EXPLORING THE IDIOSYNCRASIES OF OKOYE IN MEN WITHOUT EARS

Mary Daniel Nimram & Comfort Usman Mshelbwala

Department of English, University of Jos,Jos, Plateau State.

Department of Languages, Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State Email; marynimram@gmail.com; comfortbwala01@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates Okoye’s idiosyncrasies in Men without Ears to effectively communicate important and sensitive issues in the society. These issues include political rivalry, corruption, flamboyancy, greed, relationship with other people, and so on. Ifeoma Okoye satirically exposes the ills in the society, with the aim of effecting changes. The study makes special efforts to explore the various ways in which Okoye’s peculiarity in the use of language is being demonstrated in the text. These are traced in the writer’s choice of words, linguistic features of grammar, semantics, lexis and rhetorical devices that have been used distinctively by Ifeoma Okoye in Men Without Ears.The work establishes that Okoye is mindful in her choice of words and employs precision in the use of language, is concise and humorous, which relaxes readers while consciously using linguistic and stylistic devices in order to effectively communicate her message and for aesthetic purposes as well. The study concludes that Okoye demonstrates a skilful use of language in her text.

Keynotes: Language, Communication, Idiosyncrasies, Linguistic features, Men without Ears