Journal of Language and Linguistics

EMERGING ISSUES IN BIBLE TRANSLATION INTO NIGERIAN LANGUAGES: INSIGHTS FROM SELECTED TRANSLATION PROJECTS

Olushola Bamidele Are — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In recent times there has been an explosion of Bible translation into Nigerian languages. This explosion has been characterized by the increased involvement of local translation worker, unlike the earlier translation works that was dominated by expatriates. Although the increase in Bible translation activities and the increased involvement of local translators are positive developments, they come with the risk of less rigorous background sociolinguistic research, and the possibility that language politics among Nigerian ethnic nationalities and the attendant sentiments may percolate into the process of selecting languages to work on. There is therefore a need for an objective scholarly appraisal of the sociolinguistic dynamics involved. To this end, this article x-rays some critical sociolinguistic considerations that should guide the process of determining which Nigerian languages to translate the Bible into at a particular point in time. The article concludes, citing a number of specific instances, that some somewhat discomforting Bible translation decision are being taken in Nigeria on the basis of unconvincing logic and sentimental grounds, leading to redundant or superfluous works which waste scarce resources. These include the Okun Bible, and ongoing translation projects in Kami, Gupa, Ọkọ and Ọ̀sàyẹ́n. The article recommends the adoption of a central coordinating body to vet Bible translation decisions in Nigeria using strictly professional standard.

DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE OF ÍGALA FEMALE NAMES

Yakubu Jacob Umaru, Ashikeni Thomas Ogar, Amina Isah Ojoru — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the structural patterns of Ígálà female names. It provides insights into the patterns and meanings embedded in these names, emphasizing their role as a reflection of Ígálà identity. Igala has a rich naming tradition that reflects the community history, values and social norms. Primary and secondary data were both used in this research and the primary data were elicited through oral interviews while the secondary data were collected from existing literatures. The data were analyzed using the descriptive method. This study establishes that Ígálà like every other language has female names and these names have their distinct structures. This study reveals that some Ígálà Female names demonstrate some of the features of Noun phrase structurally, some of the names appear as sentences as well as negative statements. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the Ígálà language and culture.

LEXICALISATION OF WAR LEXEMES IN SELECTED NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES ON THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN CRISES

David Andrew Agbu — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Russian-Ukraine crisis has emerged as a significant focal point for global media, particularly since its escalation in 2022. This study investigates the lexicalisation of war lexemes in selected newspaper headlines to understand how language shapes public perception and discourse surrounding the conflict. The research employs a qualitative textual analysis of fifteen headlines from three prominent news platforms: The Guardian, BBC, and Al Jazeera. The findings reveal a diverse range of war lexemes that reflect varying editorial stances and influence public sentiment. This work contributes to the field by elucidating the role of language in framing contemporary conflicts, thereby enhancing our understanding of the media's impact on societal attitudes towards war.

LEXICALISATION OF THE ENDBADGOVERNANCE PROTEST# IN SELECTED NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS

Godwin Catherine, Alfred Obi — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 16:50:37 +0000

This study investigates the Lexicalisation of the #EndBadGovernance protest in selected Nigerian newspapers, focusing on how specific word choices shaped public perception and representation of the protests. The importance of this research lies in its exploration of the intersection between language and political discourse, particularly in a context marked by socio-economic challenges and governance failures. The primary objectives include identifying the lexical terms used in reporting the protests, analyzing their implications for public perception, and examining the ideological meanings embedded within these choices. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research utilizes textual, content, and descriptive analysis of headlines from ten national newspapers. The findings reveal that media outlets strategically employed lexical framing to portray the protests either as legitimate civic resistance or as threats to national stability. This study contributes to the fields of media studies, discourse analysis, and political communication by highlighting the role of language in shaping public memory and national discourse, ultimately demonstrating how lexical choices can influence the legitimacy of dissent and collective identity.

