Theme-Rheme Structure in the Selected English Translations of Èjì-Ogbè: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach

Abstract

Although Ifá discourse has been the subject of numerous research, there aren't many that analyse how thematic structures are preserved or altered in translation using systemic functional linguistics (henceforth, SFL). As a result, this calls into question how the meaning of the text is altered during translation. The study's objectives are to: 1) analyse Èjì-Ogbè's textual meaning using the Theme-Rheme structure; 2) find thematic shifts in Èjì-Ogbè translations and how they affect coherence; 3) examine the thematic progression patterns in various translations; and 4) assess the implications of these shifts for translating Yorùbá Ifá discourse. The study focuses on textual meaning and thematic structure in various translated versions of a few chosen Èjì- Ogbè texts that were translated by Dayo Ologundudu (Institute of Yorùbá Cultural Studies: The Original Major Odù Ifá Ilé-Ifè, Volume 1 of 18, 2008), Agbovi, Axosu Agelogbagan (Iwe Fun Odu Ifa: An Old African Sacred Scripture, 2018), and Emmanuel Abosede (Ifá (As Literature): English Translation of Yorùbá Text of Revd. E.M. Lijadu, 2010). The first Odú Ifá book, Èjì-Ogbè, serves as the foundation for subsequent Odús in seniority sequence. Each of the written texts on Odú Ifá has three verses chosen from it. SFL is responsible for qualitative analysis of the data. The study investigates how thematic choices influence meaning across different translations using Halliday's Theme-Rheme structure.The findings reveal patterns in thematic progression that influence interpretation, highlighting the need for a more systematic approach to Ifa discourse translation.