Pragmatic Analysis of Olusola Abraham Asaolu's "We Survived and Conquered"

Abstract

The adequacy of language expressions requires an examination of how a speaker or a writer uses language in order to accomplish Communicative functions and convey meanings. Suffice it to say that language is used in context and its interpretation hinges on context, rather than on the literal words. Interpretation depends on how words are utilized rather than how words are crafted. Interpretation is anchored in some key concepts such as speech acts, implicature and presupposition which are embedded in pragmatics.

The internet is explored for academic purposes, not just for fun or entertainment. In light of above, data were purposively selected from a Facebook post made on December 31, 2024 and analysed qualitatively using concepts of locution, illocution and perlocution. Facebook page was opened in order to get a discourse, which served as our data for the study. Olusola Abraham Asaolu's "We survived and conquered" was found suitable for the foregoing analysis because of its exploratory conversation and perhaps, because of his academic status and as a member of Nigeria Editor's Guild, Lagos State Chapter.

The theoretical framework adapted for its analysis is Speech Acts Theory which is postulated by Austin, J.L (1962) and expanded by Searle, J.R (1969), primarily to lend credence to the good use of language in a succinct manner. The Study further demonstrates that social media discourses can broaden academic pursuit rather than mere entertainment. The result of the analysis, therefore, demonstrates the cleverness and ingenuity of the use of language, even through social media with a view to achieving effective communicative functions and objectives, and also as a means of promoting the exploration of digital discourses. Aside from identifying with the beauty and efficacy of social media as a tool of effective communication, the research also calls for more engagement on social media by academics.