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
