Nigeria faces crisis of meaning, language manipulation – UNN don, Agbedo
Professor Agbedo delivered the University of Nigeria, Nsukka’s 255th inaugural lecture on Wednesday, focusing on the theme “WordMatters: Sociolinguistic Calculus as Praxis for Interrogating Linguistic Banditry and Banditisation of Nigeria.” The lecture took place at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium and Theatre and drew a significant audience, including university management, academic and non-teaching staff, students, government officials, traditional leaders, and other notable figures.
During his presentation, Agbedo introduced the concept of Sociolinguistic Calculus (SLC), an analytical framework aimed at exploring how meanings shift across different contexts. He detailed how language can serve specific interests and how patterns of linguistic manipulation become normalized within society.
Agbedo differentiated between two key concepts: linguistic banditry, described as the intentional distortion of meaning to mislead and further particular interests, and banditisation, which entails the widespread acceptance and institutionalization of such practices. He provided examples from political discourse, illustrating how influential figures can manipulate language to shift responsibility, obscure failures, and justify contentious actions.
In addition to SLC, Agbedo presented other theoretical frameworks, including the Sociolinguistic Liberation Thesis, Universal Appropriation Grammar (UAG), and Governance Optimality Theory (GOT). He argued that governance outcomes may suffer when institutional constraints and competing interests prioritize narrow political aims over the greater public interest.
To address these challenges, Agbedo proposed the Remedial Sociolinguistic Calculus (RSLC) as a strategy for restoring clarity in meaning and reclaiming linguistic agency. He also introduced the Krisagbedo Linguistic Engine (KLiEN), a multilingual, artificial intelligence-enabled platform designed to recognize, analyze, and clarify instances of linguistic manipulation. This tool aims to empower citizens to critically evaluate public claims without imposing censorship or undermining individual judgment.
Furthermore, he discussed Visual Pragmatics, a developing field that examines how visual elements—such as images, cartoons, and memes—convey meaning, ideology, and power dynamics. Agbedo emphasized the potential for corrupted meanings to undermine institutions, pointing out that constitutions can exist without true constitutionalism, elections without democracy, and courts without justice when the integrity of language and institutional purpose is compromised.
The event was preceded by remarks from the University of Nigeria Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, who was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Kamoru Usman. Usman highlighted the inaugural lecture as a vital academic tradition, providing a platform for scholars to present their research, share knowledge, and engage in meaningful discourse on pressing societal issues.
