CONTEXTUAL THEORY AND ITS RELEVANCE IN CREATING AWARENESS AND COMBATING COVID-19

Abstract

Contextual theory of meaning, is a theory that looks at how language used under contexts aid in the interpretation and assigning of meaning to linguistic items. The concept, COVID-19, an acronym for Corona Virus Disease which came into existence in 2019 and hence the ‘19’ added to it, is a new concept which was coined as a result of the disease that attacked Chinese people in December 31st, 2019 as reported by World Health Organization (WHO). Before now, nobody knew about this ailment but it has become a household name because of its deadly nature. After sometime, pandemic was attached to it and it became COVID-19 Pandemic. We have gone through the first phase, second phase and now, a third phase, which has been described as deadlier. All these terminologies came into use because of context. This work, therefore, looked at the context under which various terminologies found since the advent of COVID-19, to see how relevant they are and how they have aided in reducing the negative effects of this disease. To do this, the researchers purposefully selected ten (10) concepts to check if they are contextually based. Three research questions were formulated which aided in the analyses. After the analyses it was discovered that all the words used and are still being used were contextually based. And as a result of the contexts of use, language users have taken cognizance of these words and are observing all the rules and regulations placed on those conditions that led to the evolution of those concepts. As a result of these observance, the disease has drastically reduced. The researchers therefore concluded that context of language use to a great extent determine the type of language to use and the language used under context reflects what was happening at that time. The researchers make bold to say that COVID-19 Pandemic came to be as a concept because of that disease that started in Wuhan China in the year 2019 and became a pandemic when the death toll drastically increased as a result of context of situation. They concluded that, words mean in context of use and recommended that language users and researchers should always create environments for new words to evolve and thrive.