LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND STYLE: A STUDY OF ISIDORE OKPEWHO’S THE LAST DUTY

Abstract

This paper attempts a stylistic analysis of Okpewho’s The Last Duty. The work explores 
the employment of language style, to exemplify Okpewho’s theme of war experience in 
Nigeria, which results in some ugly circumstances, including deprivations and hardship. 
Through language style, the study further reveals the survival strategies the victims of the war 
adopt to mitigate the unpleasant consequences associated with the unfortunate incident. This 
study examines the resources of language employed in the text, which demonstrates the 
novelist’s peculiar style and choice of language use. This will enable readers’ understanding of 
the text and enhance  their ability to interact with the linguistic milieu of the writer. Therefore, 
attempt is made to expose the writer’s foregrounded language choices in terms of the manner 
of usage, in order to portray his style. The analysis of the text, which is text-based and 
descriptive, utilizes Hallidayan model of analysis. The model helps us to adapt the narrative to 
suit the realities of our social environment through the prominent linguistic features in the text. 
It is against this background that the study analyses Okpewho’s The Last Duty, focusing on the artistic manipulation of the resources of language, with specific reference to the syntax and 
lexico-semantics of the text.