Article published In: International Journal of Language and Culture
Vol. 8:2 (2021) ► pp.169–189
Rapport management strategies among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria
Published online: 15 April 2021
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijolc.20064.omo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijolc.20064.omo
Abstract
This paper investigates the rapport management strategies among the Yoruba people of Southwestern Nigeria using Spencer-Oatey’s rapport management model. The authors relied on participant observation and overheard conversations in writing the paper. They are effectively equipped to write the work because they were born and bred in Yorubaland, hence, they are able to watch all the rapport management strategies at all relevant levels. Our findings reveal that five major rapport strategies are in operation in Yorubaland which are: use of selected nominal address forms by housewives to address family members; acknowledging the sociality rights and obligations of elders in-council by the king/chief; paying homage to elders by younger interlocutors before rendering proverbs; using indirectness and statement of consideration when interacting with elders on some issues; and lastly, proper deployment of non-verbal communication.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.An overview of Yoruba community
- 3.The notion of role rights and obligations in Yorubaland
- 4.Theoretical framework
- 5.Literature review
- 6.Methodology
- 7.Analysis
- I.Acknowledging the sociality rights and obligations of elders in council by the king/chief
- II.Use of selected nominal address forms by housewives to address family members
- III.Paying homage to elders or apologizing to elders by younger interlocutors before rendering proverbs
- IV.Using indirectness and statement of consideration when interacting with elders on some issues
- V.Proper deployment of non-verbal communication
- 8.Discussion and conclusion
References
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