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Home / Vol. 4, No. 2 (2026) / A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”
English Diamond Open Access (CC BY 4.0) Google Scholar Indexed pp. 208–217

A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”

Abba Terab Mustapha
PhD & Anna Dauda Bwala
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Abstract

The paper carried out Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis of Wole Soyinka’s The Lion and
the Jewel. Halliday’s (1994) Meta functions of language are used as bases for the analysis of the
data. The data are the dialogues selected from the play. The data is presented and analyzed
according to the three Meta functions. It reveals how Lakunle’s use of register portrays him as a
voice of modernity and his alienation from the community. It also reveals that Baroka is the
custodian of tradition and a master of manipulation. Furthermore, it reveals that Sidi’s role in
the play shifts. Additionally, it reveals how language shapes social reality, reflects power
dynamics and negotiates meaning in a postcolonial context. It concludes that the analysis
deepens our understanding of Soyinka’s play. It also concludes that Meta functions remain a
powerful analytic model indicating how language encodes social, cultural and ideological
meanings in literary texts.

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8 Formats Available
APA 7th Edition

Mustapha, A. T., Bwala, P. &. A. D. (2026). A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”. Rumfa Journal of Arts, Vol. 4(No. 2), 208–217. https://doi.org/10.5281/rumfa.2026.3642

MLA 9th Edition

Abba Terab Mustapha, PhD & Anna Dauda Bwala. "A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”." Rumfa Journal of Arts, vol. Vol. 4, no. No. 2, 2026, pp. 208–217, https://doi.org/10.5281/rumfa.2026.3642

Chicago 17th Edition

Abba Terab Mustapha, PhD & Anna Dauda Bwala. "A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”." Rumfa Journal of Arts Vol. 4, no. No. 2 (2026): 208–217. https://doi.org/10.5281/rumfa.2026.3642

Harvard Reference Format

Mustapha, A. T., Bwala, P. &. A. D. 2026, 'A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”', Rumfa Journal of Arts, vol. Vol. 4, no. No. 2, pp. 208–217, available at:

IEEE Format

Abba Terab Mustapha, PhD & Anna Dauda Bwala, "A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE LION AND THE JEWEL”," Rumfa Journal of Arts, vol. Vol. 4, no. No. 2, pp. 208–217, 2026, doi: 10.5281/rumfa.2026.3642

BibTeX Export 
@article{abba2026ASYSTEMI,
  title={{A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE  LION AND THE JEWEL”}},
  author={{Abba Terab Mustapha and PhD & Anna Dauda Bwala}},
  journal={{Rumfa Journal of Arts}},
  volume={{Vol. 4}},
  number={{No. 2}},
  pages={{208–217}},
  year={{2026}},
  publisher={{Department of Arts and Humanities, School of Continuing Education, Bayero University, Kano}},
  doi={{10.5281/rumfa.2026.3642}}
}
RIS (EndNote / Mendeley / Zotero) 
TY  - JOUR
AU  - Abba Terab Mustapha
AU  - PhD & Anna Dauda Bwala
TI  - A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF WOLE SOYINKA’S “THE  LION AND THE JEWEL”
JO  - Rumfa Journal of Arts
VL  - Vol. 4
IS  - No. 2
SP  - 208
EP  - 217
PY  - 2026
DO  - 10.5281/rumfa.2026.3642
ER  -