A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF SPEECHES

By

Author

Presented To

Department of English and Linguistics

CHAPTER TWO

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - - ….8

2.1. Discourse and Critical Discourse Analysis - - - - - - …8

2.2 Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA) and Feminist Post Structuralist Discourse Analysis (FPDA) - - - - - - - .. - - - 15

2.3 Text, Context and Discourse in Discourse Analysis (DA) - - - - …..17

2.4 Language in Use……. - .. - - - - - - - ……..21

2.5 Identity and Role - - …….. - …. - - - - - …..22

2.6 Position and Attitude - - - - - - - - - .25

2.7 The Discourse of Prejudice - - - - - - - - …27

2.8 Power and Ideology - - …….. - - - - . - - - 31

2.9 Theoretical Framework - - - - . - - - - …….32

2.9.1 CDA Approaches and their Applicability to the Current Study - - - ..32

CHAPTER THREE

POWER, IDEOLOGY AND INSTITUTION IN OBI EZEKWESILI’S SPEECHES

3.1 Introduction - …. - - . - - - - - - - 36

3.2 Analysis - …….. - - - - - - - - - ..36

3.3 Discussion - - - - - - - - - - ……44

CHAPTER FOUR

POWER, IDEOLOGY AND INSTITUTION IN ABIKE DABIRI’S SPEECHES

4.1 Introduction - - - - - …. - - - - - ……46

4.2 Analysis - - - - - . - - - - - - ……46

4.3 Discussion - - - - - - - - - - ……54

CHAPTER FIVE

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

5.1 Summary of Work - - - - - - - - - ……56

5.2 Summary of Findings - - - - - - - - - 57

5.3 Implication of Study - - - - - - - - - …62

5.4 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - …64

Works Cited - - - - - - - - - - …… - 65

ABSTRACT

This study is a critical discourse analysis of Obi Ezekwesili and Abike Dabiri’s speeches. It adopts some conceptual framework such as identity and role, ideology, power and institution, discourse of prejudice, language use etcetera; while socio-cognitive and discourse"historical approaches are adopted as theoretical frameworks. The data used are randomly selected speeches by the two prominent Nigerian women. Findings reveal among other things that: the two Nigerian women leaders studied have feminist tendencies as demonstrated in their various speeches; the sociopolitical statuses of the two women, at every point in time, determine their use of language; their speeches are also conditioned by the institutions they represent at every point in time; apart from their feminist ideologies, they also demonstrated concerns at various levels for the welfare of the country in their speeches such as advocacy for a dignified Nigeria; and the idea of naturalization can be deduced from their speeches as they try to identify with the suffering masses. The study’s contribution to knowledge is simply a marriage of CDA as a linguistic field with feminism. Although, this study is not the first of its kind, as far as this researcher’s knowledge is concerned, it may be the first to consider the data used (that is Obi Ezekwesili and Abike Dabiri’s speeches).

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1  Background to the Study

The major thrust of this dissertation is to analyze the speeches of two of Nigeria’s frontline women, Obi Ezekwesili and Abike Dabiri from the Critical Discourse Analysis perspective. The study is motivated by the fact that ‘language as simple as the term seems is not only a means of describing reality but plays significant roles in determining and shaping reality and the world around us’ (Reponen 4). This reality has been observed in the speeches of these women through their language use; hence, there is need to study them. And, the best linguistic tool that suits such a study, in this researcher’s own opinion, is critical discourse analysis because of the relationship between language and discourse. Fairclough (18-19) defines ‘language use’ as "socially determined", and ‘Discourse’ as "language as a form of social practice". According to him, language does not exist outside of society but is a part of it. When people use language, they follow certain norms and rules that have been socially determined, and language use affects, for example, people’s world views and reality (Fairclough19). He adds that ‘language’ is a social process, in which both the production and interpretation are included. He continues in explaining that language is a social practice that is conditioned by the context, which includes not only the immediate situation of language use but also society. (19-20)

Fairclough (21) further explains that discourse can then be seen to consist of three dimensions: the text itself (written or spoken), the processes of its production and interpretation and the social conditions relating to its production and interpretations. He also says that when we produce and interpret language, we draw upon the knowledge which is already in our heads, for example, about language, values and beliefs. According to him, this knowledge is socially constructed, dependent on our social relations and it is socially transmitted. Because of this social nature, language is closely related to power and ideologies, making it possible to dominate other people and shape societies (Fairclough in Reponen 5). In line with the above assertion by Fairclough, Obi Ezekwesili and Abike Dabiri, as a result of their statuses have voiced their knowledge and opinion of the Nigerian society in many issues especially as they affect the women and children.

In addition, Critical Discourse Analysis (henceforth CDA), like a coroner’s office where a dead body, unable to speak, is dissected for the purpose of discovering the cause of death, is the right place to perform an autopsy on the discourse, spoken or written, in order to unveil the underlying  ideologies in it. CDA, as a method of analysis in Discourse, tries to focus on relations between ways of talking and ways of thinking, and highlights "the traces of cultural and ideological meaning in spoken and written texts" (O’Halloran1,946). The ideologies behind the speeches by Obi Ezekwesili and Abike Dabiri are, therefore, relevant for this study.

1.1.1    Obi Ezekwesili

Dr. Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili is a Senior Economic Advisor at Open Society Foundations (OSF), a group founded by investor and philanthropist, George Soros. She also jointly serves as Senior Economic Advisor for Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative (AEDPI), a program of the Open Society Foundations. In these roles, she advises nine reform-committed African heads of state including Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia. Before joining OSF, she was Vice President of the World Bank (Africa Region) in Washington, D.C., responsible for operations in 48 countries and a lending portfolio of nearly $40 billion. From 2002 to 2007, Ezekwesili worked for the federal government of Nigeria as Minister of Education, Minister of Solid Minerals, head of the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit as well as Chairperson of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) where she led the first ever national implementation of the global standards and principles of transparency in the oil, gas and mining sectors. She was a key member of President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Economic Team. Ezekwesili is a founding Director of Transparency International, representing Africa at the global anti-corruption body based in Berlin.

1.1.2    Abike Dabiri

Hon. Abike Kafayat Oluwatoyin Dabiri Erewa (Nee Erogbogbo) was Born On 10th October 1962 at Ikorodu Lagos state, Nigeria. She is also an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, University of Lagos and Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. She is a three term member of Nigeria’s lower chamber (House of Representatives) from Lagos state. During her period in the house, she chaired the Diaspora committee. She is the current Senior Special Adviser on Foreign affairs and Diaspora to President Muhammadu Buhari.

1.2 Statement of Problem

This study is a critical discourse analysis of speeches by Obi Ezekwesili and Abike Dabiri.