SOCIOLINGUISTIC PROFILING OF THE USE OF ABUSIVE LANGUAGE IN NIGERIA A PRINT MEDIA PERSPECTIVE

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the sociolinguistic profiling of the use of abusive language in Nigeria. Its primary focus is on the print media perspective.  The main objective for embarking on this study is to explore the level of prominence in the use of abusive language in four different national daily newspapers namely: The Nation, Daily Sun, Daily Trust and Guardian Newspapers. The research design used in this study is content analysis. The population of the study consists of all online newspaper readers which is estimated at 864,000.  This population was distributed among the selected newspapers in percentages and frequencies of readers. The theories used are ethnography of speaking ( Hymes 1972) and politeness theory known as Face Threatening Act’s of  Brown and Levinson (1987). The method of data collection is primary source data collection based on issues sampled in online newspapers. The comments of some online readers of the newspapers mentioned above were gathered, and later grouped according to how related they were to the contexts, which are: corruption and insecurity in Nigeria. From the  content  analysis of the  online readers’ comments, this  study reveals that  when  most individuals are confronted by unfavorable and unpleasant situations, they resort to abusive language as an escape or reprisal routes. It is also observed that every utterance carries with it the  potential positive or  negative threat  to the  speaker’s /hearer’s  face.    Based on these findings, this study recommends that the  media should  be used as tools for educating readers on better ways of approaching issues of public interests and that it is  better  to make use of constructive criticisms aimed at correcting wrongs, rather than words that aim at destroying others’ reputation.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0      Background to the study

The  world  cannot  do  without  language  because  language  is  an  indispensable tool through which human beings share their opinions and ideas. Language, as a tool of communication is used to convey intended meaning. According to Agbedo (2009), language is the pivot on which all human activities ranging from the most prosaic to the most profound revolve. It provides the unique medium through which the belief system, world view, moral values, and  virtually all the  basic  ingredients of   any given society,  are passed on from generation to generation.

Amadi, Anyanwu  and Izuagba  (2001) describe language simply as  a complex and arbitrary system of vocal sounds used by man for communication in a given community. Hence, De Saussure, in Hartzaler (1965) notes that communication is the essential thread that runs through all the activities of human beings. For him, language is a natural ability; it is common to every normal human being. In other words, all normal human beings are naturally disposed to the   use of language for the purpose of communication.

In the light of the foregoing, language cannot be used in isolation. It is always within a community that language has meaning. Thus, language is affected by the norms and values of the members of the community where it is used.

This means, therefore, that the cultural background of a society determines how words are used in order not to deviate from the societal beliefs. What is permissible in a particular culture  may  not  be  permissible  in  another  culture.  Since  language  is  very  vital  in communication in every society it is understandable that the duty of a sociolinguist include seeing how language is related to society, observing how language is specifically being used in particular  contexts  and  thus  contributing  towards  the  improvement  of the    roles    which language plays in their societies.

Sociolinguistics on the  other  hand,  as defined by Hudson (1980), is  the  study of language  in relation to  society.  What  it  really  suggests is that  sociolinguistics takes into

account the social aspects of language as a means of human communication. This, according to Agbedo (2000)  is in contradistinction to the asocial orientation of theoretical linguistics which seeks to explain and analyze only the structure that is to work out the rules operating in a language to the exclusion of the social contexts in which it is learned and used.

The role of sociolinguistics and sociolinguists therefore requires a consistence analysis of the use of language to ensure that this tool which is meant for positive communication of meanings and ideas is not used as a tool for abusing others’ when the latter is the situation, one talk about abusive language.

According to Shawn (2011) human beings in every culture make use of profanity when they get upset. Fellow (2004) is of the view that people use abusive languages when they are angry, while Ruchira (2004) notes that people use abuse languages to get noticed, because if bad language is not used, no one will know that one is angry over something. Nemaniaboskov (2010) reports that abusive language and swearing is basically used when people have nothing better to say, when their mind lack the right disposition to unfavourable conditions people will often automatically jump to  abusive language and  swearing so  as to  fill the  void. Thus, language used in public life is seen as a frequent target for ridicule, whether by parliamentary sketch writers making fun of minister’s speeches or in fictional works such as the television Yes minister.

Yet, the content of the language used by government and public bodies is important. It directly affects people’s lives. Language is used by those in government and those who want to be in government to explain clearly what the basis for a policy is, or to provide guidance on getting access to the range of public services. Language, therefore, determines how politicians and public servants relate to the people they are serving

In Nigeria, the use of abusive language in daily news is more on two basic issues- viz the menace of corruption, and insecurity which have bedeviled the country for a long time. People often use a tirade of abusive words to register their disgust. Even President Goodluck Jonathan is not exempted from abuse.

