THE USE OF LANGUAGE TO INSTIGATE CHANGE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

Abstract

The present study investigates how the notion of politeness
manifests when language is used to instigate change in social media
posts and its use on the readers. The theoretical framework adopted
for the study is Brown and Levinson's politeness theory and Austin
and Searl’s Speech Act Theory. The data for the research is a post
on Instagram titled, “An Intimate Relationship with Violence,” by
Dr Oyinkansola Alabi, popularly referred to as Emotions Doctor.
Using the descriptive qualitative approach, the research investigated
how the writer used politeness strategies to mourn the death of
Osinachi, a Nigerian Christian musician alleged to have been killed
by her husband and also to incite women in similar situations
towards liberation. The illocutionary acts employed are 6 assertives,
4 directives and 4 expressives. Three of the directives are bald on
record while one is off record. The perlocutionary acts are more of
enlightenment and a tendency to take a new course. The research
observed that the bald on record politeness strategy was the most
prevalent as the writer was mourning and took the issue as a life
saving situation. She equally felt she was more enlightened and
should educate women to stand up for their rights and life as the
society is not with them.