An Analysis of Assertive Speech Acts in Post Handshake Speeches of President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kenya

Autor: Patrick Kioko Kimenye, Dr. Anashia Nancy Ong’onda, Dr. Vifu Makoti
Rok vydání: 2021
Zdroj: Sumerianz Journal of Education, Linguistics and Literature. :98-105
ISSN: 2617-1201
2617-1732
DOI: 10.47752/sjell.44.98.105
Popis: Verbal communication through speech acts allows human beings to interact within the society. However, the goal of communication is only met if the speaker and listener understand one another. This research aims to analyze assertive illocutionary speech acts in post handshake speeches of President Uhuru Kenyatta and the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Kenya. The research applied the Speech Act theory by Austin (1962) and Searle (1969) since the goal of communication through language is constrained by Speech Acts. The research was anchored on a descriptive research design. Data was collected from recorded speeches on you-tube through checklists. The sample size consisted of 20 selected speeches that were sampled through downsizing sampling techniques. Through descriptive quantitative analysis 125 assertive utterances were revealed. The analysis reveals that both President Uhuru Kenyatta (52%) and Former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga used assertives in their post handshake speeches (48%). In both speeches asserting was the most dominant act (33%) uttered by both President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga. Other acts included reporting (23%), explaining (22%), showing something (12%) and suggesting (10%). The findings also show the use of language in political speeches aims at achieving a certain communicative intent such as persuasion. The study recommends that the government, policy makers, and stakeholders should always pay close attention to the political leaders’ language use in regard to a key subject such as peace, nationhood and unity. This is because the politicians may misinterpret any ideology and political intentions in illocutionary acts that it being sold to masses.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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