SOAS Research Online

Abstract

Most times, Yoruba newspaper writer is artistic in his writing. One thing that makes this possible is the use of language differently from language of everyday. Utilising language in this manner results in novelty and creativeness. This paper attempts a discussion of one form of lexical deviation often manipulated by Yorùbá newspaper writers, namely, loan words. The paper argues that this form of lexical deviation is used by the writers to intensify intention, and to capture and sustain reader's interest. The paper submits that while the use of this feature in newspapers may sometimes be unconscious, its deployment constitutes a stylistic technique employed by Yoruba newspaper writers for effective dissemination of information.