• No results found

5.2 Devices for grammatical cohesion in Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus (PH), Half of a

5.2.2 Adversative conjunction

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

could not stand on their feet without reaching out to smear their palms on a wall? Ifemelu wondered if Aunty Uju ever looked at herself with the eyes of the girl she used to be (AH: p.74).

Aunty Uju’s past timid way of life in which she is referred to as a ‘‘village girl’’ who has a parochial way of behaving comes up, and with additive conjunction, the second clause in the extract [44ii]: ‘…what was it with all those village people who could not stand on their feet without reaching out to smear their palms on a wall?’ This has provided more insights and clues not only about Aunty Uju’s past way of life but the entire background from where she comes from and as to why she is now behaving the way she is doing which makes Ifemelu to wonder ‘… if Aunty Uju ever looked at herself with the eyes of the girl she used to be’ (AH, p.74). The application of additive conjunction intensifies and cues in information about character by providing details about their characterisation and perspectives that amplify solidarity.

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

grammatical ties for textual cohesion, the deployment of adversative conjunction in the novel, in some cases, seems to be a discourse strategy that has amplifies social solidarity.

For instance, Extract [45] drawn from Adichie’s PH buttresses this claim:

Extract [45]: But my memories did not start at Nsukka. They started before, when all the hibiscuses in our front yard were a startling red. (PH: p.24)

The occurrence of adversative conjunction ‘but’ has enhanced cohesion in the sense that it is an opening that links the strands of events from this simple beginning to the entire story. similarly, the use of ‘but’ at the initial position in the above sentence has subtly set up a contrastive relation to the event at the beginning of the narration and then foregrounded the existence of other events that build up to what has occurred, and that what has happened therefore is just a fraction of what would occur. Therefore, we should expect more ‘flinging’ of the heavy missal and breaking of precious things, like ‘figurines on the ѐtagarѐ’ which is ‘polished daily’. The insertion of adversative conjunction ‘but’ at this moment is considered a cohesive element in the sense that it signifies and foregrounds the various trends in the narration. It is an opening which points to the fact that the various events in the narration have already occurred at different space and time;

gracefully leading the readers to the various spaces and times in the narration. This argument could be extended to embrace the fact that, the use of adversative conjunction,

‘but’ in the expression: ‘But my memory…’ gives credence to child narrator and amplified perspectivation discourse strategy in the narration.

Extract 46, drawn from PH, further demonstrates how the use of adversative conjunction ‘but’ enhances grammatical cohesion at inter sentential relation level and then functions as a discourse strategy to expand the various angles of episodes in Adichie’s narration.

Extract [46]: [i] I remained a backyard snob to most of my class girls until the end of the term. [ii] But I did not worry too much about that because I carried a bigger load-the worry of making sure I came first this term. [iii] It was like balancing a sack of gravel on my head every day at school and not being allowed to steady it with my hands (PH: p.60).

The first sentence in [46i]: ‘I remained a backyard snob to most of my class girls until the end of the term’, with the insertion of adversative conjunction, ‘but’, has been linked, cohesively, with the second sentence [46ii]: ‘…I did not worry too much about that

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

because I carried a bigger load-the worry of making sure I came first this term’. This second sentence [ii], with an adversative conjunction, ‘but’, in its initial position, is in the subjective case and does not only ensure grammatical cohesion by introducing contrary information which is provided in the first sentence [i], but it is also acting as an intensification discourse strategy to play up information about a much heavier burden

‘…of making sure I came first this term…’ faced by the narrator; ‘a burden’ which the narrator introduces in the third sentence [iii] as being ‘…like balancing a sack of gravel on my head and not being allowed to steady it with my hands’. The use of adversative conjunction ‘but’ has therefore enhanced grammatical cohesion, smoothen the flow of narration and knit the various strands of events in the narration. The use of ‘but’ at this juncture has foregrounded the proceeding sentence that housed the strained relationship that is existing between Kambili Achike and her school mates.

In HOAYS, adversative conjunction, ‘but’, also facilitates grammatical cohesion by connecting ideas between sentences to link the various strands of incidences in Adichie’s narration and at the same time foreground discursive features that heighten solidarity in the story. This is demonstrated in extract [47].

