Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 210 Online version available in : http://arbitrer.fib.unand.ac.id | 2339-1162 (Print) | 2550-1011 (Online) | JURNAL ARBITRER Submission Track A B S T R A C T Received: August 13, 2023 Final Revision: September 18, 2023 Accepted: September 19, 2023 Available Online: October 5, 2023 This paper explores some cohesive devices namely reference, repetition, and collocation on Phoenix messages by internet users worldwide in reaction to the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. 400 e-messages on Phoenix platform were collected from 175 informants. Each participant provided at most three e-messages. The study examines the types of cohesive devices and the extent to which they are used in the various conversations of the texters. Insights were drawn from Halliday and Hassan (1976) who laid down the foundation of cohesion theory in English. They identified two different types of cohesive devices namely grammatical and lexical cohesion. The grammatical type is made up of reference, conjunction, substitution, and ellipsis; while lexical one comprises reiteration and collocation. Facts from the analysis of the data revealed that reference was the dominant cohesive devices. More precisely, the demonstrative pronouns (28.57%) are the most used referential items. it is seconded by possessive pronouns (23.42%) and the least employed devices is personal pronouns (20.57%). The results also indicated the use of repetition and collocation in messages of the participants. The most repeated word is Queen while the least reduplicated one is slave/slavery. Items of collocation are used at varying frequencies. Keywords collocation, reference, repetition, Phoenix, texters Correspondence E-mail: nouhoupeniel@gmail.com Article An Analysis of Cohesive Devices on Phoenix Posts About The Death of Queen Elizabeth II Peniel Zaazra Nouhou1, Ngonjo Victor Fuh2 1,2Department of English Language and Literature Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences, University of Maroua, Maroua, Cameroon Under License of Creative Commons Attributioni-Non Commercial 4.0 International.DOI: https://doi.org/10.25077/ar.10.3.210-220.2023 I. INTRODUCTION The advent of social media platforms (Gong, Zhang, Zhao, & Jiang, 2017; Kane, Alavi, Labianca, & Borgatti, 2014; Kitsios Mitsopoulou, Moustaka, & Kamariotou 2022; Obembe, Kolade, Obembe, Owoseni, & Mafimisebi 2021; Grover, Kar & Dwivedi, 2022) such as WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and browsers such Phoenix have eased the way people communicate nowadays. Such social media platforms have become instruments through which the voices of people no matter their social background and levels of education in our societies are heard. One can now writer to kings, Queens, Presidents and any other authorities without any fear of intimidation. Nowadays, the real notion of freedom of expression is brought in thanks to social media where it is easy to express an opinion, comment and as well as easy to share links and to post like to a given stretch of discussion. This enables people to give their stand for or against economic, social and most especially political issues. This is exactly what happened from September 8th to 19th, 2022 when people from all walks of life around the world went on social media to express their ideas, thoughts, opinions or views about the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. This has led to a plethora of e-massages posted on Phoenix browser that the researchers collected for this research. These messages can be disjointed and incoherent due to the lack of cohesive ties. This is what prompted the researchers to carry out this research on cohesive devices on Phoenix messages about the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. More specifically, they would like to examine the type and frequencies of cohesive devices, and to look at how the cohesive devices used add to the coherence of interactional digital communication. Halliday Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 211 and Hasan’s (1976) theory of cohesion is at the basis of this work. It posits that cohesion refers to grammatical and lexicosemantic items that hold the text together as a unit. While grammatical items (conjunction, reference, substitution, and ellipsis) deal with the linkage and the unity of a text, lexical devices are concerned with meaning. This implies that lexical items are built from vocabulary. In order to make a sentence cohesive, writers use connectors or cohesive. Therefore, a text is cohesive if, as a whole, the sentences and spoken utterances are semantically linked and consistent (Emilia, 2014, p. 92). As explained at the outset, cohesion is the relationship between the texts with meaning. Cohesion occurs where the interpretation of some element in the discourse is dependent on that of another. The one presupposes the other, in the sense that it cannot be effectively decoded except by resource to it. When this happens, a relation of cohesion is set up, and the two elements, the presupposed are thus at least potentially integrated into a text (Halliday & Hasan, 1976, p.4) There are many cohesive devices (conjunction, substitution, ellipsis, reference, reiteration and collocation) that play an important role in building the text and make it cohesive and coherent. As such, this work deals with some of these items namely reference, repetition, and collocation because they are found in the interactional digital communication by the texters. Reference is one in which the relationship of reference is taken to hold between expressions in a text and entities in the world, and that of co- reference between expressions in different parts of text (Brown & Yule, 1983, p. 204). This implies that the interpretation of an item depends on the other one (Halliday & Hasan 1976, p. 145). It relates and