LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 17:10 October 2017
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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A Speech Act Analysis of the Formal Declaration of Interest for
Presidency and Inaugural Speeches of
President Muhammadu Buhari

Cynthia Nkechinyere Okoro, M.A.
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University


President Muhammadu Buhari
Courtesy: http://www.tori.ng

Abstract

This study investigated the speech acts of two political speeches of President Muhammadu Buhari. The speech acts of locution, illocution and perlocution were analyzed using the Speech Acts Theory of Austin (1962) and Searle (1969 using the illocutionary acts of directive, expressive, declarative, verdictive, commissive and assertive. The data for the study were drawn from two political speeches of the President- Formal Declaration of Interest for Presidency and Inaugural Speeches- which were judgmentally selected. Also, these speeches were labelled A and B and ten sentences were extracted from each of them thereby generating a total of 20 sentences from which 40 speech acts (direct and indirect illocutionary acts) were obtained. These speech acts were further analyzed using the quantitative research methodology (descriptive survey method). The analysis of data revealed that the Overall Relative Frequency Percentages (ORFPs) of the said speeches were: commissive (60%), assertive (70%), directive (20%), expressive (15%), verdictive (20%) and declarative (15%). From the data analysis, it was revealed that the President employed more assertives and commissives so as to indicate the sincerity of his intentions, to assure the masses and to make promises. The study concluded on the note that the President should match his words with the necessary actions as the people still believe and hope in his change mantra.

Keywords: President Muhammadu Buhari, formal declaration of interest and inaugural speeches, speech act theory, pragmatics, political language.

Introduction

Language is a unique attribute of humans, which is used as a chief medium of communication, for building interpersonal relationships, exchange of ideas and passing of information. Martinet defines it as “a formidable instrument of communication... by which human experience is analysed...” (1970). It does not exist in a vacuum as a system of communication, but operates in a context of situation. It is these contexts which determine the variations in language that we call register. Politics has to do with the struggle for power in order to put certain political, economic and social ideas into practice (Bayram 2010). For a politician to win any political office, he must master the art of rhetoric (language) which is the ability to communicate effectively and convincingly. Chilton (1998) subscribes to this view when asserts that politics is “the art of governance and power” while language is “the universal capacity of humans in all societies to communicate”. Politics is concerned with power to make decisions, control resources, and control other people’s behaviour and, at times to control their values. In this process, language plays a crucial role, for every political action is prepared, accompanied, influenced and played by language. Language, therefore, plays an important role in politics because its main function in different political situations is to enable politicians to form structurally stable social relationships. In other words, regimes, whether totalitarian or democratic have to communicate so as to inform, persuade, advertise, issue rules and regulations, legislate, and so on (Gunta and Karapetjana 2009). Taiwo (2009) observes that language conveys power. It moves people to exercise their franchise, debate and even revolt. It is therefore a central explanation of political stability or polarization. Sharndana and Mgbemema are of the opinion that the language of politicians is characterized by their ability to manipulate the linguistic resources in order to sell their political ideologies and manifestoes to the electorates (2015).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Cynthia Nkechinyere Okoro, M.A.
General Studies Department (English Unit)
Michael and Cecilia Ibru University
Agbarha-Otor, P.M.B. 100
Ughelli
Delta State
Nigeria
cynthiaokoro9@gmail.com

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