A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF SOME SELECTED NOTICES IN GOMBE STATE UNIVERSITY

The need for effective communication cannot be ignored. Effective communication is important in our day to day activities. As common and effortless as it seems, using language effectively may be difficult. Language users may sometimes mean more than they say. It is on this premise that the study examined language use in notices as text. The study examined text and context as pragmatic concepts that involve language use and communication. Using Grice's maxims of communication, it examined how the observance or non-observance of these principles affect the functionality of notices. The study adopted the primary and secondary methods of data collection to gather data for its analysis. A total of sixteen notices were analyzed from different units, departments and faculties of Gombe State University. The notices were analyzed against the backdrop of Grice's communicative and cooperative principles as theoretical frameworks using a descriptive method of data analysis. From the analysis, it was discovered that the meaning of a notice is tied to the meanings of the words used and that language use determines the functionality of a notice in the context in which it is used, Base on the conclusion and recommendations that The study has examined the role of notices in communication within the university environment, focusing on how language use and discourse patterns influence the effectiveness of these notices. It was observed that while notices serve as vital tools for information dissemination, their effectiveness depends on clarity, coherence, and adherence to linguistic principles such as Grice’s maxims of communication, there for recommendations Gombe State University should establish a dedicated unit responsible for vetting all notices before they are pasted around the campus and also The university should educate students and staff on effective communication strategies, including the application of Grice’s maxims, to improve the quality of notices.