A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF PERSONAL PRONOUNS IN GOVERNOR WILLIE OBIANO'S SECOND TERM INAUGURAL SPEECH

The study focuses on a critical discourse analysis of the use of personal pronouns in the 2018 Second Term Inaugural Speech of Governor Willie Obiano in Anambra State, Nigeria. The analysis was anchored on Norman Fairclough's three tier dimensional model. Two research questions were formulated to guide the study. The personal pronouns selected for this study were I, we, they and you. The study made use of both quantitative and qualitative methods of data presentation. It was identified that 'we', is the most frequently used pronoun in the speech. Thus, Obiano uses 'we' intentionally and strategically to emphasize the willingness and the representative role of his administration; to identify that he and his government are part of the whole state; and, that achievements should be attributed to the efforts of the people of Anambra State while the challenges before them call for their united hard work. Significantly, this paper provides insights into the peculiar uses of personal pronouns in political speeches and concludes that politicians exploit the flexibility of pronominal reference to construct a view of themselves and others that is favourable to their image.