Semiotics of Identity Construction and Communicative Function in Selected Tattoos in Oyo Town

Abstract

Extant studies have investigated tattoos from ethnographic, historical and medical points of view with inadequate scholarly attention paid to how identities and communicative functions are explored semiotically in selected tattoos in Oyo Town. This study was, therefore, designed to investigate semiotic resources in the tattoos with a view to identifying identities and communicative functions inherent in the tattoos. Roland Barthes’ semiotic theory of structuralism and communication theory served as theoretical framework. Seven (7) tattoos which were gathered using snowball sampling technique were purposively selected. Both structured and unstructured interviews, which were recorded and transcribed, were used for data collection. The analysis shows that both linguistic and non-linguistic semiotic resources are features of tattoos that imbibe traditionalist, Eurocentrist, hedonist, cultist, optimist and religionist identities. Unity, pride, pretense, rebellion, edginess, stability endurance and remembrance are communicative functions that are inherent in the tattoos.