LANGUAGE USE IN THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AGAINST COVID-19 IN A DEMOCRATIC STANCE

Abstract

COVID 19 has been a prevalent issue that has been ravaging the whole world today. In a bid to salvage the situation, awareness in form of campaign became paramount. This study investigated the language use in the campaign against COVID-19 in a democratic environment, such as Nigeria. It examined the different ways in which COVID-19 campaigns are carried out in a democratic stance. It exposed the new words and their meanings for easier understanding. The study was couched on the speech Act theory on "How to do things with word" by the Oxford Philosopher J.L Austin in1975. This theory sees language as acts, performance and actions. Many Linguists study Speech Act as a way to better understand human communication. About ten phrases/excerpts were used to show how language use can inform, persuade and educate the citizenry against the spread of COVID-19 in a democratic stance. It was discovered that the language in the campaign of COVID-19 is usually short, precise and devoid of ambiguity such that a layman can easily understand it. The researchers recommended that, democratic speeches/jingles should be well funded to reach the grassroots. Also the COVID-19 adverts can be interpreted in various languages for wider reach.