Language Beyond Words: Achebe I

Chinua Achebe illustrates many aspects of a Nigerian culture in the late 1800's in his book, "Things Fall Apart". Although it is a novel, some parts of it read like an ethnography.

In reading this book with the topics of literacy and orality in mind, there were certain events that seemed to help show how the culture of Umuofia operated in terms of language. For example, there are a few mentionings of common sayings such as "when the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk" or "a man who pays respect to the great paves the way for his own greatness" (pg. 10 and 19). Such small caplets of language can teach so much. Only a few words are needed. Perhaps it can be implied that critical thinking is needed to fully understand the gestalt meaning of such tiny phrases.

These types of sayings or proverbs are common in many cultures today as well. Even in the American culture today. . .a country on an entirely different continent than Nigeria, we say things like, "a picture is worth a thousand words"or "look before you leap". Within these little caplets of language there are lessons.

Language is an important part of culture regardless of the means by which it is conveyed. Early on in "Things Fall Apart", Okoye comes to attempt to collect a debt from Unoka. Previous to Okoye bringing up why he is there, there is a wonderful display of cultural protocol. The two engage in simple, warm conversation and share a kola. This act displays civility between Okoye and Unoka. They speak with their actions until finally Okoye explains that he has come "asking Unoka to return the two hundred cowries he had borrowed from him more than two years before" (pg. 7). As all of this verbal and physical language is unfolding, Okoye notices, "groups of short perpendicular lines drawn in chalk" (pg. 7). Here is yet another form of communication. Unoka explains that, "each group there represents a debt to someone, and each stroke is one hundred cowries" (pg. 7). Well, at least he keeps track.

There are countless other displays of language throughout this book as other cultures become involved.