NO GREE FOR ANYBODY: A MULTIMODAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS APPROACH

The coinage of new words, phrases, and clauses into language can influence societal harmony or disharmony and, by extension, affect various aspects of life. The use of neologisms depends largely on their contextual appropriateness. In many societies, such expressions are consciously or unconsciously adopted into daily interactions, gaining both relevance and resonance. A notable example is No gree for anybody, which emerged in Nigeria’s linguistic landscape in January 2024. Though its origin remains unclear, as is often the case with many neologisms, the phrase has rapidly become a mantra with significant influence across both formal and informal settings. Its inherent ambiguity, however, opens it to varied interpretations, particularly among the youth, and may foster misunderstanding or conflict if misapplied. This study explores how the coinage can be interpreted in ways that promote peaceful coexistence and civic awareness. A qualitative method was employed, with five online images displaying the mantra randomly selected from the internet. The analysis drew on Tannen’s Conversational Style Theory alongside content analysis. Findings indicate that when interpreted negatively, No gree for anybody has the potential to undermine societal cohesion by encouraging defiance and disregard for dialogue. Even so, rather than discarding the phrase entirely, the study suggests that emphasis should be placed on understanding its underlying intent. By doing so, individuals are better positioned to make informed decisions on whether to adopt or reject the expression. This research contributes to discourse analysis by showing how linguistic trends shape communication and social interaction, especially in multilingual and multicultural societies.