Twittering the Boko Haram Uprising in Nigeria: Investigating Pragmatic Acts in the Social Media

Chiluwa, Innocent and Adegoke, Adetunji (2013) Twittering the Boko Haram Uprising in Nigeria: Investigating Pragmatic Acts in the Social Media. Africa Today, 59 (3). pp. 82-102.

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Abstract

This paper investigates pragmatic acts in the discourse of tweeters and online feedback comments on the activities of Boko Haram, a terrorist group in Nigeria. The tweets and comments illustrate acts used to express revolutionary feelings and reflect what people say and imply in times of crisis. Tweets about Boko Haram are speech and pragmatic acts that denounce the Nigerian government, reject Western education, and call for support. Tweets and reactions from non-Muslims and nonradical Muslims condemn terrorism and denounce the terrorist group. While some tweets simply offer suggestions on how to curtail the Boko Haram insurgency, others seek the breakup of Nigeria, granting political and religious independence to the north and the southeast of the country.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	P Language and Literature > PE English
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Humanities
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	04 Nov 2013 11:15
Last Modified:	04 Nov 2013 11:15
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/1808

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