Pragmatics Brainstorm On Solution to Nigeria’s Crises

The President of Pragmatics Association of Nigeria (PrAN), Prof. Akin Odebunmi has urged members of the association to be focused to achieve needed impact on the study of pragmatics for societalimprovement.
Prof Akin Odebunmi, a professor of Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis, University of lbadan, Nigeria, made the statement at the fourth PrAN 2021 International Conference/Workshop organized in Benin city in conjunction with the Department of English and literature, University of Benin with the theme: ‘Pragmatics and Global Conflicts’, said the event is an expression of their sensitivity to global, regional, group and personal crises.
“Today’s event is a tale to tell into the future: a long-scare- pragmeme. Its collective motivation has been its key strength, as an association that has grown bigger than its age; strongly supported by the English Scholars Association of Nigeria, itself a bigger brand and a cynosure of the Nigerian linguistics space.”
” As a group of professionals, we have converged at the University of Benin to brainstorm on how pragmatics tools could be deployed not only to more clearly understand the multi-layer conflicts, but to propose sustainable solutions to them for peaceful living all over the world.”
“As a group, we should remain professionally focused en route to achieving the best impact in the scholarship of pragmatics and giving our local society a dose of the practical relevance of our discipline,” said Prof. Akin.
In her speech, the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Lillian lmuetinyan Salami, thanked the organizers of the programme for bringing the event to Uniben.
Prof. Salami who was also the chief host advised participants to pay keen attention to lectures delivered to enable them gain more knowledge on the subject matter.
“Pragmatics as a field of study cuts across all disciplines because it is where language is used as a means of interaction. It means that, every aspect of life is based on pragmatics since all disciplines use language,” she said.
In his keynote address delivered virtually, Prof. Jonathan Culpeper, from Lancaster University, United Kingdom (UK), spoke on the nature of politeness, patterns of politeness and emotional politeness.
Prof Culpeper disclosed the way we use words especially in a political campaign requires an element of politeness whether intentional or unintentionally. He said word could also be described as hate speech and used the recent statements made by the out-gone American president, Donard Trump as a clear example.
He disclosed that impoliteness is based largely on the intention of one’s comments which often cause crisis in every society.
Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Benin, Prof. Austin Moye, said the end of the conference they will come out with solutions to the problems in Nigeria.
Prof. Moye said pragmatics is open to individuals and all groups to enable them know the appropriate word to use. He thanked the organizers and the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin for her contributions towards the improvement of the university.