A LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF METAPHOR IN NIGERIA POLITICAL DISCOURSE

ABSTRACT

This research work focuses on the topic A Linguistic Analysis of the Use of Metaphor in Nigerian Political discourse. Language is a means of communication but the use of metaphor by politicians most often brings misconceptualization of the use of metaphors in which the information conveyed to the public is not exactly what is meant by the politician but only for the purpose of winning elections. Thus, this research focuses on the analysis of metaphors used by politicians during their political discourses in Nigeria by analysing Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s and Olusegun obasanjo’s acceptance, independence and inaugural speeches. The data used in this study was collected majorly from secondary sources. The study aims at showing that metaphor is a linguistic tool that could be manipulated for both pragmatic and strategic reasons. This study adopts Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) theory of conceptual metaphor as the structure of this research work. The theory stipulates that, metaphor is conceptual in nature, a matter of thought and not merely a linguistic expression found in figurative language or expression. Findings in this study identified three target domains which are the nation, politicians and politics. The NATION was conceptualised as a FAMILY/PERSON/BUILDING, POLITICIANS were conceptualised as BUILDERS, POLITICS was conceptualised as a BATTLE/JOURNEY/GAME, and politicians use this metaphors to cajole the electorates into political participation. The mapping principle of targets and source domains identified in the data are used by Nigerian politicians to fulfil their persuasive and rhetorical goals in political discourse. The study concludes that Metaphor is used in Nigerian political discourse, mainly for the purpose of persuasion and also as a way of presenting current issues in a manner in which the people will realise the problem and the vision of the politicians. The research work recommends that emphasis should be laid on the individual’s integrity and past records rather than the speaker’s good use of metaphor or oratory characteristics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page                                                                                                                                i          

Declaration                                                                                                                              ii

Certification                                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv        

Acknowledgements                                                                                                                v         

Table of Contents                                                                                                                   vi

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ix

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                                            1

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                                                            2

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the study                                                                                2

1.4       Research Questions                                                                                                    3

1.5       Research Methodology                                                                                               3

1.6       Significance of the Study                                                                                           3

1.7       Scope and Delimitation of the Study                                                                         4

1.8       Definition of Terms                                                                                                     4

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2.1       Preamble                                                                                                                     5

2.2       An Overview of Concepts                                                                                          5

2.2.1    Metaphor                                                                                                                     5

2.2.2    Non-linguistic metaphor                                                                                             7

2.2.3    Historical Linguistics                                                                                                  8

2.2.4    Metaphor as style in speech and writing                                                                    8

2.2.5    Metaphor as foundational to our conceptual system                                                  9

2.2.6    Language and Political Discourse                                                                              10

2.3       Literature Review                                                                                                       11

2.4       Theoretical framework                                                                                               22

2.4.1    Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT)                                                                        23

CHAPTER THREE: METAPHOR AND ITS USES IN HUMAN LANGUAGE

3.1       Preamble                                                                                                                     25

 3.2      Meaning of Metaphor                                                                                                 25

3.2       Types of Metaphor                                                                                                      26

3.3       Functions of Metaphor                                                                                               28

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1       Preamble                                                                                                                     31

4.2       Some Metaphors in Selected Nigerian Political Speeches                                         32

4.2.1    Conflict and War Metaphor                                                                                        32

4.2.2    Building and Construction Metaphor                                                                         34

4.2.3    Disease Metaphor                                                                                                       37

4.2.4    Illness and Health Metaphor                                                                                       38

4.2.5    Politics as a Journey Metaphor                                                                                   40

4.2.6    Games and Sports Metaphor                                                                                      43

4.2.7    The Nation as a Family Metaphor                                                                              45

4.3       Answering Research Questions                                                                                  47

4.4       Discussion of Findings                                                                                               48

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

5.1       Summary of findings                                                                                                  50

5.2       Recommendations                                                                                                      50

5.3       Conclusion                                                                                                                  51

            References                                                                                                                  53