MORPHO-STYLISTIC FEATURES OF E.C. OSONDU’S FLASH FICTION "A LETTER FROM HOME"

Abstract

This study explores the morpho-stylistic features of E.C. Osondu’s flash fiction "A Letter from Home" through qualitative textual analysis. Anchored in Michael Hoey’s (2005) Lexical Priming Theory and Leech & Short’s (1981) Stylistics, the research examines how morphologically complex words such as those formed through affixation, compounding, clipping and blending are strategically employed alongside stylistic devices like linguistic deviation, foregrounding, and parallelism. The analysis reveals that these elements function not only as grammatical tools but also as stylistic markers that convey cultural identity, emotional intensity, and rhetorical force. Morphological creativity is shown to be culturally motivated and stylistically purposeful, contributing significantly to the narrative’s voice, tone, and thematic depth. The study demonstrates how digital African fiction blends linguistic innovation with literary aesthetics, highlighting the expressive potential of hybridized language in contemporary storytelling.