A SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF DAGAABA LIBATION PRAYER IN JIRAPA MUNICIPALITY

ABSTRACT

The research investigates the sociolinguistic analysis of the libation prayer in the Kuncheni community under the Jirapa Municipality in the Upper West region of Ghana. It is based on the theory that language is a powerful tool, which can be used to view and understand the worldview and philosophy of a particular society. The libation prayer of the Kuncheni community can best be understood and analysed when one is well-versed in the socio-cultural practices of the Dagaaba. The target communities were Kuncheni and its environs. The research is aimed, among others, at examine the structure of libation prayer, the situations that call for the performance of libation prayers, and the literary devices used in libation. The researcher used purposive sampling technique to elicit the data. Twenty participants were used, ten elders and ten youth. The instruments that were used to collect data for this study included one on one, unstructured interviews and participatory observation. The data analysed was purely the samples of libation prayers collected. In analyzing the data, the researcher identified the literary devices in the various libation samples, considered the contexts in which they were used and the purpose for which they were used. Both the recorded and the written samples were transcribed in Dagaare and translated directly into English Language. It was find out that, Dagaaba libation ritual prayers employ different sociolinguistic elements and other communication skills to present the message to the Supreme Being through the intermediaries (the divinities and the ancestors). Also, most of youth were not taking active part in libation practices in the community.