The eloquent woman: A contemporary feminine rhetorical analysis of selected speeches by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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Date
2017
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Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is best known for her literary works and literary achievements. The Nigerian novelist is also a public rhetor whose orations are easily accessible on the internet, YouTube and other sites. Adichie’s public speaking gained much recognition after her TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) talk titled “The danger of a single story,” in which she openly discussed stereotypes and their power to dehumanise and malign people. She has since then delivered talks in Africa, America and Europe. This study is qualitative in nature and studied nine selected speeches by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie found on the internet, YouTube. The nine speeches studied were purposively sampled in order to carry out an in-depth analysis on feminine rhetoric. The study employed Campbell’s five characteristics of feminine rhetorical theory as a checklist for the analysis of the selected speeches. The study, furthermore, utilised Aristotle’s rhetorical proofs (ethos, pathos and logos) to shed light on the author’s choice of rhetorical strategies. From the analysis conducted in this study, it was found that Adichie’s speeches reflected the feminine style because each of the five characteristics was present in the selected speeches. The analysis of Adichie’s speeches also found that the rhetor had employed Aristotle’s rhetorical proofs (ethos, pathos and logos) in her orations. Adichie, furthermore, used rhetorical devices such as metaphors, imagery, allusions, pronouns and rhetorical questions as rhetorical strategies in an attempt to persuade her audience. In addition to the literary devices, supra-segmental and paralinguistic features, such as tone, pitch and intonation, were explored in the selected speeches. The study found that Adichie used a relaxed tone and that the intensity of her voice expressed her emotions at the time the speeches were delivered. It can be concluded that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a feminine speaker because her oration exemplifies the feminine rhetorical style.
Description
Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in English Studies
Keywords
Eloquent women, Feminine rhetorical