CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF NELSON MANDELAS POLITICAL SPEECHES

http://dx.doi.org/10.31703/gesr.2021(VI-IV).16      10.31703/gesr.2021(VI-IV).16      Published : Dec 2021
Authored by : Shumaila Roohi , Muhammad Asif , Rana Imran Ali

16 Pages : 151-162

    Abstract

    Discourse refers to a dire system related to the meaning or a set of statements that are organized systematically which gives distinct meaning and identity of an institution or society. CDA is related to the analysis of both spoken and written forms in the lens of elegant and expansive practicing a particular social setting such as domination, hegemony, racial discrimination, as well as a violation of basic human rights. This research has been conducted aims to explore the CDA of Mandela's Speeches from the perspective of Halliday's SFG, particularly the three Meta-functions. And also highlights the various functions of the Meta-functions. It also finds out the various elements of the Meta-functions used in Mandela's discourse (especially his two selected political speeches). It foregrounds why Mandela focuses on the use of SFG in his discourse. Meanwhile, the study also focuses, in general, on how SFG makes language effective. The qualitative method has been used for this study. The secondary data were used in this study, and ten speeches were selected for data analysis. All the speeches of Nelson Mandela have been critically explored through Systematic Functional Grammar. Various steps were taken to test the hypothesis “the effectiveness of Mandela’s discourse is based on “Systemic Functional Grammar (particularly the three Meta-functions of Halliday).”However, the results also support the hypothesis. The present research also suggests recommendations for further improvement.

    Key Words

    Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Modern Linguistics, Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), Nelson Mandela

    Introduction

    In the wake of day-to-day life, man faces many ups and downs. But if he dares to ponder over the aspect of the tragic past, the history itself smoothly reveals the chain of fluctuations. It is none other than human beings who were, at the same time, the cruel and the victim, the king and the slave, the master and the duster, the violator of justice and the demand of justice as well as the killer and the killed or murdered. Men practiced all of these merely to win their power in the land. In this study, the researcher will focus (on) the land which was virulently dealt. This very land is none other than the glebe of South Africa. 

    In order to make smooth the flow of the study and make it comprehensive, much more space is given to touch the crucial terms such as “discourse”, “critical”, “discourse analysis”, “critical discourse analysis” as well as its brief history and impact over the day to day talk, etc. 

    Lemke (1995) is of the view that the word discourse was practiced in pragmatics and socio-linguistics not only as a distinct term to delineate language in social panorama but also as a productive source to grant a distinction in terms of analyzing longer but interactive texts. However, it is a bitter fact that, still, the term ‘discourse’ is tentative and contested. There is no definition in the approaches of linguistics to the analysis of discourse. Before (Wodak, 2009), some of the linguistics considered it as the accomplishment of language as negotiation and talk while others regard it as the social configuration of senses and meanings, for instance, "management discourse". It is also used as an effective tool for enriching performance and creating a sound, interactive network among the employees.

    According to Fairclough (2003), the text is not considered as a complete discourse because the term discourse is used in a broad sense that is the entire social interactive process of which a written diction or text is merely a part.

    The above discussion briskly indicates that discourse has not a specific and fixed definition. Various scholars and different researchers put forth their personal views regarding the nature of discourse on the basis of their research, experiences and findings. All of them seem to be closer to the fact and reality as they strove to prove with their arguments and analysis. Discourse is a meaningful source used in the social and political sense to evaluate longer but interactive texts. Wodak (2009) says that discourse is the achievement of language in the form of a talk or negotiation. However, the crucial function of discourse is to generate a dynamic atmosphere by dint of both material and physical wordings even in the shapes of utterances and expressions that cause the foundation of a language. Gee (1999) is of the view that discourse is nothing other than a coherently intertwined collection of clauses or speeches that explore the prime functions of a language from social and cultural perspectives. The term discourse is practiced to clarify the function, which is highly discursive and disclosing dialogism. Oxford Advanced dictionary (8th Edi.) considers discourse as a speech. In addition, it is a long intensive speech delivered by an oppressed individual (s) as Nelson Mandela did to bring forth the basic human rights of the tyrannized and suppressed African nation for a long time. Fairclough (2003) also agrees with the point that speech is also a form of discourse that is carried out as a tool to convey a distinct and dynamic meaning. However, for comprehensive examining and exploration of the term discourse, there needs to focus on the distinct term “critical” as it has to play a crucial role.

