Pragma-multimodal functions of Covid-19 memes in Nigerian context

Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) is a scourge whose impact has been felt across the world. Since its emergence in the global space, scholars and researchers have started examining it from different perspectives. This study is a linguistic approach to the discourse of Covid-19. In particular, the study investigates the pragma-multimodal functions of memes created and shared by Nigerians on different social media platforms in reaction to the pandemic. Data comprised ten memes sampled from the numerous memes initially gathered. Data were subjected to pragmatic and multimodal analyses, with reference to Mey’s (2001) pragmatic act theory and Kress’ (2010) multimodality. Findings reveal texts and images in the memes combine with prevailing socio-political and religious context to evoke the practs of warning, admonition, information, mockery, criticism, condemnation, rebuke, labeling, accusation and sermonisation in the Nigerian context