tracks the identity of participants through text (Emilia, 2014, P. 95). For instance: My relationship with the Queen was perfect, she was a great woman, who had shown great example in human relationships. She carried herself so graciously, so dignified. She was somebody I have tremendous respect for. […] The pronoun she in the digital communication refers to the Queen and for that reason, Halliday and Hasan (1976, p. 63) have a special term for such reference as textual reference (endophoric which can be anaphoric or cataphoric) compared to situational reference (exophoric reference). The textual reference can be anaphoric (to preceding text) or cataphoric (to following text). Reference in the text is important because it traces the identity of the interactants. Repetition is one of the lexical cohesive items that is realised through the use of the same word in a sentence or in a thread of conversation. According to Halliday and Hasan (1976), it is reoccurrence of the same word or lexical item that has a similar meaning with another one. Collocation is expressed through the use of lexical items (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Collocation is realised through the use of words that co-occur or collocate in a given situation of conversation. This is because some words or expressions have the power to appear in the same surrounding or environment that other words can. It could be said that collocation has greater implication in the building of the cohesiveness of a text or a discourse. There has been no studies or literatures on cohesive devices on the death of Queen Elizabeth II. For this reason, the researchers reviewed some recent works on cohesion and coherence off/online studies. Most recently, researchers paid much attention to the use of cohesion and coherence in essays (Magogwe, Mokibelo & Karabo, 2023; Ryan, 2023; Siregar, Nurlela & Thyrhaya Zein, 2023) with the objectives to investigate the type of cohesive devices used; to examine coherence problems in students’ essays; to explore how free online machine translation can impact the writing quality of ESL students’. They used different theories and methods and come out with convergent and divergent findings. For instance, Magogwe, Mokibelo and Karabo (2023) studied cohesion and coherence in students’ in order to investigate the type of cohesive devices used, to identify problems of cohesion, to examine the coherence problems, and to identify other writing problems in the students’ essays. Their findings showed that conjunctions and reference were used more frequently than substitution, collocation and ellipsis. Furthermore, Ryan’s (2023) investigation on coherence and cohesion in an ESL academic writing revealed that FOMT can assist students with improving their text quality in terms of coherence and cohesion. More so, Siregar, Nurlela and Thyrhaya Zein (2023) analysis of cohesive devices in EFL students’ essay showed that reference (59%) was the predominant grammatical cohesive device compared to other types and ellipsis (0.3%) Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 212 was the least employed item. Moreover, repetition was the most used lexical device (89%) equated to hyponyms (0.3%), in their essay. In another study, Al Khotaba (2022) examined cohesion and coherence in argumentative writing by EFL students where the results showed that students encountered cohesion and coherence problems in achieving written texts’ unity, particularly in assigning their concepts and implementing appropriate cohesive signals, punctuation, and spelling issues. The role of cohesive items in creating coherence in EFL students’ writing was of an interest to some researchers (Alsariera & Yunus, 2021; Zahara, Yusuf, Samad, & Singh, 2023). Alsariera and Yunus (2021) analysed 20 written pieces and found that lexical bonds held relations between sentences in writing. Similarly, Zahara, Yusuf, Samad and Singh’s (2023) investigation indicated that all the types of grammatical and lexical cohesive devices appeared in the students’ writings. Reference was rated the most employed item, seconded by conjunction, while substitution was used the least. In another recent study, Nouhou (2020), Tabe and Nouhou (2021) used WhatsApp and Messenger messages to examine the extent to which some Cameroonians use cohesive devices and textual coherence in the online write-ups. Their findings revealed that demonstrative pronouns were the most used pro-forms in the Cameroonian online conversations. In addition, some elements of comparative reference have been found in some Cameroonians online written productions. Prior to Nouhou (2020), Tabe and Nouhou (2021), Muttaqien, Ma’ruf and Hardjanto’s (2019) research on substitution in Indonesia Facebook conversations group indicated that ellipsis is mostly employed in some cases because there are many incomplete messages or texts in the threads of discussion of participants on social media as a result of the use of ellipsis. This work set out to examine the type and frequencies of cohesive devices on Phoenix posts on the demise of Queen Elizabeth II. It also looks at how the cohesive devices used add to the coherence of interactional digital communication. II. METHOD This work uses descriptive qualitative design. This is because, the focus is on messages copied on Phoenix browser after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. A total of 400 e-messages from 175 people around the world and from all walks of life were collected on Phoenix from September 8 to19, 2022. Each participant provided at most three e-messages. We spent 10-15 minutes each day to down load the messages people were posting on Phoenix. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used to analyse the data. This enables the presentation, the description and interpretation in statistical tables. It is worth noting that errors in the corpus are not from these researchers. They are from the texters. III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION As a reminder, this work set out to explore the types and frequencies of cohesive devices on Phoenix posts about the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It also looks at how the cohesive devices used add to the coherence of interactional digital communication. The analysis of the data revealed the use of referential items, repetition and collocation. 1. Reference The following items are taken into consideration in the analysis below. Personal Pronouns The referential items that have been considered among the personal pronouns are he, she, and it as illustrated in table 1. Table 1: Personal pronouns Personal Pronouns She 21 12.00% It 11 06.28% He 04 02.28% Total 36 20.57% The qualitative and quantitative analysis on table 1 show that the personal pronoun she (12%) is the most dominant referential item used on Phoenix messages by texters. This is seconded by it (6.28%) which is simply used for the substitution of a proper noun or person. The least employed item is he (02.28%). This could be due to the fact that the subject matter is more centered on Queen Elizabeth II, and the rare use of he is to make reference to Prince Harry. Examples of some uttered devices are found in the participants’ threads of discussions below: She She was a devil. (Phoenix 90, Sep 11, 2022). […] She played that kind of soft power diplomacy in helping our position on the ant-apartheid struggle. She presided Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 213 obviously over Britain, but she presided over the period that started with the cold war. […] (Phoenix 40, Sep 10, 2022). Which wan be quietly supported… oga you just wan praise the dead, u no get talk. When dey say African leaders no get sense, na your type. […] In actual sense she’s actively involved in apartheid because of the land and gold mines they grabbed from South Africans. (Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022.) She in Phoenix 90, Sep 11, 2022 discusses the Queen. This pronoun is used to show who she was (a devil). Moreover, she played that kind of soft power diplomacy in helping our position on the ant-apartheid struggle (Phoenix 40, Sep 10, 2022). Similarly, the Queen is actively involved in apartheid because of the land and gold mines they grabbed from South Africans (Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022). It The good or bad we do will come knocking with rewards, my advice to king Charles is to look back to the evils perpetrated by his people against Nigeria in particular and address it. (Phoenix 70, Sep 11, 2022.). “Queen Elizabeth II quietly supported Africa to end apartheid against the stance of the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. […] It’s a pity that the Queen died at the time when that world order had gone to pieces and we are approaching a new world order whose parameters are in a state of flux.” (Phoenix 40, Sep 10, 2022.) It in Phoenix 70, Sep 11, 2022 denotes the evils that were committed by the British royal family during the reign of the late Queen. Charles who is replacing the late monarch as king is advised to look back at the harms perpetrated by his people against Nigeria in particular and address them. He What exactly is prof Bolaji making at? Times has come when our leaders must keep mum than to dance away in irrelevance. […] If Prince Harry can look at the British monarchy and asked them to hands off on Africa if not he is stepping inside from his royal position and his about to release his documentary on this.( Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022.). My Grand father General Nyaga died with a bullet wound in his right leg, after years of limping and suffering, all because he said no to whites grabbing his land and torturing his people May Queen Elizabeth II rot in hell. […]. (Phoenix 10, Sep 9, 2022.). […] Each time the President of the Republic came, he was immediately received by the Queen, and they shared cordial relations.”“It is in memory of all that, that the Head of State sent me here to represent him” the Prime Minister stated. (Phoenix 390, Sep 19, 2022.) He in Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022 refers to Prince Harry. He is advised to ask the British monarchy to take their hands-off Africa if not a documentary will be released about him. Furthermore, he in Phoenix 10, Sep 9, 2022 denotes General Nyaga who is just a victim from the Queen’s deeds. Similarly, he in Phoenix 390, Sep 19, 2022 mentions Paul Biya who had a cordial relationship with the late Queen. In fact, each time Paul Biya came, he was immediately received by the Queen. One should understand that the proform he in Phoenix 10, Sep 9, 2022 and Phoenix 390, Sep 19, 2022 which refers respectively to General Nyaga and Paul Biya is an exophoric reference. This is because they are in the context of the situation. It could be concluded that the use of proforms she, it and he by the participants helped to substitute and avoid the repetition of some nouns; therefore, building the cohesiveness of the digital discourse. Possessive pronouns Possessive pronouns are parts of grammatical cohesive device as identified by Halliday and Hasan (1976). Some that are found in the threads of conversational messages by the texters includes his, her, and their. They are classified in table 2 in accordance to their different frequencies. Table 2: Frequencies and percentages of possessive pronouns in the informants’ thread of discussions Possessive Pronouns Her 23 13.14% His 12 06.85% Their 06 03.42% Total 41 23.42% Facts from table 2 show that the possessive her scored the highest frequency (23) which amounted to 13.14%. It is followed by his (12) which stood at 06.85% and their (06) recorded the least percentage (03.42%) of use. The fact that the possessive her has the