THE IMPACT OF PRE-READING ACTIVITIES ON THE LEARNERS OF FRENCH LANGUAGE IN NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

Dawulung Judith Onyefu, Ololoh Jovita Nkeiruka — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:00:40 +0000

The study investigated the effects of pre-reading activities on the achievement of Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) students of French in reading comprehension at the Federal College of Education, Pankshin, Plateau State. Employing a quasi-experimental design, specifically a non-equivalent pre-test and post-test control group approach, the study sampled 108 NCE II students from the French Department, who were divided into experimental (52) and control (56) groups. The Reading Comprehension Achievement Test (RCAT) was used to measure students’ comprehension skills, with data analyzed using mean scores and ANCOVA. Findings revealed that students exposed to pre-reading activities demonstrated significant improvements in identifying main ideas, supporting ideas, summarization and retelling, compared to their counterparts in the control group. The experimental group consistently outperformed the control group, with notable mean gains across all assessed comprehension skills. These findings aligned with existing literature, underscoring the effectiveness of pre-reading strategies in enhancing students' cognitive engagement and comprehension. The study concluded that structured pre-reading activities played a crucial role in improving reading comprehension and recommended their integration into reading instruction to enhance academic performance.

‘WAR AGAINST BAD LEADERSHIP’: ANALYSING APPRAISAL MARKERS IN #ENDBADGOVERNANCE CAMPAIGN DISCOURSE ON NAIRALAND

Nkechinyere U Nwaegbe, Isaiah Aluya — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper analyses appraisal markers (attitude, engagement, graduation) in the #EndBadGovernance campaign discourse on Nairaland, a popular Nigerian online platform. It draws insights from Martin & White's (2005) Appraisal Theory to highlight Nigeria's online public perception of governance during the 2024 protest against ineffectual governance. The study uses qualitative content analysis to evaluate user-generated conversations purposively selected from posts on Nairaland with the hashtag #EndBadGovernance. An analysis of the study data revealed a prevalence of attitude (judgment, affect, and appreciation) and engagement markers. These markers were pivotal in sustaining the protest narrative as users reinforced public dissatisfaction, amplified public discontent, and delegitimised government actors' authority. This study underscores the power of evaluative language in shaping civic engagement and resistance narratives.

RAPE CULTURE AND LANGUAGE ENABLERS IN SELECT NIGERIAN POP MUSIC

Olawunmi Oni-Buraimoh — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Existing studies have examined rape culture using critical discourse theory, feminist theory and new media theory perspectives. However, a pragmatic approach in deconstructing the language used in some Nigerian pop music and how they act as enablers of rape is sparse in the literatures. Hence, this paper builds on existing literature by exploring the subject from a pragmatic perspective, using Mey’s 2001 Pragmeme – a theory which emphasizes contextualization of linguistic choices in given settings and insights from Conceptual Metaphor theory. This paper therefore examines how language used in selected Nigerian Pop songs propagate rape culture and other acts of sexual violence. two songs were purposively selected from two Nigerian pop artistes – Olamide and Lil Kesh to interrogate how the songs enable rape culture from a pragmatic perspective. Findings revealed that the reference strategies deployed in the songs index rape culture, use of dysphemistic metaphors to refer to sex and other body parts, propagation of erroneous beliefs about sex and other related phenomena. The language used in the songs trivializes sex and sometimes normalises rape culture. Nigerian Pop music is a site for exhibiting counter hegemonic designs which provides us with the belief systems and ideologies of the ever-adventurous youths.

STANCE AND ENGAGEMENT MARKERS IN NAIRALAND DISCUSSIONS ON IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Oladokun Christiana Olakitan, Ameh Jonathan Agaba — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:24:44 +0000

The publication of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), a former Nigerian military ruler (1985-1993), autobiography in 2025, an era where social media amplifies diverse viewpoints, has reignited debates about his legacy and political actions, prompting a reassessment of his contributions and shortcomings. These analyses and discussions on platforms like Nairaland provide valuable insights into how IBB’s portrayal aligns with or diverges from public sentiment. Adopting Hyland’s (2005) framework of stance and engagement markers to meticulously analyse twenty excerpts from vibrant discussions on Nairaland, a prominent online forum. The research delves into how users articulate their attitudes towards IBB and engage with one another, emphasising the linguistic strategies employed to express both support and criticism, particularly about the controversial annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election. The findings reveal a striking polarisation in user responses: while some participants wield positive stance markers to defend IBB's political legacy robustly, others deploy negative markers to vehemently challenge his credibility and decisions. Furthermore, engagement markers are pivotal in facilitating interaction, inviting users to share personal anecdotes and counterarguments, thereby enriching the dialogue. This analysis not only underscores the intricate dynamics of narrative construction in digital spaces but also highlights the transformative role of online platforms in shaping public perceptions of political figures. Ultimately, this research aspires to deepen the understanding of how linguistic choices in online discussions reflect and influence societal attitudes towards democracy and leadership in Nigeria, offering critical insights into the interplay between language, identity, and political discourse.

DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SELECTED HATE SPEECHES AGAINST PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Bamigbola Esther Olayinka, Kekere-Ekun Joseph — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 17:29:57 +0000

Politics has been part of every society since the beginning of man's civilization. Speeches at every circumstance are geared towards explaining, persuading, amusing, informing or influencing ideas. The link between language and politics has long been recognized. In every political dispensation of every human society, politicians and political players usually resort to hate speeches. In the course of doing this, there might be issues of misinterpretation. This paper investigates social media politics and hate speeches against President Muhammadu Buhari. The population of the study consists of Nigerians and international communities. The data analysed were taken from 2014 to 2023. The source of data for this study is the social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and also the print media. The participants cut across different categories of people who in some cases are not necessarily or directly the hate speakers. The study was conducted using qualitative descriptive design in order to describe the hate speeches on social media against President Buhari. The Political Discourse Analysis (PDA) perspective of Fairclough and Fairclough (2012) formed the basis for the analysis. In this paper, ten hate speeches were selected and analysed. It was found that the forms of the hate speech which manifested in the data are: accusation, insult defamation, blasphemy, slander, provocation, incitement and distribution of fake news. The findings also show that the hate speeches against President Muhammadu Buhari have great impact on his personality and government. The study recommends the need to educate the public about the negative effects of hate speech and the need to promote a culture of tolerance and respect. This will help to reduce the prevalence of hate speech in the society.

PROBLEMES TERMINOLOGIQUES RELEVES DANS LE COURS DE PHILOSOPHIE DE CASTEL JEAN ET LEUR TRADUCTION EN ANGLAIS

Dufua Sharp-Akosubo, Sarah Ebenezer BlackDuke — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Comme c’est le cas pour tout texte philosophique, les unités terminologiques du cours de philosophie de Castel Jean constituent l’un des facteurs de la technicité de ce texte et surtout l’un des obstacles majeurs à sa compréhension globale. Il importe donc de bien les cerner et les définir afin de pouvoir les traduire. Nous avons donc entrepris dans cette étude, de faire l’étude de quelques-unes de ces unités terminologiques et de montrer les démarches traductionnelles adoptées en vue de résoudre les problèmes qu’elles posent. L’approche traductionnelle adoptée est la théorie des termes proposée par Teresa Cabré ; théorie qu’il a construite à partir des diverses théories linguistiques et qui s’appesantit sur la spécificité des termes sans pour autant les traiter comme s’ils étaient différents des mots non-spécialisés du lexique. L’étude révèle que dans les cas où les termes correspondants existent en langue cible (suggestion à échéance : posthypnotic suggestion), une consultation des dictionnaires philosophiques permet, en général, de les trouver. Dans les cas où il n’existe pas de termes correspondants consacrés en langue cible (comme dans le cas de « denéantisation »), le traducteur se trouve obligé de trouver des termes ou expressions susceptibles d’être acceptées par les lecteurs cibles car étant conformes aux normes de leur langue.

LANGUAGE AS A TOOL OF ENGENDERING OR ENDANGERING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NIGERIA

Theophilus Sunday Ogbor — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The interplay between language and law is a critical aspect of the Nigerian justice system, with far-reaching implications for delivering justice and protecting individual rights. This paper seeks to assess language as a tool for either fostering or jeopardizing the justice system in Nigeria. It also examined the connection between language and law, the interaction of local languages with English in the Nigerian legal system, and the broader implications of language in the Nigerian justice system. Using a qualitative approach with a critical assessment and reviews of relevant literature, the paper's findings revealed the vital role that language plays in shaping the accessibility, fairness, and overall effectiveness of the justice system in Nigeria. Additionally, it indicates that language barriers have created significant hindrances for many Nigerians, particularly those from rural or linguistically marginalized communities, who struggle to fully comprehend and engage with the legal system process. The study recommends, among other things, that the justice system should actively work to integrate local languages into legal proceedings, documentation, and legal education

LEXICAL GAPS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF THEIR TRANSLATION: EXAMPLES FROM AMINATA SOW FALL’S THE BEGGARS’ STRIKE

