Vituperative and Incendiary Language in Public Space a Ghanaian Social Concern

Abstract

This paper projects the phenomenon of outbursts, insults, inflammatory and foul-language use in the public space and its implications on the moral fabric of the Ghanaian society. The objective is to sensitize the public of this negative development in the hope to encourage the use of decent language in the public space. It gives a background to the use of language in society as a normative practice in all societies and the legal implications of language use in public space in modern society. Furthermore, it throws light on the theory of ethical language, focusing on four approaches that facilitate understanding and meaning of ethical sentences. The use of language in the public space has been reviewed referencing existing literature and various case studies in different locations in contemporary times as a background to the paper. Methodological issues factored purposefully sampled views of two-hundred and nineteen respondents drawn from university campuses and the general public, in Kumasi and Accra. Research design essentialized mixed methods, integrating the explorative, qualitative and interpretive tools. Views were elicited through the tool of a survey questionnaire supported by field and library data. Data display, reduction, mapping and verified conclusion served as indices of analysis. Findings include the general awareness of worsening foul language use with incendiary and vituperative undertones in the Ghanaian public space and unanimity in the call for multisectoral and synergistic effort to salvage the situation as a matter of urgency. Keywords: Vituperative, Incendiary, Incivility.