Critical Discourse Analysis of Females’ Language in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
This study addresses the issue related to gender discourse as displayed in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Through Critical Discourse Analysis and sociolinguistics methods, the findings of this study reveal that Achebe’s craftsmanship of the language deposited in female characters is a nuanced portrayal that reflects the complexity of gender dynamics within the society of the novel. More importantly, the study explores linguistic features, socio-cultural contexts and speech acts put in the mouths of females with a focus on how Achebe highlights and values the role of women in Igbo tribe in particular and African society in general. Therefore, by employing the aforementioned methods, it is truly worthwhile to assert with modesty that Achebe’s inclusion of women’s voices, perspectives and experiences is a gateway to circumvent the challenges linked with the promotion of gender equality to acknowledge and value the role of women both in literature and society.
Keywords: Chinua Achebe, Critical Discourse Analysis, female characters, gender discourse speech acts