highest percentage could be explained by the fact that most of the texters were referring to the Queen in their interactional digital conversations. This is illustrated in some stretches below: Her […] Were you expecting her to seat with her own people? That’s simply mind game to make you feel she’s not the one killing us. […]. (Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022.). […] The Queen and her family Duped, Killed, Frustrated and Reduced Africa to where it is. No Gamble (Phoenix 100, Sep 11, 2022.). […]. The former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of External Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 214 Affairs(NIIA) said on Arise Television’s Morning Show that despite the fact that the Queen did not have much political power, she put Margaret Thatcher in her place during the struggle to end apartheid. […] The countries of the West Indies were with the African countries, but Margaret Thatcher stood her ground. The Queen stood by her action to ensure that African Presidents were seated close to her at state dinners to show that she was on their side and Margaret Thatcher had to tone down her body language to what we were demanding.” (Phoenix 40, Sep 10, 2022) Her in Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022 discusses the Queen who is accused of pretending to be supporting African leaders in the fight against apartheid whereas she was actively involved in it because of the land and gold mines they grabbed from South Africans (Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022). More to this, the Queen and her family Duped, Killed, Frustrated and Reduced Africa to where it is. No Gamble (Phoenix 100, Sep 11, 2022). His […] If Prince Harry can look at the British monarchy and asked them to hands off on Africa if not he is stepping inside from his royal position and his about to release his documentary on this. (Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022). My Grand father General Nyaga died with a bullet wound in his right leg, after years of limping and suffering, all because he said no to whites grabbing his land and torturing his people May Queen Elizabeth II rot in hell. I stand with Malema on this. Prince Harry is not diff. (Phoenix 10, Sep 9, 2022.). The pronoun his in Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022 speaks of Prince Harry who is told to ask the British monarchy to take off their hands in Africa, if not a documentary will be released on this. On the other hand, his in Phoenix 10, Sep 9, 2022 denotes General Nyaga who was killed because he protested against the white men’ exploitation of his land. His as a pronoun is used to show some of the crimes committed in Africa by the British during the reign of the late Queen. Their […] Using public funds from one airport to another speaking British English to impress and help the media to sell their papers is all what we what? Freckling freaking for u is that what’s it takes (Phoenix 110, Sep 11, 2022.). […] Many of these guys never left their villages. They just believe stories that are not verified and passed such on just the way they believe Putinnis fighting a just cause. (Phoenix 115, Sep 11, 2022.). People with conscience look back at their actions or inactions and make drastic positive changes for the good of the future […] (Phoenix 120, Sep 11, 2022.). Their in Phoenix 110, Sep 11, 2022 denotes African diplomats who put on bowties, crossing belts in suits on well-oiled afro to attract people. They use public funds from one airport to another speaking British English to impress and help the media to sell their papers. Furthermore, their is also used to show that people with conscience look back at their actions or inactions and make drastic positive changes for the good of the future but this was not the case with the Queen. In addition, all her years as Queen of the United Kingdom, she never saw anything wrong with violent entrance into Africa and eventual colonisation, slave trade, carting away of diamonds, other valuables, and worse still the genocide of Igbos in Nigeria between 1967-1970. Phoenix 120, Sep 11, 2022. The use of possessive pronouns her, his, and their on phoenix by the informants to make endophoric reference assisted in avoiding the repetition of some items. Objective pronouns Objective pronouns are not left out in the classification of grammatical cohesive devices as elaborated by the pioneers of the theory. They advocated that they help in making reference to items within the context of text or discussion. Below are some of these ties found in the participants’ online write-ups. Table 3: Objective Pronouns Objective Pronouns Her 12 06.85% Him 03 01.71% Them 02 01.14% Total 17 09.71% Statistics from table 3 displays that the objective pronouns were employed at varying frequencies. For instance, the use of her amounted to (06.85%) while him raised to (01.71%); and them stood at (01.14%). These items are exemplified in the stretches of conversational messages below. Her Eternal Rest grant unto HM Queen Elizabeth Oh Lord and let your perpetual light shine upon her. Amen (Phoenix 125, Sep 11, 2022). […] “We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very period in this country and Africa’s history.” […] (Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022). In his condolence message to the British Royal Family on Friday, President Vladimir Putin praised the queen’s “love” and “authority” regarding her subjects. (Phoenix 265, Sep 13, 2022). Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 215 Her in Phoenix 125, Sep 11, 2022 refers to the late queen. The writer of this text states that eternal rest be granted unto Queen Elizabeth. He/ she also calls on God to make his perpetual light to shine on her. Her in Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022 is used to explain the crimes committed during Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as head of the British Empire. More so, her is also used to explain why her death cannot be mourned by some Africans. For example, “We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very period in this country and Africa’s history.” Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022. On the other hand, her is used to show the love and authority the queen had regarding her subjects. Him “I am here because the Head of State Paul Biya had extremely intense relations with Queen Elizabeth II, who received him here in London two times. […] “It is in memory of all that, that the Head of State sent me here to represent him” the Prime Minister stated. Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral: Prime Minister explains why Paul Biya sent him. (Phoenix 390, Sep 19, 2022.). Him in Phoenix 390, Sep 19, 2022 makes reference to President Paul Biya of Cameroon and the intense relationship he had with the late Queen such that each time he came, he was immediately received by the Queen, and they shared cordial relations. It should be understood that the referent of the item him is an exophoric reference. Them why quietly support the truth and what is right? look at the billions upon billions of dollars the US is giving to Ukraine now against Russia…if is an African country undergoing invasion would they give the same support? […] is it not mostly the US and UK? and they know that they are stolen yet they accept them. hypocricy of the west. never wanting development for others except 4 themselves. thieves (Phoenix 135, Sep 11, 2022). What exactly is prof Bolaji making at? Times has come when our leaders must keep mum than to dance away in irrelevance. […] If Prince Harry can look at the British monarchy and asked them to hands off on Africa if not he is stepping inside from his royal position and his about to release his documentary on this. (Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022) Them in Phoenix 135, Sep 11, 2022 refers to the stolen wealth of Africa by African leaders. The stolen wealth is kept in the US and the UK and leaders of these nations are aware of it but they can never say they do not need this ill-gotten wealth. That is the hypocrisy of the western world. On the other hand, them in Phoenix 135, Sep 11, 2022 speaks of the British monarchy. Prince Harry is advised to tell the monarchy to stay off Africa. The use of proforms her, him and them by the participants is to avoid the repetition of some nouns therefore building the cohesiveness of the digital communication. Demonstrative pronouns Demonstrative pronouns display the function of grammatical cohesive devices. They help to establish the link between semantic items therefore building cohesive texts. Table 4: Demonstrative pronouns Demonstrative Pronouns That 37 21.14% This 07 04.00% Those 05 02.85% These 01 00.57% Total 50 28.57% It is clear from table 4 that both the singular and plural forms of demonstrative pronouns have been employed by the texters in their interactional digital text during the post period of late Queen Elizabeth II to talk about things that are either related to her death or to things she did when she was alive. Incidences show that the demonstrative that (21.14%) which is also an indexical recorded the highest frequency. This means that the informants pointed at her so much in their e-discourse. Some of these items such as this (04.00%), those (02.85%), and these (00.57%) have been used at varying frequencies. Their use is illustrated in some of the conversational messages below. That That woman was secret terrorist (Phoenix 150, Sep 11, 2022.). Kudos to you Proffessor, you have had the courage to make a public statement that has drank some vicious backlash…But your truth…being there is what we will take and chew on.. not vicious bombastic hot air of wanna bees who lack the true knowledge of being there and having done that..big up to you (Phoenix 155, Sep 11, 2022.). That Queen you are moaning headed the royal family for 70 years, A family that stole our land, killed, maimed and castrated our people. […] (Phoenix 20, Sep 9, 2022.) That in Phoenix 150, Sep 11, 2022 represent the Queen. Furthermore, there is nothing to celebrate about Britain and what the country represents. This is so because Nigerians are in a terrible state of the country where the blind lead those who see because Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 216 believe stories that are not verified and passed such on just the way they believe Putinnis fighting a just cause. (Phoenix 160, Sep 11, 2022). The use of demonstratives helps to point at some realities which sparked diverse opinions about Queen Elizabeth II. She was an angel to some and a devil to majority of the people. Apart from the above cohesive devices, there has been the use of repetition and collocation in the informants’ threads of discussions. 2. Repetition Queen (35) People with conscience look back at their actions or inactions and make drastic positive changes for the good of the future, Queen all her years never saw anything wrong with violent entrance into Africa and eventual colonization, slave trade, carting away of diamonds, other valuables, and worse still the genocide of Igbos in Nigeria between 1967-170 (Phoenix 120, Sep 11, 2022). Always leave a good legacy is a wise counsel. The queen is deed now, hope Charles will not be worse (Phoenix 170, Sep 11, 2022). That Queen you are moaning headed the royal family for 70 years, A family that stole our land, killed, maimed and castrated our people […] (Phoenix 20, Sep 9, 2022) The repetitive use of the word Queen in these stretches of discourse is to draw the attention of the public on the thing being talked about. The repetition is to show what the Queen did when she was alive. For example, the Queen did not see anything wrong with the violent entrance into Africa and eventual colonisation, slave trade, carting away of diamonds, other valuables, and worse still the genocide of Igbos in Nigeria between 1967-1970. Furthermore, she headed a family for 70 years that stole the land of Kenyans, that killed and castrated them. Africa/African (26) […] During her reign, the British colony perpetuated some of the most atrocious crimes in Africa, India, Australia and other parts of the world. “Good riddance; only one remains SA (South Africa).”