What features of africanness are evident in the language of "Things Fall Apart"?

One of Achebe's main purposes in writing the novel was to bring an awareness of Ibo culture to the Western world. Thus, although he writes in English, he “Africanizes” the language of the novel. Specific Igbo words and complicated names are used freely. Profound philosophical concepts such as chi and ogbanje are explained in the text or glossary and are fundamental to the story. The use of idioms and proverbs also clarifies the conflict, expresses different points of view, and instructs the characters as well as the reader. Thus, although the point of view is third person, the cultural context is quite personal and revealing. The use of native proverbs offers a look at the situation through the psychology of the tribe, in contrast to the attitudes of the British.

Achebe also uses a third-person omniscient narrator in this novel. There is also very little dialogue, which gives the impression of oral story-telling. The importance of oral story-telling is evident throughout the book, as the Ibo people honor and uphold the tradition. Although there is no dominant point of view, the narration shifts between characters throughout. This shifting viewpoint allows the reader to consider all sides of the conflicts, & reach his/her own conclusions about their outcomes.

Even though the third-person narrator maintains an objective point of view, the interjection of vivd imagery/figurative language and Ibo vocabulary suggests an underlying purpose. Achebe has stated publicly that one of his goals in writing this novel was to combat the stereotype of Africa as the "dark continent." Thus, he presents his novel in the form of a tradition oral story, highlighting the richness of Ibo culture, and the dangers of immutability.

What changes in language are observed in the novel Things Fall Apart?

Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart is as much a journey for its author as it is for its characters. Achebe was Nigerian, and he was born during the British colonization of the country. He helped fight for Biafran independence, although he ultimately felt frustrated by the Nigerian government, and spent many of his later years in the United States.

Achebe was an Igbo chieftain and spent his life working toward preserving his heritage. Like many other African authors dealing with the wake of postcolonial life, Achebe struggled with whether to write his works in English or his native language of Igbo. To write in English would be to speak in the tongue of his colonizers and to let go of his Igbo heritage. Conversely, writing only in Igbo would greatly limit the number of those who could understand his works.

In Things Fall Apart, Achebe opted to use a mixture of both languages. He wrote the novel primarily in English so that it could be consumed and understood outside of Nigeria, while using Igbo terms and phrases to capture the spirit of his culture.