The Guardian Newspaper of 28th August, 2012 carried a story that affirms the president as the most abused president. This indicates that the people’s reaction to the problem

of corruption is one of the major sources of use of abusive language in Nigeria. People’s reactions to the issue of insecurity are another source of the use of abusive language. That is because abusive languages are likely to arise when the citizens of a country are not provided the security they so need and deserve from the government.

Jideofor (2009) posits that hate speech   houses abusive language. Futhermore he says that hate speech is so pervasive in Nigeria that it is doubtful if there are many Nigerians that are completely free from the vice. According to him, it is ironical to note that people who usually complain of being insulted by other ethnic groups often use more hateful words in describing the groups they feel have insulted them. Hate speech brings about stigmatization and discrimination because hate speech brings about abusive language.

Some individuals and groups in Nigeria openly relish the freedom to rain insults on others and in doing so, appropriate to themselves the role of ethnic and religious champions. Hate speech is often the gateway to harassment and violence. It is also a precursor to serious harmful criminal acts. It is doubtful if there will be hate motivated violent attacks on any group without hate speech because of the tendency of the latter to exacerbate ethnicity and crisis.

Since the tripartite duties of sociolinguists are to see how language is related to society, observe those areas that language plays vital roles in communication, and contribute where necessary for a better tomorrow, this study  is poised to find out the sociolinguistic profiling of abusive language in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on the print media.

1.1      Statement of the problem

Evidences abound of the harms done by use of abusive language in Nigeria with respect to daily news. Of  the several reasons that have been found to account for the harms caused by use of abusive language,   emotional torture and   lost   of   life and properties have been attributed to be the most critical. The situation is worsened by the various ways people relish words on others which cause discouragement, tribal fight, disunity, inferiority complex, psychological trauma, psychological disorder, dissatisfaction, quarrels, fight, sickness, psychological  imbalance,  suicide,  religious  intolerance  and  party  opposition.  However, literature  shows that  the  issue  of  insecurity and  corruption are  the  basic  cause  of these problems and if solution is not sought, more harm will occur. Thus the problem of the study

lies on the  use  of abusive  language by Nigerians in the  print  media, which in the  long worsensthe problem rather than provides solution to the problems in the country.

1.2  Purpose of the Study

The objectives of this research work is to carry out a sociolinguistic investigation of the use of abusive language in Nigerian print media with a view to finding out:

1.  The kinds of issue that attract abusive language.

2.  Why people use abusive language

3.  The people whom these abusive languages are directed

4.  The group (tribe) that uses abusive language more in Nigeria

5.  The   kinds of abusive comments used and their implications.

1.3     Research Questions

In the study the following questions will be answered:

1.  What kind of issue attracts abusive comments?

2.  Why do people use abusive language?

3.  Who are these abusive languages directed to?

4.  What group (tribe) uses abusive languages more in Nigeria

5.  What kinds of abusive comments are used and what are the implications?

1.4      Scope and Delimitation of the Study

Abusive languages are used almost in all spheres of  life in Nigeria but the study will focus on abusive languages present in   two basic issues in   the country viz   insecurity and corruption as they manifest in four  Nigerian print media: Guardian, Daily sun, Nation and Daily Trust Newpapers. The study will   make use of online comments from the copies    of these dailies.

1.5     Significance  of the Study

The findings of the study would be of benefit to all Nigerians who want change as a constant phenomenon.  In  other  words, it will bring about an attitudunal change among the

polity in use of abusive language.     The impressions people have on issues that are wrongly tackled shall be corrected.

The study will also help many Nigerians to learn how to use language without being biased and without attacking another’s character or reputation. It will help our citizens to learn how to give compliment to people and practice positive talk in discourse. This is because a problem known is a problem solved. As Brown and Levinson(1987) said that “the negative face is the basic want of freedom from imposition, whereas the positive face is the basic desire of appreciation and approbation of one’s want”. Therefore, the findings will help Nigerians to practice responding rather than reacting, and also practice the expression of genuine gratitude for all the virtues in one’s life because words have more power than we imagine, that is to say that   words go forth with power and authority that can be uplifting, comforting, healing, encouraging, creating, destroying, depressing and discouraging.

The boundary between love for one’s ethnic identity (ethnocentrism) and ethnicity (which is conflictual in character) could however be thin if good words are used but when ethnic identification makes one to see other people as the cause of one’s marginalization there is every tendency that the person will resort to abusive use of language. So, the findings will help Nigerians to be careful in their choice and use of language in order to promote  social cohesion and development because words are powerful.

1.6      Limitations of the Study

The nature of this study made the analysis diversified. Again the use of colloquial words  in the comments really posed a problem in articulating. Also the use of pseudo names made some comments to lack objectivity. The researcher takes a long time before she understands people’s comments and their activities. These problems were solved through the use  of contextual meaning to  those  colloquial words.    However   through the  contextual meaning the intent and purpose of the commentors were harnessed.

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