    The word critical is an effective resource to ponder over problems regarding the desired topic. When the area of research is chosen and the problem is definitely the next step, for the researcher, it is to propound into the depth of the reasons and causes of the problem to be explored. In this respect, planning is skillfully laid down and various effective steps are taken very carefully. All of these steps don’t happen accidentally. Indeed, these need a definite and proper procedure. This very procedure is provided by the term critical, in a real sense. In short, the researcher needs to think critically, to carry out all of the mentioned steps. In other words, he has to think critically while selecting the topic; whether it (the topic) is researchable or not. Many of the scholars and experts tried to define it on their own, in the light of psychological as well as philosophical thoughts. This very notion comes to see in the consensus of the American Philosophical Association such as the real critical thinker is one who is much interested in nature, fair-minded and curious to contemplate and examine the perspectives of others (Facione, 1990).

    Literature Review

    Fairclough (1989) argues that text is not considered as a complete discourse because the term discourse is used in a broad sense that is the entire social interactive process of which a written diction or text is its mere a part. First, discourse is the prime element of the description of linguistics such as words, morpheme, phrases, phonemes, clauses or sentences. Secondly, it is a language exercise sample mostly in written form to speak that is in the form of speech. Thirdly, discourse is considered an expected communicative process that may concern a specific field of life like medicine or law. Fourthly, discourse is verbal and non-verbal communication that is carried out among the individuals of a society. Fifthly, only speech is considered as discourse. Sixthly, the entire process of communication is known a discourse. Van Dijk (1997) also has a similar idea of linguistics taste such as social, cultural and cognitive senses in terms of producing the definition of discourse. First, he further adds that discourse is to be well described at various levels, such as semantic, rhetorical, syntactic and stylistic, etc. secondly, discourse needs to be dealt with process-oriented that includes productive, receptive, and cognitive processes. Thirdly, he tried to evaluate discourse from a social perspective which he comprehends meaningful acts that carry out in the atmosphere of society depending on the entailing context. 

    Van Dijk (1997) suggests an enormously effective device to explore discourse that is known as K-device. This very prime component of the device involves the cognitive, comprehensive and productive processes of discourse that is brief and the crux of personal or individual, interpersonal, pair, group, national, cultural and political knowledge and information. However, the crucial function of discourse is to generate a dynamic atmosphere by dint of both material and physical wordings even in the shapes of utterances and expressions that cause the foundation of a language. Fairclough (1989) agrees that point that speech is also a form of discourse that is carried out as a tool to convey a distinct and dynamic meaning. However, for comprehensive examining and exploration of the term discourse, the need to focus on the distinct term critical as it has to play a crucial role.  

    The word “critical” is used as the key to research by the researcher. It is an effective resource to grub out the issues and problems regarding the desired topic or field. When the area of research is selected and the problem is the next step, for the researcher, is to propound into the depth of the reasons and causes of the problem. A strategy is made, planning is skillfully laid down and various effective steps are taken very carefully. All of these steps don’t happen accidentally. These need a sound and meaning, but a proper procedure. This very procedure is provided by the term critical, in a real sense. In short, the researcher needs to think critically, to carry out all of the mentioned steps. In other words, he has to think critically while selecting the topic; whether it (the topic) is reachable or not. He needs to think critically in terms of defining the problem and even carry out all of the required steps from the very beginning to the conclusion. Still, all of the discussion indicates that a good researcher must have the essence of critical thinking. 

    Many renowned researchers and scholars gave ample stress on the essence of critical thinking. Including researchers and scholars, educators also have been aware of the core importance of the term "critical thinking" for a long time. They considered it as a skill in the form of the entire learning outcome of the tots (learners). In the lens of the modern era of science and technology, the term critical particularly, 'critical thinking is regarded as the most teeming learning as well as a creative and innovative skill that is very important to make the learners prepared for education, especially post-secondary level and thereafter. But the question that arises in mind is what the term 'critical thinking means.

    After focusing and analyzing all of the above mentioned various views and thoughts of renowned scholars, researchers, and experts in terms of conducting research, the sense of 'critical' seems to be a dominating factor to carry out the entire task of research in a meaningful way or a real sense. Here in this literature review also, the word 'critical' has to play a much more important role as the core objective of this research is to analyze the discourse (sensational, serious, and thrilling speeches) of Nelson Mandela-the most dominant and prominent figure in African World, critically. 

