Direct quotations in Nigerian investigative public hearings

Abstract

This paper examines the forms, frequency and pragmatic functions of direct quotations in Nigerian investigative public hearings on the Federal Capital Territory administration. The quotations are taken from 40 purposively selected investigative public hearings which are analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively from a discourse-pragmatic approach to quotations as well as from the perspective of metapragmatic act theory. The quotations involve both written and spoken quotations, self- and other-quotations, as well as actual and hypothetical quotations. Direct quotations are used in the hearings by quoters to frame their discourse, support their claims, indicate different stances, depict victimhood, serve as reminders, correct misunderstandings, and model discourse. The forms, distribution and functions of these quotations indicate how speakers in the hearings frame their discourse in order to help hearers interpret their talk appropriately.