A DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF SOME MAJOR CHIEFTAINCY TITLES IN ESAN LAND.

ABSTRACT

This study focuses on linguistically, documenting the Chieftaincy titles within the Esan Language, concentrating on the dukedoms/kingdoms in Esan Land. This study was motivated by observed ignorance by indigenes about Esan chieftaincy titles and primarily, the need to preserve Esan indigenous language through documentation. Its aim and objective is to examine the semantic and pragmatic meanings of Esan chieftaincy titles vis-à-vis some corresponding ones in the Benin Kingdom. Data collection was done through recorded oral interview using a set of guided questions. In all, sixty (60) Esan chieftaincy titles and twenty (20) Benin chieftaincy titles were reviewed. Data presentation of the title class, meaning, scope and duration was in a tabular format and qualitative/descriptive method was adopted for data analysis. Findings showed that while semantic and pragmatic meanings of conferred titles could be deciphered, some hereditary chieftaincy have no clear semantic meaning due to a number of factors but a recourse to their pragmatic meanings helped to unravel their meanings.