A Socio-Cultural Analysis of Yoruba Discourse Patterns in selected Child Welfare Clinics in Southwestern Nigeria
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Abstract
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This paper is the report of a study that examined discourse
patterns of nurses and mothers at some Child Welfare
Clinics (CWCs) in Southwestern Nigeria. It describes and
analyzes significant elements of recorded discourse chunks
in breastfeeding, ORS/ORT and General cleanliness; as
well as discourse strategies employed by interactants of
both classifications (nurses and mothers) involved in the
socio-linguistic activity, exemplifying how language is
used to exercise and buttress relationships in the clinics.
The study reveals that communication is primary to
effective health care; while both parties were willing
to cooperate in order to achieve their main goal. The
implication of all these is pointed out while it notes that
communication whether in English, the mother tongue or
the “father tongue”, is crucial and in this case, effective,
educative and entertaining. The study concludes that in
order to cope with short-staffing, literacy and education
constraints, resorting to indigenous Yoruba discourse
patterns and discourse modalities is a viable option in the
pursuit of the goals of the Primary Health Care (PHC).
Keywords
PL Languages and literatures of Eastern Asia, Africa, Oceania