Speech acts and their rhetorical purposes in the Namibian parliamentary discourse, 2015-2016
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Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
The use of rhetoric is essential to verbal communication between politicians who debate pro et contra (for and against) to win arguments and persuade their audience. In this study, parliamentary rhetoric in the Namibian parliamentary discourse for the period 2015-2016 was analysed. This is a qualitative research study. The Hansard was used as a source of information, while observation and audio recordings were used as instruments to collect data. The data were purposively sampled by selecting the desired information from ten volumes of the Hansard within the period of March 2015 to March 2016. The study applied Discourse Analysis research design by identifying speech acts based on Searle’s five classifications of speech acts and explaining how they were persuasive. Three theoretical frameworks informed this study. Austin’s speech act theory contributes to the speech acts, especially performative acts uttered by parliamentarians. Further, Aristotle’s theory of rhetoric is important to the persuasive intentions that Members of Parliament (MPs) demonstrated. Burke’s theory of identification is important to the persuasive acts that MPs demonstrated in an attempt to identify with their audience and vice-versa. The major findings of this study show that assertive, directive, commissive, declarative and expressive speech acts were used by MPs. These speech acts were used to persuade the audience to believe the assertions, get things done, give hope, change the statuses and circumstances, and show solidarity, respectively. Further, some MPs used ‘unparliamentary’ expressions, such as interruptions, provocations and abusive language to mock, downgrade and irritate others to win debates. Rhetorical devices such as, code-switching, address and titles, parallelism, sarcasm euphemism, antithesis, buzzwords and exordium were employed by MPs in attempt to define situations, give recognition, produce good sounding words, create humour, create benevolence, give effect of balance, gain trust, and praise, respectively. This study contributes to new knowledge by unraveling rhetorical strategies for parliamentary discourse especially those that are demonstrated in the Namibian parliamentary setting. It informs the followers of parliamentary proceedings of tactics used in parliament to win debates. The study also contributes to the literature on parliamentary rhetoric. In conclusion, two key recommendations arose from this study. First, further studies on parliamentary rhetoric in the Namibian National Assembly should be carried out to narrow the literature gap and enrich the body of knowledge in Parliamentary rhetoric. Second, a parliamentary communication etiquette that will guide MPs and improve their skills in effective communication and persuasion is essential.
Description
A dissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English Studies
Keywords
Speech acts, Rhetorical purposes