A Pragmatic Study of Photo News Reports on the Abducted Chibok Girls in Nigeria
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Date
2017-09-02
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Language Study Group of Nigeria, Kaduna State University, Kaduna
Abstract
A PRAGMATIC STUDY OF PHOTO NEWS REPORT ON THE ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS IN NIGERIA
Abstract
The use of photo news photo is becoming very prominent because it is capable of presenting the news story or situation live and able to generate diverse interpretations. The study explores the various pragmatic acts performed in visual news reports on the abducted Chibok girls in Nigeria, especially the construction of acts or meaning through visual codes. The study drew insight from Mey (2001) aspects of Pragmatic acts and Hoye and Kaiser’s (2007) visual acts as the theoretical framework underpinning the study. A total of (8) visual news reports relating to the stories of the abducted Chibok girls were purposively selected from two Nigerian newspapers (Guardion & Dailytrust) and analysed from the points of pragmatic acts and visual acts theories. The study revealed that pictures are capable of performing many of the same complex pragmatic acts of urging, indicating, condemning, accusing protesting, challenging, wearing, shaming which are often suggested in picture captions. The study also revealed that visual representation in Nigerian newspaper is far from being straightforward. It goes beyond choosing and placing specific photographs forgetting readers' attention, or for authenticating verbal reports. Some pragmatic acts are craftily performed through the pictures and they are meant to surreptitiously control readers’ evaluation, opinion and action about the news report on the abducted Chibok girls.
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Keywords
Pragmatics acts,, Photo news reports,, Chibok girls,, Pragmeme,, Pract,, Allopract