EKWE JONAL

This study investigated silence as a form of communication in the Nigerian social context. The aim is to examine its meanings, functions, and sociocultural interpretations across different social settings. While traditional communication studies have largely prioritized spoken language, this study foregrounded silence as a meaningful and strategic communicative resource within Nigerian society. Anchored on Speech Act theory, the study adopted a descriptive survey design complemented by qualitative insights. The population of the study comprised 600 individuals drawn from diverse Nigerian social contexts, from which a sample size of 300 respondents was selected using multistage sampling techniques. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed to enrich interpretation. Findings revealed that silence in Nigerian social interaction performs multiple communicative functions, including expressing respect, managing emotions, maintaining social harmony, signaling agreement or disagreement, and subtly negotiating power relations. The study further showed that the use and interpretation of silence are significantly influenced by sociocultural factors like age, gender, cultural norms, and power structures. Silence was also found to function as a deliberate communicative strategy, particularly in conflict management and contexts where direct verbal expression may be socially constrained. The study concludes that silence is not a communicative deficiency but a culturally embedded and purposeful form of communication in Nigerian society. The study contributes to Nigerian sociolinguistics and communication studies and underscores the need for culturally sensitive interpretations of communicative behavior in educational, institutional, and interpersonal contexts.

Open Full Text (PDF)