ABSTRACT
A lot of works has been carried out on Igbo proverbs in the time past. The focus of most of these studies is to carry out an interpretive analysis of Igbo proverbs.
The focus of this present study is to examine the structure of Igbo proverbs that is the investigation of how the meanings of the Igbo proverbs are derived.
The researcher employed the oral interview method of data collection in the collection of primary data while secondary data were collected from texts, articles, and publications on Igbo proverbs. The data collected were subjected to adequate linguistic analysis using the PerformativeTranslatology framework as propounded by M.K.C. Uwajeh..
The findings of this research include; the meaning of igbo proverbs are not derived from the individual meanings of lexical items that make up the proverbial sentences; the use and interpretation of Igbo proverbs is based on context; proverbs enhances communication among Igbo speakers.
This research concludes that for one to be able to understand and make use of Igbo proverbs he/she must be acquainted with the Igbo culture, this is because Igbo proverbs are culture and context dependent.
