Thesis:

Health communication: a multimodal discourse analysis of selected corona virus posters in Kenya

The world today is faced with various epidemics which have introduced myriads of challenges. COVID-19 disease is the latest crisis with its attendant to health and language issues. With its emergence, COVID-19 introduced into the global linguistic repertoire a specialized form of discourse which manifested in the way government communicates to the public. The proposed study was set analyze multimodality features of COVID 19 posters. The objectives of the study were to describe the multimodal structure of COVID 19 posters in Kenya, establish the semiotic choices adopted in COVID 19 posters in Kenya, explore how persuasive verbal and visual images, as the components of multimodality are used in COVID 19 posters in Kenya and to Explain the functions of multimodal Metadiscourse in COVID 19 posters in Kenya. The study applied Kress and Van Leuween (1996, 2006) Multimodal Discourse Analysis Framework. The study focused on educational COVID 19 posters only. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population for this study was COVID 19 posters in Kenya. Purposive and snowball sampling was determined the sample size. The study intends to collect 30 COVID 19 posters. The methods of collecting data were documentary instruments and observational check list. Data was analyzed through content qualitative methods. This study sought to contribute to the area of discourse analysis by focusing health communication by focusing on integration of visual and verbal communication in posters. It is thus hoped that the study may contribute in the field of discourse analysis and clinical linguistics. The analysis revealed inconsistencies in how preventive measures were portrayed, with only six of ten referenced posters evaluated, indicating a discrepancy in scope. Findings further demonstrated a lack of alignment between the visual messaging and established empirical or theoretical frameworks, limiting their impact. The study concluded that cohesive, theory-driven communication is vital for ensuring public understanding and compliance during health crises. To address these issues, several recommendations were proposed. First, key terms such as "poster," "photo," and "picture" should be clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. Second, all referenced materials must be thoroughly analyzed to ensure comprehensive evaluation. Third, findings should be explicitly linked to existing literature and theoretical models to strengthen contextual relevance. Finally, adherence to APA 7th edition formatting and professional editing standards is essential to enhance clarity and academic rigor. These insights underscore the need for more systematic and evidence-based approaches to public health communication, particularly during global emergencies like the COVID19 pandemic.