AFRICAN PERSONALITY: THE PLACE AND ROLE OF LANGUAGE

The concern of the paper is on the indispensable relation of human language in human endeavour. It explains the extent and efficacy of language not only as a means of communication but also as a tool of conveying and impacting morals. This research argues that the facts that moral values are meaningful and effective dependent on the contents of language has the ability to sustain values if well used and to as well misrepresent values if abused especially in expressing them. Therefore, the content of language in African personality serves as both a means of communication and a source of transmitting cultural values and morals. This paper using hermeneutic method posits that language has the capacity of explaining one’s personality and cultural values. It argues that the depth of language in African society is traced to the worldview of the people since in conveys both their thoughts and their values. Hence, in order to understand a person as expressed in human discourse and agitations, language is the only means towards human self-authenticity, self-dynamism and self-participation. The paper concludes that since humanity cannot be separated from its language in all ramifications despite the limitations visible in the human linguistic engagements, the power of language has the ability to sustain, promote and talk about a person and their values, because rich cultural values are expressed in our language.

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