| Abstract: |
This study explores the semantic dimensions of gendered proverbs in Ohafia, a culturally distinct clan of
the Igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. Proverbs, as condensed vehicles of cultural knowledge and
ideology, are central to the Ohafia communicative tradition. Drawing on the principles of semantics, this
study examines how gendered meanings are encoded, interpreted, and transmitted through proverbs.
Gendered proverbs, in this context, refer to proverbs that express societal expectations, roles, and attributes
associated with men and women. The study employs a cognitive and cultural semantic framework, using
conceptual metaphor theory, prototype theory, and an aspect of Critical Discourse Analysis to analyze the
ways in which proverbs reflect and shape the community?s understanding of gender. It interrogates how
meaning operates at the lexical level as well as at the conceptual and ideological levels, revealing how
language serves as a tool for gender socialization and the reinforcement or contestation of patriarchal values.
While prior studies have focused on Igbo proverbs generally, from literary, sociolinguistic or sociological
perspectives, this study brings a gender-sensitive semantic approach to proverbs drawn specifically from
the Ohafia dialect and worldview. By highlighting the meanings and gender ideologies embedded in Ohafia
proverbs, this study contributes to the broader discourse on language, gender, and culture. It underscores
the relevance of semantic inquiry in understanding how communities construct and communicate gendered
realities through proverbial expressions. |
EBONYI JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE
