140133 VO Language and Literature in their Social Contexts (2013W)

This course begins with an analysis of Africa's geographical, socio-political, and socio-cultural 'map' towards an understanding of its contemporary linguistic and literary heritage. It then builds on that with a close study, with particular reference to language use, of two main bodies of African literatures: the pre-1960s works of Chinua Achebe, particularly 'Things Fall Apart' and the post-1960s works of Mariama Ba, particularly 'Une Si Longue Lettre' (So Long a Letter). Course participants will have the opportunity to analyse, discuss, debate, and theorize how a region's socio-political and socio-cultural contexts impinge on its linguistic and literary repertoires, and vice versa.