    The term CDA is the abbreviation of critical discourse analysis. The main concern of CDA before Fairclough (1989) is to denote a strong and sound relationship between power and language. Therefore, it chiefly studies social ties and the language itself. It is just like language and its approach, influence, power, even the entire sense of ideology and language. According to Van Dijk (1997), it is neither a model based on a homogenous factor nor a paradigm rather than a model based on sharing and performing linguistics and discourse analysis. Fairclough (1989) also played a central role in defining discourse. He considers Critical Discourse Analysis as an analysis of discourse aiming at exploring opaque interlink of determination, for systematic point of view, between cultural and social frameworks in terms of examining the events, practices, and dictions boost out beyond ideological arena of ties between both endeavors overpower as well as to highlight how much these ties have potentiality between society and discourse itself is an element of gaining hegemony and power. CDA is considered critical because of certain reasons: it is concerned to explicit attitude, criteria, and value. It is the nucleus of analyzing social evils such as bad feelings, bad wishes, prejudice, discriminative approach to power, interests, and material resources (Fairclough, 1989);  it is a subject aiming at pondering which emerging hegemonic cultural and social factors have contributed such social evils, and in structuring methods that prove much more productive to deal with them. Although he does not reject the fact but shows a little doubt regarding the prime role of SFG, considering CDA needs to be comprised of the process of the entire text and contextual ties analysis systematic point of view. It considers that one of the vital and effective characteristics of an approach to criticism is CDA. In addition, he acknowledges the crucial role of CDA, claiming that, in the academic arena, un-critical approaches emerge, causing to maintain and galvanize the entailing relations and ties of power in safe mode. He also encourages the insistence of CDA that an approach based on the interdisciplinary concept is badly required. In another place, Van Dijk (1997) defines CDA as a form of discourse evaluative research that fundamentally deals with the manner social hegemony and power evil, dominance, and discrimination are ratified, recreated, and countered employing text and speech (talk) in the socio-political surroundings. Moreover, with the help of such dissenting research, CDA has to play a crucial role in aiming at exploring, exposing, and eventually defying the serene sense of socio-political equality. 

    The concept of 'Discourse and Social Change' presented by Fairclough (1992) has contributed much in terms of giving a theoretical shape to the program of the CDA. The interesting thing is that Fairclough himself acknowledged his concept of being similar to the notion of Foucault. However, this very concept was also much appreciated by Chouliarki. In terms of evaluating and interpreting a discourse in a better way, Fairclough (1990) introduced a model of three-dimensional structure that got much fame in the field of Critical Discourse Analysis. Text as a discourse based on linguistic features is his first dimension. The chain of patterns in the structure of the text, as well as cohesion and vocabulary, must be analyzed and evaluated from a systemic point of view. The second prominent aspect is discourse being a discursive practice.

    Functional grammar is a distinct model of grammar that was introduced by Halliday. It developed in the era of the 1960s. It is still a new window for the teacher, but no doubt, for the majority of teachers, it has become a source of motivation as they are keen to conduct a series of researches to open new windows. Though some of them opposed, but despite this, functional grammar emerged and still emerged as an effective field of grammar. It provides a chain of opportunities to the teachers to make their pedagogical process more enjoyable. It is just because of functional grammar; not only teachers are more interested and sincere in their field, but learners also seemed motivated. It infuses the sense of creativity in the users in terms of making them successful communicators in their interactions and communication zone. Functional grammar also provides a chance for learners to comprehend the linguistic features related to the language. However, being a new model, it vividly differs from traditional grammar as it gives much more importance to the way of devising language together for the sake of communicating or conveying sense or meaning regarding the desired aim as acknowledging language as a system of exchanging meanings functionally. Unlike this, traditional grammar aims at organizing the various components or constituents and words together into clauses and sentences to acknowledge the language as a prime set of principles and rules. In short, functional grammar is a tool of meaning-making, while traditional grammar is a set of principles or rules. For instance, an inclusive comparative analysis had been carried out by Chen (2010) to investigate the positive out of the pedagogy carried out through functional grammar at college-level learners. He argues that the group who were instructed through traditional grammar methods couldn't produce more productive and fruitful results, in the case of analyzing diction or text in the writing process, than the group who were given instructions and taught with the help of functional grammar. That’s why it gives a rather tough time to present a complete and clear detail and explanation. Its concepts also vary among books.

    Baraceros (2013) says that Systemic Functional Grammar has the features of the language such as various shapes of discourse to convey meaning and sense regarding language, which reflects the socio-cultural events and forms a personal view to stance his opinion. But the structures of the language play a vital role to evaluate as well as expressing these thoughts. However, the individual has to perform the required and desired to commence knowledge such as defining, scrutinizing, evaluating, comparing, contrasting, and even summarizing which are pivotal factors of critical thinking. He further argues that Systemic Functional Grammar consists of systems based on the features of the language to demonstrate multiple senses of language. One can enhance and utilize one's knowledge in a proper way in terms of arguing, describing, narrating, communicating, and exchanging ideas with the help of larger and constructive structures of language. These certain modes of discourse support to present and judging one's opinion, relating something coherently than performing in isolation. 

