Browsing by Author "Babagogata, A. H."

Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    A critical discourse analysis of Michelle Obama's send forth speech
    (International Journal of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    Language is a pivotal instrument in political speeches. This study critically explores how Michelle Obama used interactional control, including wording. connectives, and argumentation (cohesion-lexical and grammatical-modality, word meaning, and metaphor) to communicate in her "Send Forth"speech. The study adopted Norman Fairclough (2001) Critical Discourse Analysis as its theoretical foundation. Findings showed that elements of critical discourse analysis, such as anecdote, deixis, name-calling, the reader, and honorific terms, were used to reveal the social relationship of the writer/speaker to their thoughts or subject matters and their readers/listeners. The findings also indicated that ideologies influence the structure of language, as every choice a writer/speaker makes is strategic. Finally, the elements of analysis stipulated by Fairclough and adapted in this study revealed that all texts are strikingly similar in their ideological representations. The writer/speaker used modality and metaphor to reveal her opinion about certain issues and the persons with whom she had worked.
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    A critical discourse analysis of selected media representatives on (in)security discourse in Nigerian newspapers
    (Al-Qalam: A Journal of Languages and Literary Studies, Department of English and Literature, Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria., 2026) Babagogata, A. H.
    Language is an important instrument in the hands of newspapers reporters. Thus, this study critically explored how language is used in four selected Nigerian newspaper discourse on insecurity. The study adopted the Norman Fairclough's (2001) Member Resources, van Dijk's (2004) Socio Cognitive approach and principles of Halliday's system of transitivity as theoretical foundations. A total of ten (10) insecurity news were purposively selected from the four Nigerian dailies (Daily Trust, The Guardian. The Punch and The Nations The newspapers were selected from the editions published between July 2022 and August 2022, Findings of the study showed that Nigerian newspapers deploy lexical, syntactic and discursive devices in representing insecurity reports as a strategy of domination and supremacy with the use of exploiting lexical items and strong imperatives which allow them impose their views on others. This study concludes that news reports on insurgents crisis in Nigeria do not only inform the audience about the latest activities relating to insurgencies and government's steps towards stemming the menace but they also help to celebrate and praise security agencies in their fight against insurgencies.
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    A critical discourse analysis of Wike's ministerial acceptance speech
    (Working Papers: Journal of English Studies, Department of English Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    This study delves into a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of Nyesom Wike's appointment speech as a minister, with the goal of exploring how language plays a crucial role in shaping political discussions. CDA, a versatile method that adapts to new challenges and contexts, continues to be a valuable resource for scholars. By scrutinizing the language and the surrounding context, this study aims to deepen our understanding of political discussions in Nigerian. Wike's political journey and influence are marked by his dedication to community growth, strategic political tactics, and effective leadership across different levels. He skillfully uses various linguistic and rhetorical techniques to engage his audience; he builds trust, and advocate for his policy goals. By placing his speech within its historical, cultural, and political backdrop, he adds depth and impact to his message. This study provides the summary of essential theoretical ideas, research methods, and prior studies pertinent to the examination of political discourse through the lens of CDA. The examination of Wike's speech highlights the complex ways in which language is used to construct identities, convincelisteners, and manipulate power structures. The significant impact of Wike's speech on Nigerian politics is profound. It challenges deep-seated party loyalties, signalling a shift towards a more pragmatic and cooperative approach in politics. This research, recognizing its own limitations, aims to illuminate the role and importance of political discourse through CDA. This research gives rise to various recommendations, including the promotion of political collaboration, the emphasis on issue-based politics, and the improvement of public communication, the encouragement of transparency and accountability, and the fostering of inclusive governance.
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    A pragma-sociolinguistic analysis of selected Yoruba names in Nigeria
    (Ganga: Journal of Language and Literary Studies, Department of English and Literary Studies, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    This study critically discusses the pragma-sociolinguistic meanings embedded and associated with Yoruba names. It uses interview and observation to collect data. The study finding reveals that the various names given to Yoruba children and people ranges from reincarnation, death, circumstantial, market day names, to physical complexion, days of the week power and courage names, to traditional African religion names. The study findings show that the reasons for some Yoruba people to prefer Christian names over traditional Yoruba names are; religious conversion, cultural assimilation, social status and acceptance, personal preference and globalization and western influence. The study also establishes that the context of names in Yoruba ranges from individual identity, circumstance of child birth, aspiration of hope, to honor and legacy, while the societal connotation of such names include; family heritage, social status and identity, cultural values and societal roles. The findings finally states that Yoruba names, particularly in the Ifé dialect, are deeply intertwined with cultural orientation and worldview. They encapsulate religious beliefs, social status, personal and communal aspirations, heritage, and the importance of family and community. The study concludes that Yoruba names have pragma- societal implications which are enriched in the Yoruba worldview and belief system and as such, a name in Yoruba draws from the Yoruba culture and thought patterning.