[…]“We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very period in this country and Africa’s history […] “Our interaction with Britain under the leadership of the British royal family has been one of pain and suffering, of death and dispossession, and of dehumanization of African people. […] (Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022). […] Queen all her years never saw anything wrong with violent entrance into Africa and eventual colonization, slave trade, carting away of diamonds, other valuables, and worse still the genocide of Igbos in Nigeria between 1967-170 (Phoenix 120, Sep 11, 2022). Britain’s economic interest (Phoenix 140, Sep 11, 2022). That is also used to show some of the ills the queen committed in Kenya. She headed a family that stole the land of Kenyans, killed, maimed and castrated Kenyans. This Nothing to celebrate about Britain and what the country represents. We are in this terrible state of the country where the blind lead those who see because Britain’s economic interest. (Phoenix 140, Sep 11, 2022). Otoro gba gbue gi. (May Cholera kill you there) May everyone you and your merciless greed have harmed in this world remember you as fondly as I remember my colonizers. (Phoenix 15, Sep 9, 2022.) The demonstrative pronoun this in Phoenix 140, Sep 11, 2022 refers to the country Nigeria where the blind lead those who see only Britain’s economic interest. Also, this in Phoenix 15, Sep 9, 2022 denotes countries of the world which have been harmed because of Britain’s merciless greed. Those Why praise an oppressor? The untold suffering our people went through can never be forgotten. May the souls of Dedan kimathi, koitalel samoei. Mekatilili wa menza, Syokimau, among others RIP. In her 70 yrs’ reign, she never apologized for those atrocities. (Phoenix 23, Sep 9, 2022.) If anyone expects me to express anything but disdain for the monarch who supervised a government that sponsored the genocide that massacred and displaced half my family and the consequences of which those alive today are still trying to overcome, you can keep wishing upon a star. (Phoenix 25, Sep 9, 2022.) The pronoun those in Phoenix 23, Sep 9, 2022 point to the atrocities carried out by Queen Elizabeth an oppressor. Her government killed Dedan kimathi, Koitalel Samoei, Mekatilili Wa Menza, Syokimau, among others. More to this, those in Phoenix 25, Sep 9, 2022 represent the people who survived the genocide that was carried out in Ibo land and are still struggling to overcome it. These Thanks for your comments. This is somebody who has knowledge about what tgat transpired for decades as a Diplomat. Many of these guys never left their villages. They just believe stories that are not verified and passed such on just the way they believe Putinnis fighting a just cause. (Phoenix 160, Sep 11, 2022) These as a pronoun mentions some of the people who have never left their villages. They just Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 217 A replication of the words Africa/Africa’s and African in Phoenix 27, Sep. 9, 2022 and Phoenix 120, Sep. 11, 2022 displays a greater role in the relations existing between Africa/African and the westerners. First of all, it shows that the Queen didn’t see anything wrong with the violent entrance into Africa and eventual colonisation, slave trade, carting away of diamonds, other valuables, and worse still the genocide of Igbos in Nigeria between 1967-1970. Second, Africa is used to show the most atrocious crimes the Queen committed there. For example, in Kenya the British stole the land of the people, raped, killed, tortured and castrated them. In fact, the relationship between Britain and Africa has been that of pain and suffering, of death and dispossession, and of dehumanisation. Queen Elizabeth (16) Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday. She was 96, and the longest-serving monarch with 76 years on the throne. […] They have lit the blogoshere abuzz with searing, no-holds barred attributes to the late Queen Elizabeth. […] The tweet was followed by a two-page scathing statement from EFF that dwelt on Queen Elizabeth’s unfiltered legacy. […] (Phoenix 27, September 9, 2022). Oga you lied big time. if you need favor from Britain get but don’t soil issue here. what’s the difference between Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher. (Phoenix 175, Sep 11, 2022) Repetition of the word Queen Elizabeth as found in Phoenix 27, September 9, 2022, is used to tag Queen Elizabeth for crimes which her government committed against Africans during her reign. It is against this backdrop that some Africans have said, “We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very period in this country and Africa’s history.” Apartheid (12) […] Margaret Thatcher. The former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of External Affairs (NIIA) said on Arise Television’s Morning Show that despite the fact that the Queen did not have much political power, she put Margaret Thatcher in her place during the struggle to end apartheid. […] “Queen Elizabeth II quietly supported Africa to end apartheid against the stance of the then British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. She played that kind of soft power diplomacy in helping our position on the ant-apartheid struggle. […] (Phoenix 40, Sep 2022). […] In actual sense she’s actively involved in apartheid because of the land and gold mines they