropriate instrument employed
for the act of shaping the metal into different finished products. The author
describes the finally ‘polished poems’ as the metaphorical ‘finished products’ here.
To further highlight the basic work of art embarked by author, he uses the term
‘artistic endeavour’. Hence, poetry writing is purely an ‘artistic’ exercise.
Excerpt 2: While taking a dish of chicken
Pepper soup, I go for the
thigh –
My
hand holds an end and tucks
A fleshy
portion in-between my teeth
And
yank away a meaty chunk with relish
They
gnaw hard and loud in joy, the moth
Savours
the niceties of it all –
Eyes
shed tears of joy
Similarly, example
2 above contains the specific terms (words) chosen and used by the author in
the selected poems. The author uses the compound word ‘chicken pepper soup’ is
used in the very opening stanza of the poem ‘Chicken Pepper soup’. This style of
naming is a form of repetition and anaphora, referring back to the title of the
poem. He uses another compound formation in form of adjectival clause, ‘fleshy
portion’, describing the chicken parts preferred by the author. This is
followed by another compound construction, ‘meaty chunk’, being the preferred
parts of the dish.
Excerpt 3: Women
aren’t born
For
men and
Men aren’t born for women
Each
for himself and
All
for God
The
nature
Is
a block industry
Each
mold is carved
For
a purpose
The stanza in
example 3 above is quoted from one of the poems titled ‘Nature’s Duality and
Finality’. The writer chooses to use words of opposite genders, ‘men’ and
‘women’, to signify ‘duality’ of nature. By extension, this can be conceived
further in a wider sense with such examples as ‘left’ and ‘right’, ‘ups’ and
‘downs’, ‘sweet’ and ‘bitter’, etc.
He further chooses the lexical item, ‘block industry’ to symbolize the works of nature, on the basis of the different molds and shapes of creatures and species in the world. That is to say the nature manifests people, animals, plants and mountains, etc of different types, sizes and shapes; similar to the molds and sizes of blocks.
3.1.4 Analysis of Specific Expressions in the Poems
Excerpt 4: Angelic
Cock, heavenly
Fowl of the fairy world
Oh wonderful
beauty
Oh delicacy
of nature
Meticulously
decorated
Embellished with
Charming chains of embroidery
What
a chameleonic kaleidoscope
Calligraphy of colours
Example 4 above is an instance where the
writer’s stylistic use of expressions in one of his poems, titled ‘Peacock’,
giving an in-depth description of the natural beauty of the Peacock. The
description aims at achieving an effect about the power of God the Almighty and
the ultimate Creator of all. He chooses to serialize the expressions – ‘Angelic
cock’, Fowl of the fairy world’, ‘delicacy of nature’, ‘embellished with
charming chains of embroidery’, ‘chameleonic kaleidoscope’ and ‘calligraphy of
colours’. His style of arranging the clauses results in the figurative
expression of ‘climax’. The figurative expression produces a rising or
heightening emotion about the beautiful features of the Peacock.
Excerpt 5: As we run
helter-skelter
For
any available shelter
Against
getting drenched by
Unbiased morning rains
As
it rains cats and dogs
Men
are tamed indoors
Leaving
the streets deserted
Few
vehicles fly the roads
Morning
rains
Harbinger to ambitious farmers
Distraction to avid traders
Similarly, the stanzas in example 5 are
quoted from a poem ‘Morning Rains’, by the writer. The writer describes the
‘Morning Rains’ as ‘unbiased morning rains. He therefore uses the figurative
expression of personification, giving it human attributes of generosity,
fairness and equity in its distribution (falling) in various locations. He
repeats the personification in the subsequent lines, describing the rain as
‘Harbinger to ambitious farmers’, just like a person bringing good news or
raising high hope to people. The promising statement was immediately followed
by a negative expression – ‘distraction to avid traders. Thus, the later
expression serves as an irony to the earlier perceived positive side of the
‘Morning Rains’. The writer illustrates both the positive and negative aspects
of the morning rains. By extension, the irony about life itself is mirrored by
the author – an unexpected event may benefit some while disadvantaging others.
Excerpt 6: A blessing
in taming
Notorious mosquitoes
And
cooling the atmosphere
For
sleeping souls to enjoy the night
Yet,
night rains is
Genuinely horrifying
As powerful
gale of wind
Blows wildly, thrashing
Rooftops of dwelling houses
Shaking
buildings to
Their
very foundations
The writer
reiterates the vicissitude of life as mixture of ironies in the stanza, in
subsequent example 6 above. However, this time the writer is drawing comparison
with the ‘Night Rains’ to which he attributed similar irony. Thus, rain at
night can have its pros and cons. Its positive side could be in form of a
blessing in “taming notorious mosquitoes”. The negative aspect of night rains
is in its being “genuinely horrifying” because of “powerful gale of wind”,
blowing wildly and “thrashing rooftops of dwelling house”. Summarily, the
writer draws attention of his readers to the fact about life, ‘every advantage
comes with some advantages’. Hence, we should not expect absolute perfection in
all the aspects of life, just as the life itself is transient and ephemeral.
4. Conclusion
The paper provides
a self-critique of the writer’s stylistic use of expressions in the poetry
book, Loud Whispers, where the
author, Isa Muhammad Inuwa analyses his work. Making use of the tools of
Lexical and Grammatical Categories by Leech and Short, the writer purposively
selects words and expressions, aiming at achieving effects on readers of his
poems. The writer carefully selects figurative expressions such as metaphor,
irony, climax, personification. In some places, he also uses compound
structures and repetition (anaphora) to accomplish his goals. He uses
descriptive devices to depict nature’s beauty and power of creativity in
various creatures. Thus, the study reveals that the choice of words and
expressions in the poems is guided by several purposes, such as achieving
poetic beauty, maintaining collocation and conveying ideological notions.
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