Journal of Languages and Translation
Volume 6, Numéro 1, Pages 257-269
2026-01-01

A Transitivity Analysis Of Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s Opening Paragraph Of A Grain Of Wheat



Authors : Arab Samir . Boulenouar Mohammed Yamin .

Abstract

This paper analyzes the opening paragraph of Ngugi wa Thiong'o's novel, "A Grain of Wheat," using Halliday's theory of transitivity. The goal is to explore how Ngugi employs language to represent the main character's struggles and to uncover the novel's narrative elements. The analysis reveals that the author uses only four of the six possible processes to depict the character's life. Material and mental processes dominate, creating a sense of fear, oppression, and powerlessness. Additionally, the circumstances of location, manner, time, and accompaniment are employed, with location being the most frequent, indicating the setting of the events. In all, this study provides insights into Ngugi's linguistic choices and their impact on the novel's themes and narrative

Keywords

Analysis ; Circumstances ; Processes ; SFL ; Transitivity

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