Browsing by Author "Agyepong, D.P."
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Item The development of speech and gesture in Sesotho oral narratives(2019-10-09) Agyepong, D.P.This study focuses on the development of speech and gesture in a narrative task in children between 6-10 years of age and adults in Sesotho, a member of the Bantu language family spoken in southern Africa. Previous studies show that speech and gesture develop with age. However, cross-linguistic studies demonstrate that language and cultural expectations relating to narratives also impact on speech and gesture development. A comparison of isiZulu with French show some differences that point to culture’s influence. Does multimodal narrative development in Sesotho show similar cross-linguistic differences? We analyzed 36 narratives produced by Sesotho speaking children aged 5-6 years (N=12), 9-10 years (N=10) and adults (N=10), who watched a wordless cartoon and narrated the story back to an interlocutor. Our results show similar developmental trends to those found in other studies showing speech and gesture increases and becomes more complex with age and that spoken discourse and gesture development are closely related (Colletta et al. 2015). Like isiZulu speakers, Sesotho speakers produced a higher proportion of representational or iconic gestures. This result contrasts with findings for other languages such as French where adults produce a higher proportion of pragmatic gesturesItem ‘The Mother Of All Nations’,Gendered Discourses In Ghana’s 2020 Elections(Social Dynamics, 2022) Diabah, G.; Agyepong, D.P.Gendered discourses in Ghana’s politics are not new. Unlike previous years, however, the gendered discourse in the 2020 election was different because the leading opposition party (NDC) selected a female running mate. Considering that the seat has been rotating between the NDC and NPP since 1992, Ghanaians foresaw a “real” possibility of having a female vice president. With data from online news articles and social media, this paper examines the nature of the gendered discourse that characterised Ghana’s 2020 election. We focus on stylistic devices and other linguistic strategies used with a view to understanding how gender either took a centre stage or “seeped” through the political discourse. Underpinned by Ambivalent Sexism Theory and Post-structuralist Discourse Analysis and findings indicate that although the running mate was sometimes represented in ways that challenge traditional gender stereotypes, she was largely represented in stereotypical ways. thereby corroborating findings from other parts of the world. These were done through devices like allusion, sarcasm, simile, metaphor and rhetorical questions. Findings also show that although it was the NDC that actively played the “gender card” to galvanise support, the NPP also played it to dissuade voters from voting for the NDC.Item ‘Next time stay in your war room and pray for your boys’ or return to your kitchen: Sexist discourses in Ghana’s 2019 National Science and Math Quiz(SAGE, 2021) Agyepong, D.P.; Diabah, G.This paper examines the representations of women in the discourses on the 2019 edition of Ghana’s National Science and Math Quiz. With data from online news articles and three social media outlets, the study examines stereotypical views about gender and Science/Math while exploring the relationship between language, gender, and culture. We focus on how the authors use memes, images and some linguistic strategies to instantiate certain (Ghanaian) gender norms and practices. Findings suggest that women who pursue (academic) excellence, especially in male dominated fields like Science and Math, are usurpers who need to be kept where they ‘belong’. They are thus presented in particular stereotypical ways – homemakers, supporters, objects of sex and beauty, ‘unfit’ for science/math. Using Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis, which makes room for uncovering, contesting and reinterpreting the ‘hidden agendas’ of discourse, we also analyze nuances of the representations, some of which we (re)interpret as representations of women’s power.