A Critical Discourse Analysis of Rejoinders to Political Press Releases in Selected Nigerian Newspapers

Abstract

Political discourse in Nigeria plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and policy outcomes through the persuasive use of language by politicians. Despite existing research on Nigerian political discourse, there is still a gap in understanding the linguistic strategies employed in political rejoinders to press releases in Nigerian newspapers, particularly during critical events like elections. This study conducts a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) of political rejoinders to press releases in selected Nigerian newspapers in order to examine the linguistic and discursive features employed. Political rejoinders chosen are those published from June 2022 to June 2023 in selected Nigeria newspapers. Fairclough’s framework of three-dimensional model to CDA guides the analysis of linguistic features, social practices, and cultural context. The study identified the strategic language use in political rejoinders, such as uncovering vocabulary precision, rhetorical strategies, including ideological positioning. The study further shows that politicians often employ emotive language or specific terminologies to evoke certain emotions or convey persuasive arguments in their rejoinders. The study concludes that political rejoinders in Nigerian newspapers are powerful tools in constructing political narratives and shaping public opinion. They portray the underlying power dynamics and ideological biases.