ABSTRACT
This is on discourse analysis of the Day speeches of President Goodluck Jonathan during the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
It studies the structure of these speeches, the ideologies of the reflected through them, their strength and their contemporary relevance. The work adopts Grice’s co-operative principles, which incorporate the of quantity, quality, relation and manner, for analysing its data.
The study observes that the Independence Day speeches of President Goodluck Jonathan are structured into five sections, which include greetings and introduction of the occasion; incorporating every Nigerian as contributing to
Nigeria’s history and current status.
Highlighting the achievements made, the challenges facing Nigeria and efforts being made to handle them; messages of hope and promises and call for collective responsibility; conclusion with compliments.
It observes that these five sections fulfil the co-operative maxim of quantity but have some statements which do not fulfil the maxims of quality, relation and manner.
The ideological analysis shows that the President gradually realised the extent of his power and autonomy. He prefers collective responsibility of the nation’s affairs. The speeches are contemporarily relevant during their delivery.
Finally, the research observes that the speech in 2014 is more informative than that of 2012 and 2013.
The research recommends the use of discourse analysis for the President for analysing and assessing his speeches before delivery and that Nigerians should pay attention to the Independence Day speeches in order to take adequate
advantage of the information in them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Approval Page ………..i
Certification………ii
Dedication..iii
Acknowledgement ……….…iv
Table of Content …………….v
Abstract…vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study……………..1
1.2. Statement of the problem……….3
1.3. Purpose of the study………………….4
1.4. Research Questions………..4
1.5. Scope of the Study…………………5
1.6. Significance of the Study………….…5
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0. Preamble………………….7
2.1. Theoretical Studies…….…..7
2.2. Empirical Studies……………19
2.3. Summary of Literature Review……….33
2.4. Theoretical Framework…………..34
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.0. Preamble…………….37
3.1. Research Design and Procedure ……..37
3.2. Area of Study………………….37
3.3. Population for the Study…….………38
3.4. Sampling……………………….38
3.5. Instrument for Data Collection…………..38
3.6. Method of Data Collection………………..38
3.7. Method of Data Analysis……..……39
CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS
4.1 Analysis of the sequence/Structure of the speeches………41
4.2 Ideological Analysis …………65
4.3 Analysis of the contemporary relevance of the speech….85
4.4 Analysis of the Information Strength of the Speech…….88
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1. Summary of findings and conclusion………….…………..96
5.2. Recommendation……….…..100
References
Appendices
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
Every country is defined by its history. All past and current events taking place within a country accumulate to make-up its history.
These, therefore, follow that there is no country, be it an American country like the United States of America, a European country like England, an Asian country like China or an African country like Nigeria that does not have its own peculiar history.
The history of a country, sometimes, dates back to its official recognition as an independent group or its official recognition as collection of people with a given or identified political structure.
The history of Nigeria however, predates her independence which she won from her British colonialists on 1st October, 1960. This history, indeed, defines Nigeria. It is in this regard that the researcher wishes to state that the success of every country involves building upon its own peculiar history.
Countries come together to celebrate their history during certain days or periods of the year in the forms of national
celebrations.
For countries that had experienced colonialism (the forceful taking-over and control of a country by another superior country, especially, politically), the date they earn their independence/freedom from their colonial master(s) often becomes the greatest and most remarkable of their national days.
Nigeria is not left-out in the practice of celebrating their independence day, which has now become an annual ritual.
On 1st October, 1960, Nigeria gained her independence from her colonial masters; and so, October 1 of every year is the most remarkable of all national day celebrations of the country.
REFERENCES
Abrahams, R. D. & Bauman, R. (1971). Sense and nonsense in St. Vincent: Speech behaviour decorumin a Carribeancommunity.American anthropologies, 73,(pp. 262-272).
Adebiyi, C. O. (2006). ‘Mood and style in public speaking: A critique of a President’s inaugural speech’ In T. Ajiboye and W. Osisanwo (eds.) Mood in language and literature. Lagos: Femolus-Fetop Publishers.
Agbanusi, A. (2010). ‘Pragmatism, globalization and language’ In A. B. C. Chiegboka, T. C Utoh-Ezeajugh, and G. I. Udechukwu, (eds.),Thehumanities and globalization in the third millennium, (Pp. 463-467).
Agbedo, C. U. (2007). Problems of multilingual nations: The Nigerian perspective.Nsukka: Nimo: Rex Charles and Patrick Ltd.
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