    Research Objectives

    The present study is carried out based on certain emerging objectives:
    ? To find out how “Systemic Functional Grammar” is practiced by Mandela in his discourse (particularly political speeches) and to explore the meanings and various functions of “Systemic Functional Grammar” (Halliday’s three Meta-functions; ideational, interpersonal and textual functions) and “Critical Discourse Analysis”.

    Research Questions
    The core research questions are:
    How do the Halliydian Meta-functions implement in Mandela’s discourse (particularly political speeches)?

    Research Methodology

    The research carried out this research having a chain of sound aims and objectives to be achieved. This present study is carried out to analyze the speeches of the African pioneer Black president Nelson Mandela from the view of Systemic Functional Grammar. It is to explore the elements of functional grammar practiced by Nelson during his speeches. These systemic functional components contributed enough to make his discourse much more effective in terms of achieving his desired goal. 

    In order to conduct meaningful research and collect required data or materials concerned with the study, to target the population is one of the fundamental steps. As the topic of the study “Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela’s Speeches” indicated its target population. In other words, the speeches delivered by Nelson had been selected as the population for this approach. This study, specifically, focused on the political speeches of Nelson, not only to achieve the basic socio-political rights of the Black and White Africans but to eradicate the entire identity of the apartheid and racial discriminations; socio-political injustice from the glebe of Africa, to create a prosperous and congenial atmosphere in the entire also, by dint of bringing peace, justice and equality among the humanity. Out of Mandela’s political speeches, only ten speeches were selected randomly. These speeches were delivered before his trial, during the trial, before and after prison, and even on the occasion of his inauguration of taking oath as the pioneer Black African president in the entire history of his country. To analyze the chosen ten speeches, in a meaningful way or critically, Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar (also known as three Meta-functions) was applied. In other words, the selected speeches were critically analyzed in the light of Halliday’s three Meta-functions.   

    Considering the nature of the present research questions, the randomly selected speeches delivered by Mandela were chosen as the primary source of collecting data related to the aimed topic. However, the authenticated text and materials (such as Holliday's Systemic Functional Grammar, particularly the three Meta-functions such as ideational function, interpersonal function as well as textual function)  persisting functional and analytical dictions will be considered as secondary sources. Moreover, apart from the selected speeches, data were collected through various dimensions of the website such as ‘Google Scholar’ ‘relevant book from Quaid-e-Azam library and Sheikhupura library regularly’, as well as consulting supervisor and sometimes fellows etc. After collecting, data and findings were with the help of a diagram.

    The gathered data and material relevant to the topic was analyzed and interpreted descriptively. For further analysis, one by one all the ten speeches were introduced. Each speech and its results were shown in separate graphs and the diagram. To make the entire process of analysis validated and reliable, each speech was, one by one, analyzed in the lens of Halliday’s three Meta-functions. In other words, the first and foremost step taken by the researcher was to go through all the selected speeches thrice, deeply and profoundly, so that the core meaning and its required grammatical elements could be detected explored properly?

    In short, he delivered several speeches. However, this study is limited to, his following two speeches:

    1) “The Struggle in my life (1961)”

    2) “Court Statement (1962)” 

    However, these speeches will be analyzed from the angle of “Halliday’s three Meta-functions (such as ideational function, interpersonal function as well as textual function)”.

    Data Analysis

    There are seven renowned continents in the world. One of them is Africa, which unexpectedly rich in natural resources. The current thesis is to be carried discourse analysis of Nelson Mandela’s speeches from a South African context as he was the first-ever democratically elected president in the entire history of South Africa. He not only opened a chapter of a prosperous history of the African world but also reshaped the glebe of South Africa in a true sense. Before him, though the entire history of South Africa can be vividly traced back a thousand years ago, but commonly divided into four categories such as the pre-colonial, colonial, Apartheid and even post-apartheid periods. No doubt, there get to much more cultural influence of Calashes in both the Colonial and Post-colonial eras which were full of disputes, riots, racial and political battles. It didn't take much time to change the situation as changing the color is the face of life. In other words, the element of change is the main characteristic and beauty of real life. The arrival of the 19th century proved as the cornerstone for the new South Africa.

