Ngugi's extract & TFA

In what ways does this text influence your understanding of Achebe’s use of language and stylistic choices in Things Fall Apart?

Ngugi's extract was beneficial to understand better Achebe's use of language and stylistic choices in TFA. Ngugi starts by saying how important language is to him and his culture. He somewhat explores the topic of orality without directly addressing it and explains that how with his language has given him a unique view on the world, through proverbs and songs. His given explanation of the importance of language can help us justify Achebe's choice in publishing a book that exposes a mostly western audiences Igbo terms.This choice is to be able to keep the authenticity of the book as well as portray as much as the culture as possible, and language plays a big role in that. Not only is this choice of publishing terms as they are in the book is to be able to show the culture, but also to break stereotypes about African civilisations that are portrayed as brutes and savages, or in this case specifically the Ibgo people; even if they were not literate they still have as much complexity as the existent modernised world.

 The extract goes in a chronological order, and although is not characteristic of African storytelling, it is notable that once the author talks about the colonial school, he used "I" and "my" instead of "we" and "our" from previous paragraphs showing the no longer collectivistic environment. Achebe does a similar thing by starting the book in part 1 in a circulatory narrative and once colonialist arrives adopts a more linear narrative.