grabbed from South Africans. (Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022). the queen of England supported apartheid 100%. go tell your lies somewhere else (Phoenix 180, Sep 11, 2022). Apartheid is repeated in these stretches of discourse to depict the dark period in South Africa’s history when the Queen headed the British throne. The contradictory discourse here is that while very few people are of the opinion that she quietly supported Africa in fighting apartheid against the stance of a former British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, a majority of the people think that, “she’s actively involved in apartheid because of the land and gold mines they grabbed from South Africans.” (Phoenix 60, Sep 11, 2022) Britain (10) Oga you lied big time. if you need favor from Britain get but don’t soil issue here. what’s the difference between Queen Elizabeth and Margaret Thatcher. (Phoenix 175, Sep 11, 2022). Nothing to celebrate about Britain and what the country represents. We are in this terrible state of the country where the blind lead those who see because Britain’s economic interest. (Phoenix 190, Sep 11, 2022). What exactly is prof Bolaji making at? Times has come when our leaders must keep mum than to dance away in irrelevance. All we know is Britain Union Jack is about slavery & apartheid and Milking our natural resources to underdevelope Africa and suppress the Black race. […] (Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022) From the text above, it can be said the repetition of the word Britain shows that there is nothing to celebrate about Britain and what it represents. This is because, it is described as a terrible state (Phoenix 175, Sep 11, 2022), and “All we know is Britain Union Jack is about slavery & apartheid and Milking our natural resources to underdevelop Africa and suppress the Black race.” Mourn (4) That Queen you are moaning headed the royal family for 70 years, A family that stole our land, killed, maimed and castrated our people. They killed the mau mau, Dedan Kimathi, Waiyaki wa Hinga, Koitale arap Samoei and many others. There is nothing admirable about that family. (Phoenix 20, Sep 9, 2022). […] “We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very period in this country and Africa’s history.” The detailed statement dissects historical truths on the British’s scramble for resources, mass torture and human rights abuses […] (Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022). Why Most Black People Are Refusing to Mourn Queen Elizabeth 11 (Phoenix 30, Sep 9, 2022) Mourn is also repeated in these interactional digital discourses to explain why some Africans do not want to sorrow the demise of Queen Elizabeth. For example, “We do not mourn the death of Elizabeth, because to us her death is a reminder of a very period in this country and Africa’s history.” Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 218 (Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022). In the same vein, most Africans do not want to grieve the passing away of the Queen because, “During her reign, the British colony perpetuated some of the most atrocious crimes in Africa, India, Australia and other parts of the world.” (Phoenix 27, Sep 9, 2022). This could account for the reason why the majority of the informants are heartless about the passing away of Queen Elizabeth. Slave/Slavery (3) […] All we know is Britain Union Jack is about slavery & apartheid and Milking our natural resources to underdevelope Africa and suppress the Black race. […] (Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022). […]“The British Royal family stands on the shoulders of millions of slaves who were shipped away from the continent to serve the interests of racist white capital accumulation, at the center of which lies the British royal family,” the statement signed by EFF’s Sinawo Thambo, Leigh-Ann Mathys and Sixolise Gcilishe added. […] (Phoenix 35, Sep 9, 2022) Slavery/slave is repeatedly used in (Phoenix 80, Sep 11, 2022) and (Phoenix 35, Sep 9, 2022) to demonstrate that the union between Britain and her colonies especially Africa has been about, slavery, and the milking of African natural resources which has led to their underdevelopment. In addition, slaves were shipped from the continent of Africa to, “serve the interests of racist white capital accumulation, at the center of which lies the British royal family.” (Phoenix 35, Sep 9, 2022) 3. Collocation The collected data reveals the use of collocated expressions as seen in the analysis below. That woman was secret terrorist (Phoenix 200, Sep 11, 2022). The relation of collocation is found in (Phoenix 200, Sep 11, 2022) between the noun (secret) and the adjective (terrorist). It is used to portray who the late queen was. She was a sort of secret terrorist or criminal. Another collocative relation is seen in the use of words genocidal (adjective) which collimates with Queen (noun) in: history will never be kind with the queen, rest in peaces genocidal queen (Phoenix 205, Sep 11, 2022). The collocates make the reader to know who the Queen was and what she did. She killed many people especially Africans when she was alive. This explains why the texter of this stretch states that history will never be kind with the queen and wished that she should rest in pieces (peaces). More so, hell and fire collocate in: No peace for the wicked, all those blood of Africa they have shild to steal wealth will account for, hell fire is your final distinction (Phoenix 210, Sep 11, 2022) and Hell and fire collocate in Phoenix 210, Sep 11, 2022. These collocative relations clearly tell us about the final destination of wicked people and the Bible is clear about that when in the book of Psalms 91:8, one can read that only with your eyes will you see the reward of the evil-doers. In this context, the wicked ones are those who have killed