    Because of Nelson’s tireless efforts, he was entitled not only as of the best politicians in South African’s history but also as the US president Barack Obama gave him as the “Transitional Father” of his nation moved the nation toward equality, justice, peace and prosperity of the entire world. He also says on the occasion of his trial in 1964, “I have fought against white domination and I have against Black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.” For what furthermore was said by him, his all two selected speeches are analyzed, in the light of Halliday’s Three-Meta functions, one by one, as under:


    Speech 1

    Material Process

    “We (Actor) must not allow (Mental Process) fear (Goal) to stand in our way. Those (Actor) who are vote less can’t be expected to continue (Mental Process) paying taxes (Goal) to a government that is not responsible to them. People (Actor) who live poverty and starvation cannot be expected to pay (Mental Process) exorbitant house rent (Goal) to the government and local authorities. We (Actor) furnish (Mental Process) sinews of agriculture and industry (Goal). We (Actor) produce (Mental Process) the work of gold mines, the diamond and the coal, of the form and industry (Goal), in return for miserable wages. Why should we (Actor) continue enriching (Mental Process) those (Goal) who steal the products of our sweat and blood? Those (Actor) who exploit (Mental Process) us (Goal) and refuse us the right to organize trade unions? I (Actor) am informed (Mental Process) that a warrant for my arrest (Goal) has been issued, and that the police (Actor) are looking (Mental Process) for me (Goal)”. 

     

    Mental Process

    Allow fear to stand, Expect to continue, Pay tax, To be responsible, Live in poverty, Live in starvation, To pay exorbitant house, Finish the Sinews of agriculture, Produce gold products, Enriching the people, Steal the products of our sweat and blood, Exploit us, Refuse us, Organize trade union, I am informed of a warrant for arrest, The police were looking for me, Politician will realize, Seek for cheap martyrdom, Hand myself to the police, Important to carry out immediately, I have chosen the course, The course entails more risk, Then sitting in goal, I have had to close my business, Abandon my profession, Live me misery, Fight the government side by side, Until victory is won, Come along with us, Cooperate with the government, Suppress the claims and aspirations, Going to remain silent, I will not leave South Africa, Nor I will surrender, We will win freedom sharply, Continue fighting for freedom.


    Relational Process

    The struggle is my life; my life struggles, Those who are voteless can’t be expected to continue paying taxes

    to a government; paying taxes to the government can’t be expected from those who are voteless, I will not leave South Africa; South Africa will not be left by me, or it is not possible for me to leave South Africa, Only through leadership, sacrifice and militant action can freedom won; freedom can win by only sacrifice, leadership and militant actions, I will continue fighting for freedom until the end of my days; till the end of my days I will continue fighting for freedom. 


    Behavioral Process

    We are marching towards freedom, Fearing, sweating, Expecting, Stealing, Refusing, Healing, Programming, Sitting, closing, separating, living, doing, fighting, winning, claiming, inspiring, remaining, sacrificing, auctioning, struggling, ending.


    Verbal Process

    Allow,  Fear, to stand, Expect, to continue, Pay tax, Live, Starve, To pay, Finish, Produce, Enrich, Steal,  Produce,  Sweat, Exploit, Refuse, Organize, Trade, inform, Warrant,  arrest, Look, realize, Seek, Martyr, Hand, to carry, chose, Entails, sit,  to close, Abandon, Live, Fight, Won, Come along, Cooperate, Suppress, Claims, aspire, Go, to remain, leave, Surrender, Win, sharpen, Continue, fight.


    Existential Process

    African gold mine, Trade union of Africa


    Speech 2

    Material Process

    "I (Actor) have cherished (Mental Process) the ideal (Goal) of a democratic and free society…. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is anan ideal for which I am prepared to die. In its proper meaning equality before the law means the right to participate in the making of the laws by which one is governed, a construction that guarantees democratic rights to all sections of the population, the right to approach the court for protection or relief in the case of the violation of rights guaranteed in the constitution, and the right to take part in the administration of justice as judges, magistrates, attorneys-general, law advisers and similar positions. In the absence of these safeguards, the phrase equality before the law, in so far as it (Actor) is intended to apply (Mental Process) to us (Goal), is meaningless and misleading. All the rights and privileges to which I have referred are monopolized by whites, and we (Actor) enjoy (Mental Process) none of them (Goal). I (Actor) consider (Mental Process) myself (Goal) neither morally nor legally obliged to obey laws made by a parliament in which I am not represented. That the will of people is the basis of the authority of government is a principle universally acknowledged as sacred throughout the civilized world and constitutes the basic foundation of freedom and justice. It is understandable why citizens who have voted, as well as the right to direct representation in the country's governing bodies should be morally and legally bound by the laws governing the country. It should not be equally understandable why we, as Africans, should adopt the attitude that we are morally nor legally bound to obey we have not made, nor can we be expected to have confidence in courts which enforce such laws… I (Actor) hate (Mental Process) the practice of racial discrimination (Goal), and in my hatred I am sustained by the fact that the overwhelming majority of mankind hates it equally”.


