Ideological Stances in Yoruba Nation Secessionist Discourse in Nigerian Virtual Communities
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In: Language Matters, Vol. 54, No. 2, 2023, p. 104-121.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Ideological Stances in Yoruba Nation Secessionist Discourse in Nigerian Virtual Communities
AU - Osisanwo, Ayo
AU - Akano, Richard
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Unisa Press.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - This study examined the Yoruba nation secessionist agitation from the viewpoint of stance and ideology in its discursive engagement on three popular Nigerian virtual communities: Nairaland, Gistmania, and Naijaloaded. Data were subjected to the theoretical and analytical paradigms of appraisal framework and critical discourse analysis. Two voices were identified in the study: the anti-Yoruba nation and the pro-Yoruba nation voices. The anti-Yoruba nation voice projected three ideologies: reformist, conservativist, and pessimist, while the pro-Yoruba nation voice projected separatist and arbitrationist ideologies. These ideological constructs were indexed by overlapping instances of appraisal subsystems and discursive strategies of perspectivisation, nomination, negative evaluative attribution, depersonalising metaphors, intensification, and intertextuality. Most participants suppressed antithetical stances to project an authorial ideological stance on the secessionist movement. Given the divisive nature of the secessionist stance, inflammatory and aggressive expressions as dominant discursive patterns are inimical to the efforts to promote inter-ethnic harmony, patriotism, and national integration.
AB - This study examined the Yoruba nation secessionist agitation from the viewpoint of stance and ideology in its discursive engagement on three popular Nigerian virtual communities: Nairaland, Gistmania, and Naijaloaded. Data were subjected to the theoretical and analytical paradigms of appraisal framework and critical discourse analysis. Two voices were identified in the study: the anti-Yoruba nation and the pro-Yoruba nation voices. The anti-Yoruba nation voice projected three ideologies: reformist, conservativist, and pessimist, while the pro-Yoruba nation voice projected separatist and arbitrationist ideologies. These ideological constructs were indexed by overlapping instances of appraisal subsystems and discursive strategies of perspectivisation, nomination, negative evaluative attribution, depersonalising metaphors, intensification, and intertextuality. Most participants suppressed antithetical stances to project an authorial ideological stance on the secessionist movement. Given the divisive nature of the secessionist stance, inflammatory and aggressive expressions as dominant discursive patterns are inimical to the efforts to promote inter-ethnic harmony, patriotism, and national integration.
KW - appraisal framework
KW - discourse-historical approach
KW - ideological stance
KW - secessionist discourse
KW - southwestern Nigeria
KW - virtual communities
KW - Yoruba nation
KW - English
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159907022&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/2e5349f9-34d4-333e-87b6-cfe5178b46fb/
U2 - 10.1080/10228195.2023.2212140
DO - 10.1080/10228195.2023.2212140
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85159907022
VL - 54
SP - 104
EP - 121
JO - Language Matters
JF - Language Matters
SN - 1022-8195
IS - 2
ER -