Discursive Construction of the Ideological Self and Other in Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s The Last of the Strong Ones (1996) (Published)
This paper investigates the linguistic resources deployed by Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo in The Last of the Strong Ones to construct group solidarity and social identity. Conducting critical discourse analysis, the paper explores the discourses of resistance of a typically black agrarian Umuga community to the domination of Kosiri’s or the white settlers. The analysis reveal the use of the discursive strategies of membership categorization, referential nomination and agency in the construction of the in-group and out-group dichotomies of Us and Them. The black population in Umuga, which makes up the majority in the community, displays group solidarity based on their shared social representations and ideologies against the more powerful white settlers, who, by contrast, make up the minority. The narrator also indexes the domination and exclusion of Umuga people using agentless passive constructions. The significance of this study lies in showing that the reader’s understanding of how textual resources index participants’ social identity, their ideological attitudes and the power relations that underlie discursive interactions enhances text processing and interpretation.
Keywords: Ideology, Nigerian Literature, critical discourse analysis, discursive strategy, self-presentation
The Translatability of Emotiveness in Political Speeches of King Abdullah Ii of Jordan: A Critical Discourse Analysis (Published)
This study aims at shedding light on the extent to which it is possible to handle the translation of emotive expressions embedded in political speeches delivered by King Abdullah II of Jordan. A critical discourse analysis as well as translation studies are used to analyze the political speeches. This amalgamation results in a significant success, yielding a deep, comprehensive understanding of the fact that such juxtaposition is actually considered innovative. Five political speeches of King Abdullah II have been selectively chosen and then translated from English into Arabic. The emotiveness of such speeches is investigated, and a discursive analysis is also combined.
Keywords: Discursive Analysis, Emotiveness, Political Discourse, critical discourse analysis
Political Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Inaugural Speech (Published)
Political speeches are many just as political forums and events are. This Paper Critically analyses the inaugural Speech of President Muhammadu Buhari which was delivered shortly after his swearing into office on the 29th May, 2015. In carrying out the analysis, Norman Furlough’s three dimensional Analytical Models was adapted. Following the model, the speech was subjected to description (text analysis), interpretation (processing/ analysis) and explanation (social practice and analysis). The result of the analysis showed that an inaugural speech is a revelation of plans and hopes in the new government. The speech analyzed particularly revealed the ideologies/ plans on which the new government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari intends to operate. The most important ones include good governance, strengthening international relations, foreign Policies and democracy, fight insecurity, corruption, and improve power supply and the nation’s economy.
Keywords: Discourse, Speech, and political speech, critical discourse analysis