Flaming In Language Use On Selected Cross Dressers Blog: A Critical Discourse Approach

Abstract

Language and society is symbiotically interrelated in that language defines a society and the society in turn determines the acceptable  use of language by individuals be it spoken or written form which comprise comments on social media network.  Comments from Nigerian Cross-Dressers blog generally is predisposed by individual’s idiosyncratic attitudes, personal biases, myopic point of elevation and general world view. These individualistic tendencies sometimes give rise to language flaming which has proven to be a tool of attack and domination among internet language users.  Using Van Djik’s (1999) Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Dell Hyme’s SPEAKING  acronym model as frame work, the paper carried out a descriptive analysis of 250 comments purposefully selected from the Instagram  platforms of; Denrele Edun, Bobrisky, Jay Boogie and James Brown. Findings showed that the posts made by Denrele Edun, Bobrisky, Jay Boogie and James Brown and the analyzed corresponding comments reflected high tendency of hate speech, trolling, abuse, threat to life, body shaming and insult. The study therefore recommended that metaphorical depiction of unruly dressing, too much makeovers and luxury display should be discouraged among the cross dressers. Also, standard and formal use of Language across the social media should be implemented.