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    A pragmatic study of selected commercial billboard advertisements
    (Department of Languages and Department of Economics, Nigerian Army University, Biu, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    Several studies have examined advertising using canonical classifications of multimodality, implicature, and other linguistic resources. However, little attention has been given to the application of pragmatic tools in the analysis of billboard advertisements in Nigeria. This chapter therefore investigates selected commercial billboard advertisements with a view to exploring how texts, images, symbols, and pictures enable advertisers to communicate their intended messages effectively, as well as how these semiotic resources contribute to meaning-making for the audience. To achieve this objective, twenty-five commercial billboard advertisements were purposively selected from Ilorin metropolis. Austin's Speech Act Theory and its elements were adopted as the theoretical framework underpinning the study. The findings reveal that considerable meaning would be lost without the insights provided by pragmatic analysis. This is because audiences tend to focus more on the visual aspects of advertisements than on textual content. A pragmatic approach demonstrates that billboard advertisements deploy multiple modes of meaning which interact to produce more complete, coherent, and complementary interpretations. The study further reveals that pragmatic devices are strategically employed to attract readers' attention, communicate product features and benefits, and persuade consumers to patronize the advertised products. It also shows that graphic designers and photojournalists make deliberate use of visual elements to convey meaning based on shared conventions and ideologies. The study concludes that effective interpretation of billboard advertisements requires mutual shared knowledge between advertisers and readers.
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    A sociolinguistics study of selected songs of Asake
    (International Journal of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    Language in music has been one of the most formidable way of formulating the socio-cultural foundation of every human community as both have intrinsic capacity to forge a common identity and assign it to any society where they are domiciled. This study addresses the need for a comprehensive sociolinguistic analysis of Asake's songs to uncover the intricate ways his music depicts cultural and social contexts, uses language to engage and resonate with his audience, and illustrates the characteristics of the speech community it represents. The aim is to provide insights in the role of Asake's music in reflecting and shaping the lived experiences and identities of his audience. The study explores how Asake's songs depict the cultural and social contexts of the communities he represents, the use of language to establish communicative competence within his songs, and how his songs illustrate the characteristics of the intended speech community. Through a qualitative approach, the study analyses two selected songs: "Lonely at the Top"and "Believe". The result reveals that Asake employed linguistic strategies such as code mixing and code-switching which have sociocultural implications. It shows also that ethnographic aspects of Asake's music serve as cultural artifacts that document and influence the lived experiences of his community. The study contributes to the understanding of how popular culture, through music, constructs and communicates identity within specific cultural contexts.
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    A stylistic analysis of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's inaugural speech
    (Department of English and Literary Studies, Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil-Kano, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    The art of literary styling is a vital aspect of human communication, enabling authors to covey complex ideas, emotions, and themes through careful manipulation of language. This chapter focuses on the stylistic mastery of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his presentation of his inauguration speech. This research aims to uncover the stylistic devices and techniques employed by the President to create a distinctive narrative voice and shape the audience's experience. By examining the stylistic choices and literary strategies used in the speech, this research seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the speech and the ways in which language is used to create a lasting literary work.
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    A stylistic analysis of selected newspaper headlines on fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria
    (Al-Qalam: A Journal of Languages and Literary Studies, Department of English and Literature, Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria., 2025) Babagogata, A. H.
    This study conducts a stylistic analysis of selected The Punch and The Nigerian Tribune newspapers' headlines on fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria, with the aim of examining how linguistic choices reflect and shape public discourse on a highly controversial national policy. Drawing upon Stylistic Pluralism and Systemic Functional Linguistics as theoretical frameworks, the research analyzes five headlines from The Punch and Nigerian Tribune, focusing on graphological, morphological, lexical, syntactic, and semantic features. The findings reveal that newspapers employ a range of stylistic devices such as ellipsis, nominalization, evaluative language, and metaphor to construct ideational meanings, establish interpersonal relations, and organize textual information. These linguistic strategies are used not only to inform but also to persuade, sensationalize, or influence public perception, often aligning with ideological biases. The study concludes that media language plays a crucial role in framing socio-political issues, highlighting the importance of critical reading in interpreting headline narratives.