LEXICO-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF HELON HABILA’S MEASURINGTIME

Abstract

This paper explores Helon Habila’s Measuring Time through the lens of lexico-semantic analysis, investigating how language functions not only as a narrative tool but also as a medium for ideological expression and thematic exploration. The study examines the author's deliberate use of lexical patterns, figurative expressions, collocations, and connotative meanings to construct characterisation,pe narrative progression, and communicate complex socio-political realities. Drawing on Lyons’Lexical Field Theory as a theoretical framework, the paper analyses how language is used in literary texts helps revealow meanings are shaped and how writers manipulate linguistic choices to create particular effects. This is achieved through semantic relations that extend beyond sentence boundaries, reinforcing the novel’s emotional and ideological depth. Special attention is paid to how lexical choices highlight the inner lives of the twin protagonists Mamo and LaMamo while also reflecting broader postcolonial themes such as identity crisis, disillusionment with leadership, historical memory, and the human cost of resistance. Through a combination of lexical richness and semantic layering, Habila crafts a narrative that is introspective, politically charged, and emotionally resonant. The study also draws from relevant critical literature to support the claim that meaning in Habila’s novel is constructed not only by what is said but by the subtle semantic associations that permeate the text. By uncovering the intricate web of language use in Measuring Time, this paper highlights how linguistic strategies can enrich literary meaning and deepen readers’ engagement with African narratives. Ultimately, the study affirms Habila’s place among contemporary African writers who use language to interrogate history, identity, and power.