Discursive Analysis of Hausa Language Use in a Kannywood Film: Basaja Gidan Yari

Abstract

The paper studies Hausa films language through the analysis of communication strategies, namely figurative language (proverbs, metaphor), Code switching/Code mixing and Coded-language. The paper attempts to demonstrate how the characters’ use of these devices is deliberate, conscious. It shows that proverbs are commonly used as communication strategy not only to “embellish” but also to “convey deeper meaning” (Aduku, 2018) which helps reveal character competence and proficiency in the language. It also discovers that code switching/code mixing is used purposely as a communication strategy to structure speech in film conversation. As for coded message, it reflects a change in handling matters where communication is done in a restricted secret manner through coded message. Also, the examples extracted from the Hausa Film Basaja are to show that for proper understanding of the language, the surface meaning of words is to be examined.