Dufua Sharp-Akosubo, Michael Ngongeh Mombe — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:02:21 +0000

This study entitled "Lexical Gaps in the Translation of The Beggars’ Strike", deals with source-language words and/or expressions that have no equivalent or are non-existent in the target language, and that constitute, therefore, what is called lexical gaps in the target language. Specifically, it aims at investigating the translatability of lexical gaps in The Beggars’ Strike" (which is the target text of Aminata Sow Fall’s novel, La grève des Bàttu), and the strategies used by the translator to solve the problems posed by such lexical gaps. The study adopted the cultural translation theory which emphasises diversity of cultures as well as the Interpretive Theory of Translation which gives pre-eminence to translating the meaning of a text and not its words taken in isolation. Four research questions guided this study in line with the objectives. The findings buttress the point that lexical gaps, whether they be culturally grounded or simple words, do not denote an impossibility of translation as they can be expressed through various translation techniques such as borrowing, adaptation, or domestication among others. The study recommends that in case of borrowing, footnotes or a glossary should be used to expatiate words or expressions which are unfamiliar to target readers.

A SOCIOLINGUISTIC STUDY OF DJ ZUBIS’ TA’AZIYA

Mohammed Alhaji Usman — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:09:52 +0000

This study is a sociolinguistic investigation into a Nupe song titled Ta’aziya (condolences) by DJ Zubis. Ta’aziya is a track in the Nupe musical artist’s album titled “Boro toh Elu”. A total of twelve (12) sampled texts are purposively selected from the song and analysed based on Dell Hymes Ethnography of Communication, the mnemonic of S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G, which means setting, participants, end, act, key, instrumentality, norm and genre. Being constant in the song, setting and participants are first explained. The analysis is in a tabular form. The findings of the study reveal that the intents of the song are to: urge people to be grateful to Allah even in bereavement or grief, always seek Allah’s forgiveness, and to be humble, all of which are achieved through informative and directive acts. The artist explores gestures such as weeping to reveal the depth of his grief and nodding to confirm oneness and supremacy of Allah. The text is characterised by code mixing and switching between Arabic and Nupe languages. The study concludes that DJ Zubis’ “Ta’aziya” is a religious song not only intended to lament the demise of his departed colleagues in Nupe music and film industry but also to promote the teachings or gospel of Islam.

MOTIVATION ET ATTENTES DES APPRENANTS DU FRANÇAIS A L'UNIVERSITE FEDERALE DE TECHNOLOGIE D'OWERRI

Iroagba Chibuike Odinaka, Okechukwu-Oji Nwachinemere, Owuamanam Uchechi Julia — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

L'apprentissage du français à l’Université Fédérale de Technologie d'Owerri (FUTO) revêt une grande importance en raison des avantages académiques, professionnels et culturels qu'il offert aux étudiants. Bien que le français soit une langue stratégique globalement, les étudiants de FUTO rencontrent plusieurs défis dans son apprentissage, principalement dus à des facteurs institutionnels, pédagogiques et motivationnels. Cette étude explore les motivations, attentes et défis des étudiants en matière d'apprentissage du français. Parmi les défis majeurs figurent la marginalisation du français dans le programme universitaire, l'insuffisance des ressources pédagogiques et humaines, ainsi que des difficultés liées à la motivation des étudiants. L’étude souligne la nécessité d'adopter des stratégies pédagogiques et institutionnelles adaptées pour améliorer l'efficacité de l'enseignement.

TWEETING THE ONE CHANCE UPRISING IN NIGERIA: INVESTIGATING DISCOURSE ACTS IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA

Adinoyi Abdulbasit Anavami, Ibrahim Faith, Isaiah Aluya — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 18:25:18 +0000

The transformation brought about by social media in engaging with national issues has garnered significant attention from social scientists. This paper explores the discourse acts in tweets and online comments concerning "One Chance," a form of robbery targeting commuters in public and private vehicles. Utilising Speech Act theory and a qualitative textual approach, it examines the actions, narratives, and language that shape and mobilise public perception through these tweets. The findings indicate that X users and commenters primarily emphasize providing eyewitness accounts, warning potential victims, and reporting incidents. These contributions were categorized into three types of speech acts: locutionary acts, illocutionary acts, and perlocutionary acts. The study concludes that X serves as a vital platform for discussion, where safety concerns, civic engagement, and policy demands converge.