A multimodal discourse analysis of COVID-19 posters in Tanzania: the case of the University of Dar es Salaam

Abstract

This article analyses the multimodal discourse in COVID-19 posters at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Kress and Van Leeuwen’s grammar of visual design was used to analyse the data. The findings indicate that representational, interactive and compositional meanings were combined in the creation of the COVID-19 posters. Specifically, representational meanings appeared in the form of participants, processes and circumstances. The interactive meanings were revealed in social contact, social distance, perspective and modality. The compositional meanings were represented in information value, salience and framing. Generally, the integration of various sub-meanings emanating from the major three groups of meanings (representational, interactive and compositional) in the posters provided clear and easy-to-understand information regarding COVID-19 health protocols. Moreover, the combination of both verbal and visual texts in a single poster results in each complementing the other in the provision of information to the viewers.