Africans to steal their wealth. They will not have peace because hell fire awaits them. Moreover, the word politics collocates with stomach, impeccable with erudite as seen in Professor Bolaji Akinyemis’ concept of late Queen Elizabeth’s quiet support, was ostensibly, a Politics in the Stomach, or to put it succinctly, Live and let’s live. I learnt a lot from my former Minister, as an impeccable erudite in Diplomacy, while serving in Edinburgh, Scotland, as an Envoy. […] (Phoenix 214, Sep 11, 2022). In the collocation bound of politics and stomach, one can understand that people go into politics not for the good of their communities but for their stomachs. For this reason, they usually support that which is not right because they benefit from such a system. They are not prepared to say that which is right because they know the very moment they do so, their gains will be withdrawn from them. Besides, the word merciless collimates with greed in Phoenix 15, Sept. 9, 2022 as showed in the fragment of the following extract: Otoro gba gbue gi. (May Cholera kill you there). May everyone you and your merciless greed have harmed in this world remember you as fondly as I remember my colonizers. (Phoenix 15, 9/8/22). These words collocate in that they co-occur in this context of conversation, and they demonstrate the destruction the Queen and the British have caused on people in different parts of the world. They killed, stole, maimed, castrated, milked and carted away the resources of people specially those of Africans. More so, a relation of collocation is seen in Phoenix 70, Sep 11, 2022 where the word good co- occur with bad ( The good or bad we do will come knocking with rewards, my advice to king Charles is to look back to the evils perpetrated by his people against Nigeria in particular and address it) so as to advise King Charles not to follow the footsteps of the late Queen. That is, he is told to do that which Peniel Zaazra Nouhou/ Jurnal Arbitrer - Vol. 10 No. 3 (2023) 219 is right by looking back to the evils perpetrated by his people against Nigeria in particular and address them. Furthermore, the word criminal compiles with leaders and hypocricy goes with west as used in the threads of discussion bellow. why quietly support the truth and what is right? look at the billions upon billions of dollars the US is giving to Ukraine now against Russia…if is an African country undergoing invasion would they give the same support? all our stolen money by our useless criminal leaders where are they kept? is it not mostly the US and UK? and they know that they are stolen yet they accept them. hypocricy of the west. never wanting development for others except 4 themselves. thieves (Phoenix 135, Sep 11, 2022) Criminal leaders in Phoenix 135, Sep 11, 2022 refers to African leaders who steal the resources of Africa and take them the US and the UK. The unfortunate thing is that leaders of these nations know that the money these leaders have come to keep in their countries is ill gotten wealth, yet hypocrites as they are, they accept it. These are people who do not want development for others except for themselves. This work set out to analyse cohesive devices on Phoenix posts about the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. The analysis takes into consideration reference, repetition, and collocation. The findings indicated that referential items are the dominant cohesive items. For instance, demonstrative pronouns recorded the highest frequency (28.57%) with that as the most employed tie. It is seconded by this (04.00%), then come those (02.85%) and lastly these (00.57%). Demonstratives are followed by possessive pronouns which amounted to 23.42% classified them in the second position. Under this type of referential items, the possessive pronoun her (13.14%) rated the highest compared to his (06.85) as the second most employed item. The least used one is their which stood at 03.42%. Personal pronouns (20.57%) come at the third position. Under this kind of cohesive devices, the pronoun she (12%) was the most used item compared to it (06.28%) which was the second used device. He (02.28%) is the least employed among this category. These findings are similar to those of, Nouhou (2020), Tabe and Nouhou (2021), whereby these researchers found that reference was the dominant cohesive device in online messages. One can educe form the analysis that objective pronouns were the least used items in the messages about the death of Queen Elizabeth II of England. The results also showed the use of repetition and collocation at varying frequencies. The use of repetition could account for the fact that texters have some convergence stand point on the Queen’s death; which in general is too melancholic. The relation of collocation could have been used to express how some words or expressions are linked to royalty, power and dominance. IV. CONCLUSION After discussing the data, it has been found that most of the texters tend to index the Queen, Prince Harry and some African leaders who in a harmonious commitment dealt with people around the world, more precisely the black people. They were massacred, dehumanised, dispossessed of their dignity and their natural resources. Moreover, it could be seen that the informants appealed to repeat of some words or expressions to express their anger and consider the Queen’s death as a solution from the barbaric, horrible and evil treatment they undergone during the reign of the Queen. Finally, some instances of collocation have been used by digital texters to express the relations that the Queen had with some leaders, the way she ruled, and also to express the collaboration she had when she was alive. The researchers concluded that all is not bad about the late Queen. She was an angel to some of the informants. REFERENCES Al Khotaba, E. (2022). 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