    Mental Process

    “Cherish the ideal of democratic society, Only the freedom for which I am prepared to die, Right to participate in law-making, Approach the court for protection, Relief the case of violence, Take part in the administration, Intended to play, Monopolizing by the Whites, But enjoying none of them, Obliged to obey laws, To direct presentation, Adopt the attitudes, Expect to have confidence, Strictly enforce laws, Hate the discrimination practices, To be sustained by the fact, Reduce the majority, Maintain the population, Chattels to work, Will change in any way, Removed by the removal of injustice, Seek to remove.”


    Relational Process

    “Equality before the law means the law by which one is governed; the law by which one is governed is equality before the law, All the basic rights to which I have referred are monopolized by the Whites; the Whites monopolized all the basic rights, Nothing that this court can do to me will change in any way that hatred in me; in any way, the hatred in me can't be changed by this court".


    Behavioral process

    Africans are not enjoying the basic rights, Cherishing, Hoping, Dying, Violating, Approaching, Safeguarding, Privileging, Referring, Monopolizing, Misleading, Considering, Obliging, Representing, Directing, Understanding, Hating, Enforcing, Sustaining, maintaining, Populating, behaving, decreeing, broadening, changing.

    Verbal Process

    Cherish, democratize, prepare, to die, Right, to participate, Making, Approach, Protect, Relief, Take part, Intend, to play, Monopolize,  Enjoy, Oblige, to obey, To direct, Present, Adopt, Expect, Enforce, Hate, Discriminate, Practice, Sustain, Reduce, Maintain, to work, change, Removed, Remove, Seek, to remove. 


    Existential Process

    Judges, Magistrates Attorney general, Law advisor, Pretoria, South Africa

    SFG Representation by Bar Graph 

    Figure 1

    SFG Representation in the Speeches

    The above diagram consists of 12 rows and 09 columns. In the first column, all the ten selected speeches were mentioned one by one in ascending order. In the second column, the total number of words of individual speeches has been mentioned. In the third column, the total number of 'Material processes' has been jotted down one by one. In the fourth column, the total number of 'Mental processes' has been jotted down. In the fifth column, the total number of 'Relational processes' has been typed one by one. In the sixth column, the total number of 'Behavioural processes' has been jotted down. In column number seven, the total number of 'Verbal processes' has been mentioned one by one. In the eighth column, the total number of 'Existential processes' has been jotted down one by one while in the last column, the total but an individual number of all of the six processes of 'Ideational Function' has been jotted down one by one. The diagram shows a clear picture that in the selected ten speeches, Nelson eloquently practiced the 'Ideal Function'. All the ten speeches consisted of 4005 words when all of them were individual but carefully counted time and again. Individually, there was total 'Material process 620', 'mental process 416’, ‘Relational process 68’, ‘Behavioural process 365’, ‘Verbal processes 510 and ‘Existential processes 64 have been used. In other words, out of 4005, a total of 1255 words of Ideational Function has been used.    

    The Interpersonal Function

    In this process, language or discourse is practiced as an effective source of communication to exchange ideas, emotions and feelings through speeches. However, the modality has to play a brisk role as the component of the socio-political communication system. It is used to express the judgment and attitude of the speaker regarding the object or topic. It is also carried out to express the strength, intention, potentiality, willingness, and accuracy of a person by dint of a statement or sentence. On the other hand, these are referred to as modal verbs. In terms of the English language, apart from modal verbs, adverbs, and adjectives, there are notional/ ideational verbs, pronouns (especially personal pronoun), direct and indirect speeches, active and passive forms as well as tense also play a productive role in the promulgation of interpersonal function. In short, here, the researcher is highlighting and analyzing by dint of diagram, in below, all ‘modal verbs’, tense’ and personal pronouns which have been used in Nelson’s speeches, like:


     

    Table 1

    Sample Speech

    Modal Verbs

    Tense or Situation

    Pronoun/cases

    Grand Total

    Present

    Past

    Future

    Cond.

    Total

    Subj

    Poss.

    Obj

    Total

    No

    1

    31/4030

    21

    00

    05

    00

    26/230

    22

    16

    06

    44/4030

    101/13190

    No

    2

    30/4030

    14

    00

    00

    00

    14/230

    25

    02

    06

    33/4030

    77/13195

     


    The above mention table consists of 2 rows and 5 columns. In column no.1, a total of 2 speeches were mentioned in serial wise. In column no.2, the modal verbs of each speech have been mentioned. In column no.3, the tense or situation of each speech has been denoted. But this very column (no.3) has been further divided into five sub-columns denoting the present, past, future and conditional and total sentences, of each speech, have been shown in the first, second, third, fourth and fifth columns respectively. In column no.4, the pronouns (particularly personal) have been mentioned. However, this very column (no.4) has been further divided into four sub-columns denoting the subjective (nominative), possessive (or genitive), objective (or elative) cases and total no of pronouns used in each of the speech, have been shown in the first, second, third and fourth columns respectively. 

