The Effect of Language of Propaganda on Persuading Voters in Nigeria: a Study of Adamawa State
CHAPTER ONE
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The general objective of this study is to examine the effect of language of propaganda on persuading voters in Nigeria and the following are the specific objectives:
- To analyze the effect of language of propaganda on persuading voters in Nigeria.
- To identify different types of political propaganda strategies in Nigeria.
- To identify how politicians benefit from the use of language of propaganda as a persuasive tool.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
THEORITICAL FRAME WORK
The speech act theory introduced by British language philosopher known as J. L Austin (1962) provide the analytical frame work (i.e. theoretical) upon which the work is based .The theory analyses the role that utterance play in relation to the behaviour or attitude of the speaker and the hearer in interpersonal communication. It is communication ability defined with the respect to the intention of the speaker while talking and the effect of his speech on the listener. Every utterance has its own communicative purpose depending on the specific speech context. Language use, according to Traugott and Pratt (480:226) …is governed by a wide range of contextual factors, including social and physical circumstances, identities attitudes, abilities and beliefs of participants and relations holding between participants.
Austin’s approach begins with an analysis of the different things people do with words through the ages, language philosophers have been impressed with language which has been used to represent how the world is, to say what is or is not the case the notion of truth has been central to the philosophy of language.
He points out the many other things people do with words they do not just represent how things are; they ask questions, give commands, make suggestion give advice, tell jokes, make promises, even insult, persuade and intimidate. This led Austin to draw a threefold distinct kind of speech act:
- Locutionary Act – first, words have a distinct conventional meaning. The expression “The cat sat on the mat” refers to a cat, a mat and relation between them, one sitting upon the other. This ordinary sense of meaning constitutes the “what is said” of any particular speech act.
- Illocutionary Act.- Secondly has it that by saying certain words one actually commits an act. For example, in saying “I do” at a wedding, one makes a promise in saying ‘will you?’ one asks a question and in saying “you will” one gives order.
- Perlocutionary Act. Finally, points out that by saying something, one performs an action by saying I do”. One weds, by saying something like I will give you a better deal than the competitor”, may cause a buyer to be persuaded and so on.
SPEECH ACTS THEORY AND COMMUNICATION
According to Ndimele (2007:132) speech acts were first introduced into linguistics study by a British philosopher known as J.L Austin (1911-1960), according to him, one of the major concerns of speech act theory is to analyze the roles that utterances play in relation to the behaviour or attitude of the speaker and hearers in interpersonal communication. Ndimele (Ibid: 132) went on to define speech act as “the communicative ability defined with respect to the intentions of the speaker while talking, and the effects of his speech on the listener”.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research design is the plan structure and strategy of investigation developed so as to obtain answer to research questions and control variance (Kerlinger, 1973:45).
SOURCES OF DATA
The researcher used both primary and secondary methods of data collection.
Primary Data: This is data that is obtained first hand from the respondents. Primary data method is obtained through the administration of questionnaires and personal interviews.
Secondary Data: secondary source of data are opinions of exports in the experts views and are obtained from related literature from private, professional ad academic libraries.
THE POPULATION STUDY
The study of population would cover about 120 workers of INEC and some selected individuals with a proper background knowledge on the effect of language of propaganda on persuading voters in Nigeria.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
This chapter is devoted to the presentation, analysis and interpretation of the data gathered in the course of this study. The data are based on the number of copies of the questionnaire completed and returned by the respondents. The data are presented in tables and the analysis is done using the chi-square test.
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
The data presented below were gathered during field work.
QUESTIONNAIRE ADMINISTRATION
INSTRUCTION: please endeavor to complete the questionnaire by ticking the correct answer(s) from the options or supply the information required where necessary.
RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
HYPOTHESIS TO BE TESTED
HO: Language of propaganda cannot be used in persuading voters in Nigeria.
HA: Language of propaganda can be used in persuading voters in Nigeria.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
The general objective of this study is to examine the effect of language of propaganda on persuading voters in Nigeria and the following are the specific objectives:
- To analyze the effect of language of propaganda on persuading voters in Nigeria.
- To identify different types of political propaganda strategies in Nigeria.
- To identify how politicians benefit from the use of language of propaganda as a persuasive tool.
FINDINGS
- Language of propaganda can be used in persuading voters in Nigeria.
- Language propaganda has significant effect on the voters behaviour in Nigeria
- politicians benefit from the use of language of propaganda as a persuasive tool
- the types of political propaganda has significant persuading voter in during electoral process
- Langauage propaganda has increased overtime in Nigeria
CONCLUSION
Based on the responses of the respondents and the rersult of analysis we therefore conclude that Language of propaganda can be used in persuading voters in Nigeria.
RECOMMENDATION
- The voter should always be encouraged to vote out their own will.
- To be involved in politics therefore is demanding as certain things must be put into consideration, all to enhance success after the electoral process; such demand include the use of political languages to yield result during election.
REFERENCES
- Abraham. M. H (1995): A Glossary of Literary Terms, Holt Prime Hart and Winston
- Akamere, F.A.C (2001): Government and Politics of Nigeria, Slimark Associates, Ojo Lagos.
- Austin J.L (1962) How to do things with words. Cambridge: Mass Harvard University Press
- Bar-hillel, Y. (1971): Out of the pragmatic wastebasket, linguistic Inquiry 2, 401-7
- Barnwell, K. (1980): Introduction to semantics and translation, Summer Institute of linguistics
