A MULTIMODAL ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS POSTERS IN GHANA

Authors

  • Benjamin Sennie University of Education, Winneba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37301/culingua.v4i1.129

Keywords:

Linguistic Landscape, Multimodality, Semiotic Resource, Religion, Ghana

Abstract

This paper focused on the various roles multimodal posters play in the three major religions in Ghana i.e. Christianity, Islam and Traditional Religion, and also tried to investigate how these multimodal posters influence the lives of the general public. The researcher used primary sources to gather the data. Photographs of religion related posters were taken from church, shrine, mosque etc. premises or roadsides. Using purposive sampling the researcher employed semi-structured interview as the data collection strategy. This study works within the framework of Kress (2011) Multimodal Discourse Analysis theory; thus, it was used to analyze the multimodal posters employed by three religions in Ghana. The study revealed that posters involving multimodal resources specifically depicted the kind of faith or religion, and also performed symbolic functions which relate to persons differently based on their experiences. Again, this paper revealed that multimodal posters served as reinforcers, reminders and source of steadfastness in the faith. The research also showed how these posters influence the lives of the general public, such that symbolic information is shared, and also serve as a marketing tool for the religious denominations.

References

Adami, E., (2017). Multimodality: The Oxford Handbook of Language and Society (452-). Oxford Press

Adedun, A., E., & Hammond, C., (2013). Some analysis of selected billboard advertisements in Nigeria and Ghana. Journal of African Cultures and Languages. 2(1), (82-92)

Africa: prevalence of Christianity by country | Statista

Amoakwah, R., & Mensah, C. E. (2022). The role of multimodal posters in curbing COVID-19 in Ghana. Journal of Linguistics and Foreign Languages, 3(1). Retrieved from https://royalliteglobal.com/ jlfl/article/view/772

Aning, E., (2021). An Analysis of Covid-19 Poster of the Ghana Health Service: A Semiotic Approach. European Journal of English Language and Literature Studies (Vol. 9, No.6, pp.56-67) ISSN: 2055-0146 (Online https://doi.org/10.37745/ejells.2013

Benderbal, H., A., (2017). A multimodal discourse analysis of local election posters in Algeria. (Dissertation, Master’s Degree in languages science) University of Mostaganem, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Department of English

Goldstone, B., P., (2004). The postmodern picture book: A new subgenre. Language Arts, 81(3), 196–204.

Gorter, D. (2006). Introduction: The study of the linguistic landscape as a new approach to multilingualism. Linguistic Landscape: A New Approach to Multilingualism, 3(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781853599170-001

Gyekye, K., (1996). African Cultural Values: An introduction. Sankofa Publishing Company, Accra Ghana.

International Religious Freedom Report for 2018 United States Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

Kress, G. (2003). Literacy in the new media age. London: Routledge.

Kress, G. (2010). Multimodality: Asocial semiotic approach to contemporary communication. London: Routledge.

Kress, G., (16 Nov 2011). Multimodal discourse analysis from: The Routledge Handbook of Discourse Analysis Routledge Retrieved from: https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.4324/9780203809068.ch3

Lamidi, M., T., (2017). Multimodal Code-pairing and Switching of Visual-verbal Texts in Selected Nigerian Stand-up Comedy Performances. Legon Journal of the Humanities (105 - 129)

Lugira, A., M., (2009). African Traditional Religion (3rd ed.) Chelsea House Publishers, New York

Mbiti, J., (1969). African Religions and Philosophy. New York: Praeger.

Mbiti, J., (1975). Introduction to African Religion. Heinemann Educational Books Ltd, London

Nyame, E., K., (2020). Multimodal Strategies in Some Alcohol Advertisements. University of Education, Winneba (Term Paper, unpublished)

Serafini, F. (2009). Understanding visual images in picture books. In J. Evans (Ed.), Talking beyond the page: Reading and responding to contemporary picture books (pp.10–25). London: Routledge.

Meyer, B. (2004). Christianity in Africa: From African Independent to Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches. Annual Review of Anthropology, 33(2004), 447–474. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.anthro.33.070203.143835

Downloads

Published

2023-08-22