Literary Study of Invectives in Selected Works of H. K. Bidi Setsoafia

This study explored invective expressions, their cause, effects and gradations in defining literary elements and roles in the literary works of Bidi Setsoafia. Since textual efficacy rather than material quantification is the phenomenon under investigation, this qualitative study offers a pristine understanding that invective usages form the anchor of literary works, communicative competence and language proficiency. Three literary works of Setsoafia, ‘Fia Tsatsala’ ‘Togbui Kpeglo II’ and ‘Mede Ablotsidela’ were closely studied for their invective embellishments. The study observes invective usages as expressions about real life activities. It focuses on the concept of optimal performance that the usage of a language form (invectives) depends on and defines the performer’s (character) mindset, communicative setting and its components that welcome and support actions, and the reflections that unearth meanings in diversity. The study tends to argue that every action is a performance and a reflection of personality and society; revealing themes and totality of norms and behaviours. Here, every invective use is a performance engineered by a purposed mindset to identify and respond to invective dynamisms and interrogate invective causes, effects, themes, aesthetics and cautions earthed by characters. The study found invectives as unavoidable language forms controlling meaning, actions and life and invective competence is a critical aspect of language and culture, traditionally enshrined in moral education, entertainment, across disciplines, in literary works as well as in everyday life activities. Invective competence seems a mark of language proficiency and cultural competence and every native speaker seems to be groomed right from childhood to be conscious of invectives and to appropriately engage in performances involving them. However, invective usage is heavily frowned upon. Finally, the novelistic use of invectives defines tropes and establishes the efficacy of language in influencing character, character roles and actions, themes, and aesthetics among others in the literature. The study hypothesizes that literary elements are controlled by invective mindsets and every form of advice, persuasion, praise, edification, entertainment, responsibility or literature depends on invectives. The findings further reveal ethnophaulism, dehumanisation, sex, stereotype, body parts, and humour are invective usage fields in the texts. They also contribute to marking the categorisation and gradations of invectives for specific roles, effects, and interpretations. The study concludes that humans naturally refuse to accept truth and when expressions expose their weaknesses or threaten their status and emotions, they regard it as invectives. The study suggests that invectives should not be treated as language usages that violate one’s rights but as useful tools for correcting, reprimanding, teaching, commending, and making fun of people and situations.

Keywords: Invectives, Insults, literary study, literary genre, literature, culture