Abstract
It is with utmost pleasure that I am presenting this collection to the reading public, especially those who are committed to academic studies in language and literature. The volume is a rich collection of works by highly competent academics who are continually committed to the study of communications. It should however be stressed right from the onset that this is not a collection for all and every undergraduates; the focus is primarily on those who major in language studies and those who are on a course towards dispensing knowledge in language and communication at the lower levels.
To get the best scholars for this collection, the dragnet has to be spread to several neighboring academic institutions from the Tai Solarin University of Education that forms the epicenter of the work. Thus, we have contributors from Olabisi Onabanjo University, the University of Ibadan, Lagos State University, the University of Lagos, Babcock University and of course from the epicenter itself, Tai Solarin University of Education at Ijebu Ode. I am particular delighted that each scholar, who is an expert in the specific area written about, has given the very best from his/her rich stockpile of knowledge.
The collection covers virtually all areas of language and literature studies and particular care has been taken by the authors to address those issues which are particularly of interest to undergraduate students in language and literature. While striving to make the language accessible to the primary audience, i.e. the undergraduate students, every care is taken not to sacrifice accuracy and competence.
This is a volume that has demonstrated one enduring fact: that language study is vast and ever expanding, so much that it is impossible for any one individual to hope to establish complete competence as an authority in each are of its coverage. And this is the very reason why an authority in one specific area of language study needs to respect another colleagues specializing in another area. All have to learn from the others. In this volume, even the doctoral specialists in one area have so much to learn in phonology and reading now have so much to help me in my endeavors to understand what my colleagues in stylistics, syntax, literature, etc., mean when they are exchanging ideas.
The volume has further proved the well tried dictum that knowledge is an ever-expanding phenomenon. Here am I, taught the basic concepts in these various areas of language study some thirty five years ago at the undergraduate level, discovering to my chargin that what we struggled to master in our undergraduate classes then have become common-place and have been severely updated to the extent perhaps those who guided my steps then would need to enroll for refresher courses today if they are still interested in language studies. But then, that indeed is the nature of all areas of knowledge, be it in the sciences, arts, etc.
And so, what is the message for all building scholars using this volume? It is that here is a volume, carefully crafted by several specialists whose areas of specialty may overlap in several ways, which is addressed to guide your steps through the maze of language studies. Whichever field of language work you are interested in, you should find an expert hand to guide you through in this volume.
Thus, I should end the way I began this foreword – by expressing my delight in presenting this volume to all scholars of language and literature, be they undergraduate students, classroom teachers, lecturers in higher institutions, or simply those who are interested in what language study entails. To the contributors and editors, I say ‘More powers to your elbows’
