A PRAGMATIC INVESTIGATION OF SELECTED NEWSPAPER EDITORIALS

This paper examined a pragmatic investigation of editorials from three prominent Nigerian newspapers—The Nation, Nigerian Tribune, and The Guardian—published in April, May, and June 2018, focusing on economy, politics/governance, security, education, and corruption. Employing Jacob Mey’s Pragmeme theory (2001), it examines how linguistic resources are contextually deployed to influence societal discourse. The objectives are to identify editorial contexts, analyze linguistic choices, and appraise their pragmatic functions, such as informing, advising, condemning, and praising. Using purposive random sampling, editorials were selected from print editions sourced at Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan. The analysis highlights pragmatic features like Shared Situational Knowledge (SSK), Shared Cultural Knowledge (SCK), and Reference (REF), revealing how language reflects socio-economic and political issues. Findings indicate that editorials use emotional appeals, rhetorical questions, and metaphors to persuade readers while cautiously critiquing government actions. Linguistic choices vary by newspaper due to differing editorial styles and biases, impacting meaning-making. The study underscores the media’s role in shaping public discourse, recommending further research into truth and modality in editorials and urging readers to critically engage with content to ensure responsible communication