Extract [47]: [i] Olanna had stared at him, at the arch of his eyebrows behind the glasses, the thickness of his body, already thinking of the least hurtful way to untangle herself from Mohammed. [ii] Perhaps she would have known that Odenigbo was different, even if he had not spoken; his haircut alone said it, standing up in a high halo. [iii] But there was an unmistakable grooming about him, too; he was not one of those who used untidiness to substantiate their radicalism (HOAYS: p.29).

The first sentence in Extract [47i]: ‘Olanna had stared at him, at the arch of his eyebrows behind the glasses, the thickness of his body, already thinking of the least hurtful way to untangle herself from Mohammed …’, and the second sentence [47ii]:

‘Perhaps she would have known that Odenigbo was different, even if he had not spoken;

his haircut alone said it, stand up in a high halo…’, have set the pace of event; a comparison of the two lovers: ‘Mohammed and Odenigbo’ by Olanna. The third sentence [iii] which is introduced by adversative conjunction, ‘but’ does not only enhance cohesion between the two sentences but amplify discursive features that explicate mitigation discourse strategy to subtly introduce a new stream of information that shows Olanna’s preference in the choice of the two lovers. Her preference that is instigated by social factors as she chooses Odenigbo, who she had a ‘…unmistakable grooming about

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

…’and whom she considered ‘… was not one of those who used untidiness to substantiate their radicalism’. The insertion of adversative conjunction at this moment has set the pace for choice of friends and who to relate with; a condition that is influenced by social factors which ignite the discursive undertone that earmark solidarity.

This second extract [48] from HOAYS introduces a much astute use of adversative conjunction as a grammatical feature of cohesion in texture of texts.

Extract [48]: [i] Olanna had not wanted to have dinner with her parents, especially since they had invited Chief Okonji. [ii] But her mother came into her room to ask her to please join them; it was not every day that they hosted the finance minister, and this dinner was even more important because of the building contract her father wanted (HOAYS: p.30).

The adversative conjunction ‘but’ that begins the second sentence [ii] introduces a contrary information that was set off in the first sentence[i]. The introduction of an adversative conjunction ‘but’ in the second sentence [ii]: ‘But her mother came into her room to ask her to please join them…’ coheres with the proceeding sentence [i] and cleverly signals resentment contrary to the information that was introduced in the first sentence [i].

There seems to be an exceptional signification in the manner in which Adichie uses adversative conjunction as a device for grammatical cohesion as demonstrated in Extract [49]:

Extract [49]: [i] Olanna no longer remembered the hours of waiting for Odenigbo to come back, but she did remember the sensation of blindness, of cold sheaths being drawn over her eyes. [ii] She had worried from time to time about Baby and Kainene and Ugwu dying; vaguely acknowledged the possibilities of future grief, but she never conceived of Odenigbo’s death.

(HOAYS: pp321-322)

The insertion of adversative conjunction in the third clause of the second sentence [ii] in extract [49] demonstrates intra-sentential function of adversative conjunction in grammatical ties which augment textual cohesion. Each sentence, primarily, has the principal or the focal point, which is housed in the main clause, and then the subordinate clauses provide and support the claims established in the first clause. For instance, the first sentence [i] can be grouped into three clauses: Sentence [i] {main clause}: ‘Olanna no longer remembered the hours of waiting for Odenigbo…’ and the second clause as:

[ii]{sub. clause}: ‘…(but) she did remember the sensation of blindness…’, ties with the

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

subordinate clause in sentence (iii): ‘…of cold sheaths being drawn over her eyes…’ The first clause in extract [49] above: ‘Olanna no longer remembered the hours of waiting for Odenigbo’, introduces information in the structure which is reinforced with the introduction of an adversative conjunction ‘‘but’’ which is inserted in the third clause of the second sentence. The adversative conjunction then introduces a contrary information which the second [‘…she remember the sensation of blindness…’] and third [‘…of cold sheaths being drawn over her eyes…’] clauses projects. The introduction of contrary information is reinforced by the insertion of an adversative conjunction ‘‘but’’ therein enhancing the quality of grammatical cohesion at the intra-sentential level. Sentence [49ii], which has three clauses, shared, to an extent, the same level of grammatical cohesion at the intra-sentential level. Furthermore, the main clause in sentence [49ii]:

‘She had worried from time to time about Baby and Kainene and Ugwu dying…’ and the Subordinate clause in sentence [ii]: ‘… but she had never conceived of Odenigbo’s death…’ cohere to subtly acknowledge the possibilities of future grief and loss of a beloved. The insertion of adversative conjunction ‘but’ before the third clause [iii] of the sentence [49] therefore facilitates grammatical cohesion of the three clauses to amplify perspectives that foreground familial solidarity.

