The Journal of Communication is a scholarly publication that covers various topics and issues in communication studies. It is hosted by CARI Journals and has an ISSN, a DOI, and several indexes. It is a peer-reviewed, global, and open access journal that follows the highest standards of academic integrity and quality. It publishes articles monthly and provides certificates and hardcopy prints to the authors. It also offers many benefits for authors, such as fast and rigorous peer review, low publication fees, wide dissemination and accessibility, high citation potential, and professional editorial support.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Professional Self-Representation in English Job Application Letters: Communication Challenges among EFL Students at the University of Kisangani
Purpose: This research investigates professional self-representation within English job application letters authored by EFL students at the University of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. It identifies critical communication hurdles that impede the construction of credible professional identities and effective formal correspondence in a multilingual academic setting. Methodology: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach—combining qualitative discourse analysis with quantitative descriptive metrics—the study evaluates a corpus of letters produced by students in the Department of Letters and English Civilizations. The analysis focuses on discourse organization, persuasive strategies, professional tone, and the deployment of politeness conventions. Findings: Findings indicate that students face persistent challenges in producing persuasive and coherent correspondence. Primary deficiencies include weak argumentative structures, ineffective self-presentation techniques, and a lack of mastery over professional etiquette and formality. Crucially, the data reveals that grammatical proficiency alone does not guarantee professional communicative effectiveness, as deficiencies remained observable even among advanced students. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study highlights the necessity of shifting pedagogical focus from decontextualized grammar to genre-based professional writing. It advocates for curricula centered on authentic workplace discourse and strategic self-representation to better align student skills with the demands of the global labor market.
Copyright (c) 2026 John Mbula Nyangonda, Dimanche Lingoso Lifengo, Arthur Cimwanga Bandibanga Shambuyi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Street Communication: Documentation of Two Graffiti Artists and their Works in Akropong Akuapem
Purpose: The study documents the works of two graffiti artists in Akropong Akuapem, Ghana, and how their artworks communicate. It explores how their creative practices reflect cultural identity, social commentary, and youth empowerment. Methodology: A qualitative case study design was used. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and photographic documentation. Thematic and visual analyses guided the interpretation of findings. Findings: Results show that the two artists come from different personal and educational backgrounds but share similar motivations. They use graffiti to preserve cultural heritage, promote youth development, and spark conversations on social and political issues. Their works incorporate Akan symbols, traditional proverbs, and festival imagery. At the same time, they blend these with contemporary influences such as music culture, digital design, and Afro-futuristic aesthetics. The graffiti pieces function as cultural archives, educational tools, and platforms for dialogue. The study also reveals challenges. These include limited access to resources, lack of institutional support, high material costs, and persistent public misconceptions about graffiti. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study concluded that graffiti in Akropong is more than decoration. It has contributed to education, cultural preservation, and social transformation. Through the theory of symbolic interactionism, the study added a formal recognition of graffiti, provision of resources, mentorship for young artists, and community initiatives to strengthen its developmental and tourism value.
Copyright (c) 2026 Isaac Horsu, Samuel Manasseh Yirenkyi, Obeng Kelvin Kwabi Osae https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Pronouns as Political Instruments: Constructing Self and Other in Ghanaian Political Discourse
Purpose: This study examines the pragmatic and ideological functions of personal pronouns in Ghanaian political discourse. Specifically, it investigates how political actors strategically deploy pronouns such as I, we, you, they, and he to construct political identities, mobilize audiences, and delineate ideological boundaries within Ghana’s competitive democratic environment. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative pragmatic discourse analysis of political speech excerpts reported in major Ghanaian online news platforms, including GhanaWeb, JoyOnline, and CitiNewsroom. Drawing on an integrated analytical framework combining pragmatics, critical discourse analysis (CDA), and communication theory, the analysis examines how pronouns function as indexical and relational resources within mediated political communication. Findings: The findings reveal that personal pronouns operate as multifunctional communicative resources in Ghanaian political rhetoric. The pronoun we constructs flexible collective identities that shift between partisan and national frames, while I foregrounds leadership ethos, accountability, and moral authority. The pronoun you positions citizens as active participants in national development and democratic responsibility. In contrast, they and he function as ideological boundary markers that construct political opponents as adversaries and personalize political blame. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study contributes theoretically by conceptualizing pronouns as semiotic infrastructures that sustain political narratives and ideological positioning in African democratic discourse. Methodologically, it demonstrates the value of micro-pragmatic analysis for understanding mediated political speech. Practically, the study highlights how pronoun use shapes public perception and political legitimacy, suggesting the need for greater awareness of linguistic framing in democratic communication. Future research should incorporate multilingual political discourse, corpus-based approaches, and audience reception studies to deepen understanding of how pronominal strategies influence political interpretation and civic engagement.
Copyright (c) 2026 Richard Ayertey Lawer, Yvette Djabakie Asamoah, Priscilla Ama Dati https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0