Using Language and Literature for National Cohesion

Dr Florence Etuwe Oghiator, Prof. Bibian O. Anyanwu — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Aim: The quest for national cohesion is very important for any nation. This paper focuses on the way national cohesion could be achieved through the use of language and literature in Nigeria. Language is the means of communication, which also defines one’s culture. Consequently, literature mirrors the society, using language as its tool.

Methods: The library materials which include text books and journals were used. Also, interviews were also done on students from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Results: English is the language that binds Nigerians since it is a multilingual nation, but other languages could be learnt by individuals for national cohesion, which resultant effect is unity. Furthermore, English and literature could be used in the integration of national cohesion and the use of language and literature should be interpreted so that a large percentage of the populace in the nation would understand it.

Conclusion: Teachers, scholars, researchers, and stakeholders should contribute immensely in the interpretation of language and literature for national cohesion.

Recommendation: The study recommends that in order to provide national cohesion, people should not only concentrate on their culture alone, but embrace acculturation.

Decolonial Feminism and Gender in Literature: Challenging Patriarchal and Colonial Power Structures

Anwulichukwu F. Chiasoka — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Aim: The aim of this study was to critically engage with literature through a decolonial feminist lens, with the ultimate goal of shedding light on the ways in which literature has been a site of resistance, empowerment, and transformative potential in the face of patriarchal and colonial power structures.

Methods: The methodology employed in this study involved a comprehensive analysis of literary texts through a decolonial feminist lens. A selection of relevant literary works was identified and examined using qualitative research methods such as close reading, textual analysis, and literary theory. The study critically engaged with the representation of gender and power dynamics within the chosen texts, exploring how they challenge or reinforce patriarchal and colonial power structures.

Results: The decolonial feminist perspective forms the link between the symbolic, constructed, and cultural dimension of gender relations and their economic and political dimension, from the domestic, local and global levels.

Conclusion: From the literature works examined, it is evident that the narratives intricately explore the complexities of women's experiences, revealing struggles for autonomy and agency amid intersecting forms of oppression. Across diverse works, from classic novels to postcolonial literature, the portrayal of gender dynamics within colonial contexts underscores the transformative potential of storytelling in unveiling, challenging, and reshaping societal norms.

Recommendations: Future researchers should delve into the agency and empowerment of authors themselves within the decolonial feminist discourse. Research could explore how writers navigate their own identities, resistances, and negotiations with power structures, providing insights into the role of the author as an agent of change.

Literature and Linguistics Journal

Using Language and Literature for National Cohesion

Decolonial Feminism and Gender in Literature: Challenging Patriarchal and Colonial Power Structures