Nnadiebube Journal of Philosophy

Language is a means in which we can have little access into the mind or thought of other human beings. It is a tool and also symbolic in nature. Speech announces the presence of every human being. Speech is not necessarily making noise but active communication. Communication can either be through verbal expression or through sign expression. In Igbo Ontology or Igbo metaphysical concept of being, word expression has a very important role to play in Igbo existence. Words are used to communicate to and with the gods in ritual incantations and during sacrifices, ancestors are venerated through words. The living expresses their feelings through words; feeling of admiration, love, caution or even feeling of hatred. Silence is not left out in this realm of communication. If someone is expected to talk in a matter that concerns him and he keeps quiet, it is assumed by the Igbo as consent. But this is not always the case perhaps, since silence could also mean but not limited to someone being not ready to divulge his intentions. This paper sets out to explore the importance and dangers of silence in line with Igbo misconstruing ontological silence as consent and the audacity with which Igbo ontology claims the knowledge and the exact contents of other minds. The philosophical tools of analysis and hermeneutics are applied to discovering why silence is seen as unspoken and unheard language of consent amongst the Igbo people.

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