A Grapho-Stylistic Analysis of Young Elihu’s Discourse with Job in the Book of Job 32:1-37:24

The ability to interpret a discourse from the author’s stylistic perspectives has proven to be a difficult task for information decoders. Using Toulmins six-layer-layout of everyday argument, this study explores the stylistic features of the discourse between Job and his friend Elihu (Job 32:1-37:24), with the view of underscoring Elihu’s stylistic use of language in espousing his perspective in the debate regarding Job’s suffering. Using qualitative analytical method and  Elihu’s speeches as the data for analysis, the study discovered that  language use in the Bible especially, in the book of Job is void of ambiguity, vagueness or obscurity. Elihu’s argument was sequenced in line with Toulmin’s six layer of everyday argument- data, claim, backing, warrant, reservation and Rebuttal when interpreted from the contextual perspective and concludes among others that language use in any given discourse is better understood from the perspective of the style of the author. Keywords: Vagueness, Obscurity, Ambiguity, Contextual, Style

A Stylistic Reading of the Satirical Import in Selected Punch Newspaper Political Cartoons

Failure to view stylistics as a bridge discipline linking literary criticism and linguistics communication which is fundamental to human development is a disconnect which has negatively imparted the meaning retrieval in cartoons. This is because language goes beyond spoken and written form to encompass; sign, body, grimace, gestures and the other paralinguistic forms of communication. Using the qualitative analytic method and a framework model propounded by Earl Robert Babbie (1998), which holds that systemic functional grammar “is a systematic inquiry to describe, explain, predict and control the observed phenomenon”, the study analyzed two political cartoons of The Punch newspaper selected using the purposive sampling technique. Findings showed that appropriate application of stylistics to cartoons is key to linguistics communication which is fundamental to human development, interaction and co-existence. The study concludes among others that cartoon should be seen as a viable and powerful tool in the dispensation of critical and sensitive message especially where the ills of the ruling power are concerned. Keywords: Cartoons, criticism, linguistics, stylistics and systemic functional grammar. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-14-04 Publication date:July 31st 201

Educational Ergonomics in Higher Education Institutions in Nigeria

This study focused on investigating the ergonomics and ergonomic considerations of learning environments of higher education institutions (HEIs) in Nigeria. It adopted a descriptive survey design. Population of study comprised all the three universities in Rivers State and a total of 136 lecturers, 230 students and 6 staff of works departments constituted the sample. Four research questions and one hypothesis guided the study. Data was collected using a researcher-constructed questionnaire entitled Educational Ergonomics in Higher Institutions questionnaire (EEIHIQ). An observation checklist and interview schedules were also used. The instrument was validated by experts and its reliability index was established at .75 index using Pearson Moment correlation coefficient. Mean scores were used to answer the research questions while the z–test was used to test the hypotheses at the .05 level of significance. The findings were that school buildings and other teaching and learning facilities in the universities are ergonomically below standard and unsafe. Recommendations towards improvement are made.Keywords: Physical facilities planning; Ergonomics; Quality assuranc