Thirteenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

This paper comes after an earlier one titled ‘Traditional Terms of Spaces, Forms and artefacts as Cultural Semiotics in Southwest Nigeria’ that reviewed indigenous terms used for spaces, forms and building practices in southwest Nigeria as semiotic elements to enhance the cultural quality of architecture. There is more cultural meaning than mere shelter to housing beyond the common statement ‘roof over my head’. The traditionally oral centeredness nature of the people of the study area makes this research significant. ‘Culture contact’ led to graphical presentation and appreciation that made drawings to become the modern language of architecture. This semiotic study set out to bring out the rich inherent meanings in traditional building practices and thoughts. This is in the culture of the traditional broader understanding and appreciation of architecture, urban design and the arts. It assayed the traditional aphoristic words and lexicons that like proverbs have metaphorical essence in language. The dominant Yoruba language of the study area is very rich in such terms that oftentimes see phenomenal universal terms like the earth and heaven as simple housing modules. These lexicons were worth looking into because of their symbolic characteristics as importance regional cultural codes and tool. Saussure’s, Pierce’s and Morris concepts of Semiotics in line with the theory of denotation and connotation as metaphorical semiotics shall be made use of.