The implicature for grammatical cohesion at inter sentential relation which is also facilitated by the insertion of adversative conjunction between sentences is worth examining at this juncture. The first sentence in [49]: ‘Olanna no longer remembered the hours of waiting for Odenigbo to come back’, has set the theme of discussion and with the insertion of contrary information, occasioned by the introduction of an adversative conjunction ‘but’, the rhyme has not only been achieved but the horizons of the sentence have been extended into the second sentence [ii]: ‘She was worried from time to time…’

which introduces a piece of information that coheres and supports the claims raised in the first sentence. The argument in favour of this proposition stems from the fact that the second clause in sentence [ii] of Extract [49]: ‘…but she did remember the sensation of blindness, of cold sheaths being drawn over her eyes…’ ties and provides details to the second sentence [49ii]: ‘She was worried from time to time about Baby and Kainene and Ugwu dying, vaguely acknowledged the possibilities of future grief, but she had never conceived of Odenigbo’s death’. Apparently, the mention of ‘cold sheaths being drawn over her eyes’ has not only tied the preceding sentence but has also demonstrated the love existing between family members. The mention of death; ‘future grief’, and consequently

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

‘Odenigbo’s death’ which is contained in the second sentence provide this clue.

Therefore, at both the intra and inter sentence relations, the adversative conjunction,

‘but’, has contrasted and subtly brought out another important discursive features that amplify familial solidarity in the narration.

In AMERiCANAH, adversative conjunction which occurs at the intra-sentential relation qualifies and expresses a caveat reference to the main clause of the sentence. In Extract [50], for instance, the use of ‘but’ expresses the core meaning of adversative relation contrary to expectation of what is being stated in the main clause and reinforces the referential element in the narration.

Extract [50]: Yemi had studied English at University and Obinze asked him what books he liked, keen to talk about something interesting at least, but he soon realized that, for Yemi, a book did not qualify as literature unless it had polysyllabic words and incomprehensible passages (AH: p.31).

The placing of adversative conjunction ‘but’ at the end of the second clause (‘…Obinze asked him what books he liked…’) which cues in another clause (‘…he soon realized that, for Yemi, a book did not qualify as literature unless it had polysyllabic words and incomprehensible passages’) and facilitates contrary information to that which is contained in the main clause that housed the referential element: ‘Yemi’ in: ‘Yemi had studied English at University’. This sequential relations occasioned by the use of adversative conjunction enhances grammatical cohesion of the various units of the sentence and at the same time, expands the horizons of information contained in the sentences by reinforcing referential components in the structure, apparently enhancing the textual cohesive quality in the narration.

The deployment of adversative conjunction in Extract [51], which is drawn from AMERiCANAH, introduces a special feature in the use of adversative conjunction ‘but’ as inter-sentential element to expand the various details in the main clause by making it the head word of the sentence.

Extract [51]: He said nothing; for a moment, he seemed lost, shrunken and lost. Ifemelu felt sorry for him. She asked him about the book placed face down on his lap, a familiar-looking book that she knew he had read before. She hoped he would give her one of his long talks about something like the history of China, and she would half listen as always, while cheering him up. But he was not in no mood for talk (AH: p.47).

The above Extract [51] is divided into five sentences viz-a-viz:

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

[i] He said nothing; for a moment, he seemed lost, shrunken and lost.

[ii] Ifemelu felt sorry for him.

[iii] She asked him about the book placed face down on his lap, a familiar looking book that she knew he had read before.

[iv] She hoped he would give her one of his long talks about something like the history of China, and she would half listen as always, while cheering him up.

[v] But he was in no mood for talk.

