A linguistic analysis of discursive strategies in the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) policy document
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Date
2019
Authors
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
This study analysed the linguistic devices employed in The Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) document which was launched in 2016. The study aimed to explore the discursive ways in which the devices were employed to persuade readers. It employed the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) approach and the Systemic Functional Linguistic theory to analyse the linguistic devices. Various linguistic devices are employed in the policy document, however, the researcher selected five (emotive, imperative, metaphor, hyperbole and personification). Scholars have analysed this document rhetorically; however, no comprehensive analysis on linguistic devices has yet been carried out to study the document. This study was guided by two objectives, namely to analyse the discursively applied linguistic devices in the Harambee Prosperity Plan policy document and to examine the way in which the concept of “Harambee” was linguistically employed to sensitise the call to eradicate poverty. This study employed a qualitative research design and a purposive sampling procedure to select the HPP amongst other national policy documents. The study established that the policy document comprised intriguing linguistic devices employed discursively to entice its readers; the term “Harambee”, which means “pull together in the same direction”, was employed throughout the entire document in order to call for unity and encourage Namibians to work towards a common purpose which is eradicating poverty and prosperity for all. In addition, the researcher finds that the HPP document is meant for all Namibians and the entire world at large. Office bearers are signalled, enthused and commanded to do better during the Harambee era, to achieve its agenda of “Propensity for All”. The world is being acknowledged for its assistance in economic manumission during the colonial regime and after the country had gained its independence. These were accomplished through the employment of linguistic devices that are believed to persuade, entice, appeal and extort readers to take prompt response regarding the call to eradicate poverty and bring prosperity for all Namibians. The study aims to benefit prospective students in the field of linguistic analysis
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in English Studies
Keywords
Linguistic, Devices (emotive, imperative, metaphor, hyperbole and personification), Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), Discursive, Persuade, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL), Sensitise, Qualitative, Purposive, Manumission, Entice, Appeal, Extort