    The Textual Function

    It is the third, but essential part of Halliday’s three Meta-functions. The chief concern of this component is to fulfill the desired needs of language being operatively relevant employing texture in a meaningful situation that makes a clear distinction and difference a real but living diction from just the so-called passage in the grammatical book. It gives the additional strength of potential meaning to linguistic structures that pave ways to convey messages or information through discourse. It also strives for embedding the sentences together to make them much more coherent and functional.

    The speeches show that he knew the sensations, feelings and emotions of his nation. That's why he serenely fulfilled the duty of his being a real leader of his nation in a true sense. He also knew how to stimulate the sensations and emotions of his suppressed nation. To stir up the emotions of his nation, Nelson skillfully practiced a chain of keywords’. Here, the term ‘keywords’ refers to the distinct words and phrases such as 'change', 'unity', 'national unity, 'bring about the change', 'determination', 'demands of the people', 'vision', 'dream', 'creation', 'creativeness', 'creativity', 'new constitutions', 'place on the table', 'conqueror', 'prescribing', 'fellow citizens', 'heal the wounds of the past, 'intended to reconstruct', 'justice', 'justice for all, 'challenge', 'we will rise together, 'entering new era', 'celebrate', ' victory', 'celebrate victory', 'to lead in the future, 'citizens of one nation', 'history', 'lay the foundation stone of a new nation’ etc.

    Findings

    For the population of the sample, a considerable number of his speeches, including freedom speeches, speeches during 18 years of Robben prison, speeches delivered just after releasing and victory speeches were deeply dealt with and heard them time and again with full concentration. Out of the above-mentioned aspects of speeches, only his 10 speeches were selected as population samples. The research has been conducted based on certain research questions like: (I) what is meant by the term Critical Discourse Analysis as well as Systemic Functional Grammar (the three Halliydian Meta-functions)? (II) How do the three Halliydian Meta-functions work in Mandela’s discourse (particularly political speeches)? (III) Why does Mandela use Systemic Functional Grammar in his speeches? (IV) What extent the three Meta-functions make language effective?

    It was found in the findings that the concept of SFG was initially used and well defined by Halliday, though much works have been carried out by various scholars and researchers in terms of exploring and expanding its prime scope. The collected data also shows that Halliday is an Australian prominent linguist. At the international level, he put forth one of the most influential models of grammar known as Systemic Functional Grammar, which is also called Systemic Functional Linguistics in which Critical Discourse Analysis and various other theories of pragmatics are based. It also has been explored by the study that the term SFG stands for systemic functional grammar. In short, Halliday’s SFG consists of three Meta-functions; ideational, interpersonal and textual. Ideational function regulates the realization of the essence as well as the meaning of accessible choices. The core objective of the SFG is to represent the thoughts and views of an individual on the desired topic by dint of a systemic grammatical structure based on functional features. The main objective of this research study also is to highlight the fact that how much SFG contributed its vital role to make oral discourse (speech) of Nelson more effective. Moreover, considerable relevance to the criteria of evaluation and interpretation like as political ideology, social norms, and cultural features, intellectual integrity, moral understanding within one’s surroundings, and socio-political background can be made possible through SFG. No doubt, SFG encourages oral and communicative activities in an inflected and much-oppressed community to expel their catharsis and convey their desired meanings in a real sense. This is what SFG did justice with Nelson to fulfill his teeming dream to enrich the South Africans’ political ideology and their socio-cultural norms.

    However, how the three Halliydian Meta-functions work in Mandela’s discourse (particularly political speeches and the reasons for practicing the Systemic Functional Grammar by Nelson in his speeches and what extent the three Meta-functions make language (speeches) effective are the other bulging focal points in thesis work. And the findings of the research indicate that collectively, in his majority of speeches, the elements of the three meta-functions were enormously used. Particularly, the factors of ideational function were extensively found in speeches which prove him to be an ideological politician. 


