Pragmatic Acts and Appraisal Choices in Nigerian Online Reader Comments on Climate Change

This paper explores pragmatic acts and appraisal choices in Nigerian online reader comments on climate change. The data comprise 181 comments collected through convenience sampling from Nairaland , a Nigerian online discussion forum. The data are analysed qualitatively using the pragmatic act theory and appraisal framework. The results indicate that online users utilise different kinds of evaluative and intersubjective resources in mocking, supporting, denying, blaming, advising, questioning and warning other readers, among others. The paper concludes that addressers engage their addressees through appraisal resources in order to accomplish their communicative goals in relation to climate change and its impact in Nigeria.