JOURNAL ARTICLE

Rhetorical Strategies and Appraisal Markers in Online Civic Engagement of the Yoruba Nation Secessionist Agitation on Nairaland.

  • Published In: Journal of Asian & African Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.), 2025, v. 60, n. 7. P. 4203 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Akano, Richard Damilare 3 of 3

Abstract

This study analyzes the rhetorical strategies and appraisal markers used by participants in online discussions on Nairaland regarding the Yoruba Nation (YN) secessionist agitation in Nigeria. Employing Martin and White's Appraisal Framework and Fairclough's concepts of intertextuality and interdiscursivity, the research identifies historical and biblical allusions, proverbs and adages, rhetorical questions, code alternation, and pidgin as key discursive tools that express polarized ideological evaluations of the movement. Pro-YN participants use these strategies to convey solidarity and positive alignment with the secessionist cause, while anti-YN participants express negativity and dissociation. The study highlights how these linguistic practices function within a heterogeneous virtual space to influence ideological positioning on issues of ethnic identity, national integration, and sovereignty.

Additional Information

  • Source:Journal of Asian & African Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.). 2025/11, Vol. 60, Issue 7, p4203
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:History
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0021-9096
  • DOI:10.1177/00219096241250164
  • Accession Number:188807199
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Journal of Asian & African Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.) is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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