     

    Transitivity Analysis

    Table 2

    Sample Speech

    Total Words

    Material Processes

    Mental Processes

    Relational Processes

    Behavioral Processes

    Verbal Processes

    Existential Processes

    Total words of each process

    1

    No

    380

    63

    34

    06

    24

    47

    03

    178

    %

    18.0%

    11%

    2.5%

    5%

    12.3%

    0.5%

    49.3%

    2

    No

    490

    27

    22

    03

    25

    34

    05

    116

    %

    6%

    4.5%

    0.6%

    5.2%

    7.1%

    1.3%

    26.5%

     


    The above mention Table consists of 12 rows and 10 columns. Each of the row no.1 to 12 was sub-divided into two more rows denoting no and %. In column no.1, a total of 10 speeches were mentioned in serial wise. In column no.2, No and % were denoted. In column no.3, the total words (presents in) of each speech has been mentioned. In column no.4 to 9, the six processes of transitivity analysis such as material, mental, relational, behavioral, verbal and existential processes have been mentioned properly. However, in the last column, the total number of ideational (transitivity) elements of each speech has been indicated been used. Overall almost 34% ideational elements have been practiced in the mentioned selected speeches.

    Mandela’s speeches (which are full of meta-functional elements) left innumerable impacts. Some of the chief points are:

    1)        The African nation was given a ray of hope to fight for their basic human rights.

    2)       The South African people were enabled to sing a song as a free nation after infusing a dire sense of freedom.

    3)        The Rest was granted for the restless, hope for hopeless, a home for the homeless and job for the jobless.

    4)       The message of peace and serenity was given not only to the African but the entire world as well.

    5)       All the scattered African people were gathered at the same table of equality and brotherhood irrespective of color, creed, religion and any other status.

    6)       The most important point is that the anonymous Africans were given long-lasting identity as an independent country.

    7)       The basic human rights were granted to those who were denied.

    8)       On the way of a prosperous and stable country, all virulent hindrances such as injustice, inhumanity, cruelty, brutality and violence were removed.

    9)       It was practically showed that the top-secret of a really independent and developed nation is the eradication of unemployment from the glebe of the country. That’s why Nelson was determined to root it out not only at the country level but also world level. 

    Conclusion

    The findings can be concluded with these words that today, as the entire world is rapidly becoming a global village, there are certain needs to be fulfilled to meet the emerging needs. There broke out amazing innovations in every walk of life and the tragic past has been replaced. No longer had any space remained for cruelty and injustice on the base of race, creed, color, religion, dress, cultures and language. This study is to depict the tragic past of the South Africans who had been dealt with the inhuman manner by the white particularly the Apartheids. The Apartheid applied all possible ways of afflictions and virulent brutality over the black when they raised their hands for basic human rights. But at the eleventh hour, the political speeches of Nelson Mandela proved an Aladdin lamp. His revolutionary speeches brought about all the afflictions and violations applied the black Africans turn into freedom and prosperity in the entire land of South Africa. It was discovered that SFG assisted and encouraged oral and communicative activities in an oppressed community to expel their catharsis regarding their desired meanings truly. This is what SFG did complete justice with Nelson to fulfill his teeming dream to enrich the South Africans’ political ideology and their socio-cultural norms.

    In brief, with the help of graphs and diagrams, the results showed that, in the selected fifteen speech, 34% ideational function, 11% interpersonal function while 38% textual function and collectively round about 86% three-meta functional elements have been used that prove the fact that Mandela has considerably practiced the elements of systemic functional grammar in his speeches and indeed that was the lurking secret of his speeches being much more effective and revolutionary. In short, if our dear homeland Pakistan wants to dream of prosperity and stability, coping with the bulging issues can only be possible by a sincere but revolutionary politician like Mandela.

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Cite this article

    CHICAGO : Roohi, Shumaila, Muhammad Asif, and Rana Imran Ali. 2021. "Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches." Global Educational Studies Review, VI (IV): 151-162 doi: 10.31703/gesr.2021(VI-IV).16
    HARVARD : ROOHI, S., ASIF, M. & ALI, R. I. 2021. Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches. Global Educational Studies Review, VI, 151-162 .
    MHRA : Roohi, Shumaila, Muhammad Asif, and Rana Imran Ali. 2021. "Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches." Global Educational Studies Review, VI: 151-162
    MLA : Roohi, Shumaila, Muhammad Asif, and Rana Imran Ali. "Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches." Global Educational Studies Review, VI.IV (2021): 151-162 Print.
    OXFORD : Roohi, Shumaila, Asif, Muhammad, and Ali, Rana Imran (2021), "Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches", Global Educational Studies Review, VI (IV), 151-162
    TURABIAN : Roohi, Shumaila, Muhammad Asif, and Rana Imran Ali. "Critical Discourse Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches." Global Educational Studies Review VI, no. IV (2021): 151-162 . https://doi.org/10.31703/gesr.2021(VI-IV).16