Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.29162/pv.39.1.60
Introduction To African Idioms Based on the Examples from the Fon Language in Benin
Sewanou J. M. Lanmadousselo
orcid.org/0000-0003-3052-0894
Abstract
Like many African people, the Fon people from Benin south of the Sahara got to know written language relatively late. In the absence of writing, the main communication was through orality. One of the „ingredients“ that „spices up“ orality in West Africa or in Benin is the idiom. Although this form of folk poetry is often used in the everyday communi-
cation of the Fon, it is little researched. This paper aims to introduce this unexplored field of research by examining a selection of 17 Fon idioms from syntactic, semantic and pragmatic perspectives. It provides an overview of Fon culture and their worldview.
Keywords
Oral communication, Fon idioms,, meaning, commentary, example of use, functions
Hrčak ID:
280425
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2022.
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