LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13:5 May 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Verisimilitude in Editorial Cartoons from Punch Newspaper:
A Pragmatics Analysis

Febisola Olowolayemo Bright, M.A.

Abstract

In recent times, the use of cartoons in the newspaper discourse has been a means of presenting the corruption, violence, marginalization and other social vices present in any society. In this vein, this paper assesses the verisimilitude of editorial cartoons in Punch newspaper. To assess the verisimilitude of the selected editorial cartoons and attempt their pragmatic analysis, ten editorial cartoons from the Punch newspaper website: www.punchng.com was analyzed using Grice’s Conversational Implicature as its theoretical framework. The contexts surrounding these cartoons are prevalent issues in the Nigerian society. The analyses reveal that there are cases where by Grice’s Co-operative principles were observed, flouted, violated and suspended. It also reveals that the observance of Grice’s co-operative principles and the knowledge of the contextual factors surrounding the selected editorial cartoons help in proving their verisimilitude. It is believed that this paper will aid further studies in pragmatic analysis of editorial cartoons and make individuals develop more interest in reading and conducting more scholarly works on editorial cartoons.

Keywords: verisimilitude, cartoons, editorial cartoons, caricature, pragmatics, implicature, co-operative principles.

1.0. Background to the Study

In Nigeria, the use of cartoon in the media discourse was established as a vital force within the political struggle to liberate Nigeria from British colonization. Cartoons unveil serious ideas through the use of satire, humor, contrast, surprise and most importantly the use of caricature. In Nigeria, this aim has been achieved as the use of cartoons in Nigerian newspapers has been a means of presenting the social ills and many abnormalities present in the society.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Febisola Olowolayemo Bright, M.A.
College of Education
P.M.B 044
Azare
Bauchi-State
Nigeria
olowolayemofebisola4@gmail.com
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