TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE:
Introduction
Background to the study
Purpose of the study
Justification for the study
Scope and delimitation of the study
A review of the play-let
Biography of the author
CHAPTER TWO: Literature review
Introduction
The concept of discourse analysis
Elements of discourse analysis
Participant
Exchange structure
Turn taking
Discourse rank scale
Topic change
Topic negotiation
Context
Reference
Inference
Presupposition
Implicature
Cohesion
CHAPTER THREE: Textual Analysis
Introduction
Analysis
Participant
Exchange structure
Turn Taking
Topic change / Topic negotiation
Discourse rank scale
Reference
Grammatical cohesion
Lexical cohesion
Context
Implicature
Inference
Presupposition
CHAPTER FOUR: Summary of Findings and Conclusion
Introduction
Summary
Findings
Conclusion
Bibliography
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Introduction
This chapter introduces the background of the research topic and
describes its scope in addition, the purpose and justification for the
study are also discussed. It concludes by giving the biography of the
author of the text.
1.1 Background to the study
Man is the most superior and unique of all the creatures in the
entire creation, in terms of his wisdom, action, thought, though some
animal or insects have been found to be wiser. Example is ant, man and
animal share the same biological functions such as movements, growth
etc.
However, what makes man different from animals is language, which is
used for communication with members of their species. The animal system
of communication are fixed example Dog Barks, Goat bleats etc. Thus, man
is the only creatures that uses language intentionally and habitually
(Crystal 1997:40).
Language allows interaction between human beings through the means of
talking, this “Talk” is termed “Discourse”. Discourse is a verbal
interaction. Hence, discourse analysis emerged from such talks whose
meanings have to be analysed.
Harris (1952) sees discourse analysis as continuing descriptive
linguistics beyond the limit of a single sentence at a time and for
correlating culture and language. Discourse analysis came about due to
the need of linguists to study the underlying principles of everyday
interactions.
Stubbs (1983) defines Discourse analysis as an attempt to study
larger linguistic units like conversational exchange or the study of
interactive language including how language is used in social context.
Discourse analysis studies words and their relation to situation in
which they are made so as to facilitate hearer’s response. In Discourse
analysis, we study how one can use an utterance or an expression to
transform a message through meanings. Its general usage has to do with
conversation and holding forth on a subject.
It is believed that the system of communication in speech and writing
is language. As a result, human language is said to be communication
when language users are able to use appropriate words in an appropriate
social context. So, the desire to achieve communicative competence in a
language.
In a nutshell, Language communicates meaning and meaning gives
information. The intention of any language is to give meaning and the
meaning is processed to information. The analysis of discourse is
necessarily, the analysis of language in use (Brown and Yule 1983).
Discourse analysis is committed to the investigation of the
inter-relationship that exists between language and language is use.
Discourse analysis no doubt identified those element functions and
attempt to analyse them through the use of the discourse techniques
which unfold the process of turn-taking, topic change, topic
negotiation, presupposition, inference, implicature, participant,
message, context etc. are more prominent in drama texts than the other
genres of literature, due to the peculiar nature of drama texts. This
resourceful elements of discourse will be applied to analyse the play
text: Sizwe Bansi is Dead
1.2 Purpose of the study
Since effective communication means the appropriate use of language
in the relevant context (Oloruntoba-Oju 1999), this essay will examine
the English language used in Sizwe Bansi is Dead by Athol Fugard using discourse analysis to determine the effectiveness of its language use.
Sizwe Bansi is Dead is a play text and we intend to examine
how communication is achieved among the interlocutors. Many researchers
have carried out discourse analysis of interview, interactions,
newspapers, play texts, and so on but to our knowledge no research on
discourse analysis has been carried out on this work Sizwe Bansi is Dead. Hence, the necessity for carrying out a discourse analysis of this work.
By carrying out a discourse analysis of this work, we will find out its discourse elements found in the work Sizwe Bansi is Dead.
1.3 JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY
Every human being daily engages in conversations because it is
difficult to function effectively in a human society without them. But,
it is worthy of note that conversations have some underlying features
which can only be alighted through research. The choice of a drama text
became necessary because it is a literary genre that exhibits the pragma
discourse elements in abundance. Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead
is specifically appropriate in showcasing these elements and to
exemplify them through the process of achieving coherence in a spoken
communication can be better explicated.
1.4 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
This essay will focus on the elements of Discourse in the play with
the aim of using the elements to bring out the underlying meaning of the
text by examine how effective communication is maintained. There are
many features of discourse analysis but the researcher will limit the
analysis to the conversational features like discourse participants,
turn taking, repetition, talk negotiation, ellipsis and substitution,
topic change in Sizwe Bansi is Dead
1.5 SIZWE BANSI IS DEAD: A REVIEW OF THE PLAYLET
The text is written by Athol Fugard the author who carefully chose
the title of the book intends to showcase the political messages without
being dogmatic. He choose the play as his medium of speech because he
felt that the theater enabled him to reach the largest number of people
in Africa. His plays were staged in South Africa. Yet, strong, enough to
have an important impact on the audience. He also show in the text the
effective indictment of the. In humanity of authoritarian regimes
through a compassionate, humorous examination of the every day lives of
totally credible people.
1.6 BIOGRAPHY OF THE AUTHOR
Sizwe Bansi is Dead is a play by Athol Fugard written
collaboratively with two South African actors, John Kani and Wistom
Ntshona, both of whom appeared in the original production, its world
premiere occurred on October 8, 1972 at the space theatre, cape-town,
South Africa. This play is a direct reaction to Fugard’s work as a law
clerk at the native commissioner’s court in Johannesburg where he saw
blacks jailed daily for not having their pass-books in proper order. The
Island, often produced with Sizwe Bansi is Dead, The Island evaluates the strength of friendship in the face of oppressive regimes and altering circumstances