A Critical Discourse Analysis of Media and Public Narratives on Domestic Violence: The Case of Osinachi Nwachukwu

Abstract

Domestic Violence is a social phenomenon that has drawn the attention of all of sundry. So many women suffer harsh domestic violence these days. Until her death, Osinachi Nwachukwu suffered severe domestic violence (DV) from her husband. This study attempts a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of media and public narratives on domestic violence Osinachi Nwachukwu experienced that eventually led to her demise. Data are drawn from the internet and subjected to a CDA and content analysis. Leaning on Grice’s Theory of Conversational Implicature (TCI), the study argues that domestic violence has traces to, or arises partly from, the violation of communicative principles, and lack of rational co-operative conversation among partners. The analysis demonstrates that Osinachi’s failure to look at her marriage and the DV she suffered through the lens of CDA, which would have propelled her to quit the abusive marriage and stay alive, led to her untimely death. The study recommends compulsory divorce or separation for women suffering DV or GV in a love union or other contexts if they have sought help from religious organizations, state institutions and non-governmental organisations and the violence persists.