Ideology and Identity: Operating Together (Published)

Ideology and identity are inevitably ubiquitous in most discourse types. This mere pervasiveness, more precisely in political discourse, is presumably sufficient to generate much debate as to whether ideology and identity find their locus in context or in other constructs. In view of this, this paper’s main focus is manifold. It attempts to study Biden’s discourse (selected tweets) within a critical discourse analysis framework while deploying a qualitative method of analysis. Approaching this discourse genre from the latter perspective aims at identifying how both concepts interact to generate a better understanding of discourse. To dismantle the way meaning is construed, some discourse strategies (van Dijk, 2004) like the presentation of the ‘self’ and the ‘other’ are to be studied within context. Results show that Biden’s discourse is ideological and thus mirrors common identity goals. Moreover, positive self-presentation has been dominant in a daunting situation where most messages were purposefully rallying for all Americans.

Citation: Abidi Hajer (2021) Ideology and Identity: Operating Together, European Journal of English Language and Literature Studies, Vol.9, No.7, pp.39-48

Keywords: Discourse, Identity, Ideology, Messages, self-presentation

Challenges of Utilising the Key Messages of Coronavirus Pandemic Campaigns in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (Published)

This study investigated the challenges of utilising the key messages of coronavirus pandemic campaign in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Survey research design was adopted for the study while questionnaire was the instrument of data collection. The study was anchored on social cognitive theory and Health belief model. The population of the study comprised of residents of Akwa Ibom State, which according to 2018 projection of the National Population Commission census figure of 2006 was 5,828,267. The sample size of 400 was drawn using Taro Yamane’s sample size formula. The study found out that the level of awareness of the coronavirus pandemic campaign was high in the metropolis but low in rural communities. The study also found out that the level of compliance was very low. Moreso, the study found out that majority of respondents did not believe that coronavirus exist in Nigeria. The study recommends that awareness should not be left alone in the hands of government, individuals should be ready to save lives by promoting the campaign of coronavirus in the society.

 

Keywords: Challenges, Messages, campaign, coronavirus, pandemic

Another Look at Mapping the Territory: Seven Traditions in the Field of Communication Theory (Published)

Each passing day, we come across different signs, images, and symbols as well as impression flashing before our eyes. Different messages collide to prompt our own sense of reasoning. How we process and digest the diversity of information and understand the symbols of what each message means is something to be looked upon. There have been a lot of theories that has tried to explicate the nature of human communication and how human comprehend symbols as well as how it is applied in a given society or community, this is so because there are different, individualistic perception of a particular form of communication symbols and sign due to the complex nature of assimilating the meaning and application of communication. These have made different traditions of understanding, communication to be formed to better explain different concepts and viewpoint of communication. This paper reviews Robert Craig propounded model that encapsulates the field of communication into seven traditions. These are known as the semiotic, the phenomenological, the cybernetic, the socio-psychological, the socio-cultural, the critical, and the rhetorical traditions”. Thus, each of this tradition, captures a different aspect or specialized area of communication and knowing each one gives new and sometimes conflicting viewpoints on why we relate and comprehend the information we absorb on a daily basis.

Keywords: Information, Messages, Seven Traditions of Communication, Symbols, communication