The Role of Language and Communication in Conflict Management: How Mali was Saved?


Keyword : Communication, Conflict, Language use, Resolution, Settlement


Author(s) : ODOEMENAM Temple Chibueze; AFUNANYA Peter Nnochirionye, PhD; & ONUH Frank

Abstract :   

Language is considered an indispensable human endowment which is conceptualized as
having a certain unique role in capturing the breadth of human thought and endeavours.
We often express ourselves through language in different ways: verbal (spoken) and
non-verbal (written and gestural). Most times, other people tend to misunderstand our
intention; it could also be that we deliberately use language in a way that offends,
thereby compelling the other person to respond defensively. When this occurs, conflict
usually sets in. Using the Malian coup as a case study, this research aims to establish the
most effective ways language and communication may be utilized to manage and resolve
conflicts. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data which comprises
of utterances made by leaders of different countries and international organisations on
the parley. The findings indicate that conflict is a neutral term that can only be labelled as
negative or positive depending on how the causality is interpreted. The study also found
that the choice of language used by leaders of many countries and organizations played a
key role in restoring peace and curbing the excesses of the Malian coup leader.

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