YAREMI’S LANGUAGE OF LAMENTATION, AGONY AND THE WIDOW’S ROAD IN LONELY DAYS BY BAYO ADEBOWALE

Abstract

Information is very important in our day to day activities. This information can only be processed through language. Yaremi delves deep into human emotion in her use of language in presenting her lamentations and agonies. Her commendable use of language gives a lot of information about the story in Lonely Days. This novel reflects a lot of sensitivity and insight into the phases of life and the ups and downs that women encounter in their journey of life. Nothing is permanent in life besides changes, women who by sheer benevolence rise should not lose sight of the fact that things could change and it really does. This study aims to discuss the roles of African women, Yaremi’s language of lamentations, agonies, the widow’s road and the background of the story and how they affect the life of Yaremi as a woman in particular and African women in general. A descriptive design method was used in the analysis and Dell Hymes theory of communicative competence propounded in (1966) was used. The findings show that Yaremi lamented seriously about her husband’s death and this had some psychological effects on her and other widows in African society. The implications of these findings highlight the need for women especially widows to be determined to face any challenge that comes to them with courage and strength of mind and make sure that their rights are not forcefully taken away from them. Let them assert their rights to self-determination and self-definition. The researcher recommends that women should be left alone to take their decisions as they like and live freely in the society as their male counterparts.