37.2653, Diss: English; Applied Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, General Linguistics, Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics: Egbah, Andrew Ikpomwosa: "A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language and Power in Nigerian Air Force Settings"

Thu Aug 13 00:05:02 UTC 2026

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-2653. Thu Aug 13 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.2653, Diss: English; Applied Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, General Linguistics, Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics: Egbah, Andrew Ikpomwosa: "A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language and Power in Nigerian Air Force Settings"

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Date: 11-Aug-2026
From: Andrew Ikpomwosa Egbah [ikpomwosa.egbah at uniben.edu]
Subject: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language and Power in Nigerian Air Force Settings

Institution: University of Benin
Program: English and Literature
Degree Date: 2023
Level: PhD

Author: Egbah, Andrew Ikpomwosa

Dissertation Title: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Language and
Power in Nigerian Air Force Settings

Dissertation URL: https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.12630.00329

Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics
                     Discourse Analysis
                     General Linguistics
                     Pragmatics
                     Sociolinguistics

Subject Language(s): English (eng, stan1293)

Dissertation Director(s): Prof Nkiruka Ugwu

Dissertation Abstract:

This work was a critical examination of power and ideology in the
discourse of members of the Nigerian Air Force (henceforth NAF). The
research placed specific focus on how language is used to create,
enforce, and promote power relations between soldiers, as well as
between soldiers and civilians, within selected NAF settings. Data for
the study comprised observations and diary recordings, selected
excerpts of press releases on the war against insurgency, as published
on the verified Facebook page of the NAF and archived print and
electronic media from relevant settings of the NAF Bases. The study
employed the qualitative design and the theoretical framework was
anchored on an integration of concepts from Norman Fairclough’s
three-tiered model of Critical Discourse Analysis and Theo van
Leeuwen’s legitimation approach. The findings showed that there are
significant speech functions (such as commands, instructions, orders,
and requests) and discourse settings (linguistic, social, and
contextual situations) that reflect unequal power dimensions in the
NAF parade settings. Also, the study demonstrated that military power
is enhanced by discursive strategies embedded in Nigerian Air Force
Cadences and their communicative goals such as depicting their
dominance over the enemy, retelling military folklore, and promoting
patriotism. Furthermore, the research revealed that the NAF
authorities use language as a tool of diplomacy and (de)legitimation
when communicating military policies in a positive image to the
general public. Finally, the findings unveiled language as a vital
tool for the legitimation of ideologies and soldier-civilian’ power
relations inherent in the Nigerian Air Force Press Releases on the war
against counterinsurgency; with these Facebook Press releases serving
as psychological implements for legitimising military polices and
delegitimizing the achievements of insurgent groups in the war of
counterinsurgency.

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