Mental Spaces and Perceptual Experience in Inciting Speeches by Nigerian Military cum Political Leaders

This study examined selected inciting comments of two Nigerian political leaders; General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd.) and General T.Y. Danjuma (Rtd.) whose speeches at particular occasions caused disaffections amongst Nigerians. The research adopted an eclectic theoretical framework; mental spaces from cognitive linguistics and perceptual experience - an aspect of cognitive psychology to examine how human experiences affect perception and conceptualization of issues. The methodology used was a purposive selection of statements made by these two personalities who enjoy reverence from their supporters. The result of our findings indicates that, given their fame in the society and amongst their supporters, the speakers' utterances understudy and the context, in which they occurred, produced two varied perceptions. The first was from the immediate audience, who are members of the speakers' in-group. To this group of people, the speaker's utterances were meant to lure them to action against other groups perceived as 'enemies', The second perception was realized in the audience who are members of the speaker's out-group - who view the speaker's utterances as inciting statements meant to cause disaffection amongst the larger society. In both cases, the audiences arrived at their respective conclusions using their mental spaces that conjured to them negative assumptions against the others.