The insertion of adversative conjunction ‘but’ at the initial position in sentence [v], in this instance, is functioning as a unique conjunctive feature which is quite different from its previous uses, thus rendering an instance of inter-sentential link in the texture of texts. In the previous instance of its use, as demonstrated in extract [50], the adversative conjunction ‘but’ joined two clauses and occurred within the sentence. However, in extract [51] above, it is occupies the head-word position which introduces the sentence that subtly launches contrary information to the issues raised in the preceding four sentences. The first sentence [51i], which can be equated with the theme of the discussion: ‘He said nothing…’ calls for the actions expressed in the second sentence [51i]: ‘Ifemelu felt sorry for him’, and subsequent expressions that follow in the third sentence [51] [iii]: ‘She asked him about the book placed face down on his lap, a familiar looking book that she knew he had read before’, and then ‘…hoped that he would give her one of his long talks about something like the history of China, and she would half listen as always, while cheering him up’. The fifth sentence [v] in extract [51], which contains an adversative conjunction ‘but’’, further strengthens the connection between it, [51v], and the first part of the thesis statement which is in sentence [i]: ‘He said nothing…’, and even after probing him in sentence [iv] yet he was not interested, which is confirmed by the insertion of adversative conjunction ‘but’ in the next sentence [v]:

‘But he was in no mood for talk’.

In addition, the insertion of adversative conjunction has not only enhanced grammatical ties and reinforced textual cohesion but has demonstrated the concern about the welfare of members of in particular social group in the texture of the narration. The insertion of adversative conjunction ‘but’ demonstrates the concern about the change in the mood from jovial to sobriety. As show of solidarity, Ifemelu observes the change and sympathises with her own.

Furthermore, the use of ‘but’ in the next extract [52] again draws attention to yet another interesting implication for the use of adversative conjunction as a grammatically

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

cohesive discourse device and as a feature which foregrounds referential elements that revitalise perspectives that designate aspects of solidarity in Adichie’s narrations.

Extract [52]: [i] At least he still did not go to church. [ii] Ifemelu used to come home from church with her mother and find him sitting on the floor in the living room, sifting through his pile of LPs, and singing along to a song on the stereo.[iii] He always looked fresh, rested, as though being alone with his music had replenished him. [iv] But he hardly played music after he lost his job. [v] They came to find him at the dining table, bent over loose sheets of paper, writing letters to newspapers and magazines.

[vi] And Ifemelu knew that, if given another chance, he would call his boss Mummy. (AH: p.48)

Conversely, adversative conjunction ‘but’ examined in extract [51] above is performing an intra-sentential function of piling up information. In extract [52], however, it is cited as the head-word which introduces a new sentence and functions as an inter-sentential link to support the claims stated in the former sentence. In this position, the sentence introduced by the adversative conjunction, ‘but’, has not only facilitated cohesion between the first three sentences [i, ii, and iii] and the last two sentences [v and vi], but introduces a contrary information which amplifies the actions carried out by the third person pronoun referential form ‘he’, a reference item that is the focus in the conversation. To illustrate further, the sixth sentence in extract [52] is subdivided into two major segments. The first segment comprises three sentences:

[i] At least he still did not go to church.

[ii] Ifemelu used to come home from church with her mother and find him sitting on the floor in the living room, sifting through his pile of LPs, and singing along to a song on the stereo.

[iii] He always looked fresh, rested, as though being alone with his music had replenished him.

[iv] But he hardly played music after he lost his job.

The second segment comprises two sentences:

[vi] They came to find him at the dining table, bent over loose sheets of paper, writing letters to newspapers and magazines.

[vii] And Ifemelu knew that, if given another chance, he would call his boss Mummy.

The fourth sentence branded as [52iv]: ‘But he hardly played music after he lost his job’, which is launched by an adversative conjunction ‘but’, does not only introduce contrary information, but has contrastively linked, on the one hand, the information contained in the first three sentences [52i, ii and iii] with that which is supplemented in the last two

UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN

sentences [vi], and [vii] creating some sort of inter-sentential tie, and on the other hand, magnifying features attributive to group cohesion by foregrounding perspectives that demonstrate familiality in the narration. The insertion of adversative conjunction ‘but’, in the nominal group, signals a changed in character of Ifemelu’s father, because he has lost his job and sympathy the entire members of his family felt for him. This empathy associated with members in particular social groups has led to Ifemelu’s conclusion that,

‘…if given another chance…’ her father ‘…would call his boss Mummy’; so that he will maintain his job.