Linguistik Online (Mar 2014)

Implications for Gender Relations of Summons-Response and Address Forms in Dagbanli

  • Nantogma Alhassan Salifu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13092/lo.63.1325
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 63, no. 1

Abstract

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This paper examines the structure and function of the summons and response in Dagbanli as well as address forms in the husband-wife relation. The Dagbanli language imposes different response forms on males and females and asymmetrical address terms between husband and wife. Drawing from my knowledge of the language as a native speaker and from observed practices of other speakers as well as from insights of key informants, I apply theories of sociolinguistics and pragmatics to analyze these simple conversational acts and I argue that they do not only reflect the sex differences of speakers but embed a larger gender ideology of unequal social relations between males and females in the Dagomba society.