The proverbial discourse and its stylistic effects in some African writers

Abstract

This study focuses on the proverbial discourse and its stylistic effects in some African writers. It is a question, using the stylistic approach, of showing the role that this discourse plays in a literary text. Indeed, writers such as Chinua Achebe, Seydou Badian, Amadou Hampaté Bâ, Ahmadou Kourouma, Sembene Ousmane, Ngugi Wa Thiong'o and Henri Lopes employ proverbial discourse with metaphorical, comparative, judgmental, ethical and satirical effects not only to embellish romantic stories by their figurative and pictorial meaning, but also and above all to ensure a playful and didactic function in the training of individuals. The insertion of this discourse in the literary text reflects the influence of civilization, better of orality in Negro-African literature. Thus, its use appears as a sign of maturity or culture. Keywords : proverbial discourse, african writer, stylistic effect, study, literary text.