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A Speech Act Analysis of the Language of Begging in Hausa
Isah Abdulmumini
Department of English and Literature, Federal University Gusau
Anas Zayyanu Kagara
Department of Liberal Studies, Abdu Gusau Polytechnic Talata Mafara
Abstract
It is observed that among the Hausa speaking community in Northern Nigeria, some people employ a new strategy for begging. This paper analyses some of the expressions used by some Hausa modern day beggars in Sokoto and Zamfara states. Selected Hausa utterances/expressions from the domains of expression were subjected to analysis. The data were collected from direct observation of the beggars and was analysed within the framework of Speech Act theory proposed by Austin (1962) and Searle (1976). One of the three main aspects of the speech act: perlocution is copiously exemplified in the language use of the beggars. The paper describes these beggars who, in their language behaviour or speech events, manifest different aspects of the ethnography of communication. The beggars performed some acts through the use of certain expressions in order to persuade or convince their target audience. These utterances have certain perlocutionary effects and linguistic implication on the minds of the target audience.
