An analysis of power relations, affiliation and individuation in selected coup, secession, and inaugural speeches of Nigerian leaders, 1960-2015
- Authors: Unegbu, Osondu Chukwuemeka
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Balance of power , Individuation (Psychology) , Corpora (Linguistics) , Systemic functional linguistics , Presidents Inaugural addresses , Emotive (Linguistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432399 , vital:72867 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432399
- Description: The focus of this study is the analysis of unequal power relations, affiliation, and individuation in selected coup, secession, and inaugural speeches of Nigerian leaders. The data comprises 16 speeches, which represent the total population of Nigerian presidential coup, secession ,and inaugural speeches made by Nigerian leaders from 1960 to 2015. The written text of these speeches was collected from Internet sources. Corpus Linguistics (CL), and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) were used to do a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data. Specifically, SFL’s Appraisal framework was used to analyse how the speakers coupled Ideational and Interpersonal meanings, in the Appraisal sub-systems of Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation, to realize unequal power relations, affiliation, and individuation. CL and SFL were combined using Bednarek’s three-pronged approach to discourse analysis to carry out macro-, meso-and micro-analysis of the speeches. This allowed for a perspective on the development of discourses over time (phylogenesis) and the way meaning-making resources were employed in the unfolding of individual speeches (logogenesis). Bednarek’s three-pronged approach was readapted into a four-pronged approach to allow for two levels of meso-analysis, one comparing speeches before and after the Nigeria-BiafraWarand another comparing three genres of speeches: coup, secession, and inaugural speeches. Keywords, collocates and concordance results were used to compare the different and similar features of the linguistic resources used in the pre-and post-war speeches, and the three genres of speeches. Key findings show that the inaugural speeches used civil-oriented words and expressions to reproduce unequal power relations covertly and affiliate with all Nigerians, such as: “we will create greater access to quality education”. The coup speakers used mainly militaristic words and expressions to reproduce binary power asymmetry overtly, to create in-group and out-group affiliation and individuation, using expressions such as: “You are hereby warned”. The secession speaker affiliated with Biafrans and individuated away from Nigeria with overt power asymmetry in a militaristic fashion, using expressions such as: “totally dissolved”. This study contributes to the understanding of Nigerian political discourses by unravelling the interconnectedness of the couplings of linguistic resources in coup, secession, and inaugural speeches, and Nigeria’s sociopolitical experiences over time. The study can guide political speech writers and other contributors to political discourse in choosing appropriate lexemes and clause complexes for communicating citizens during different sociopolitical periods. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
- Authors: Unegbu, Osondu Chukwuemeka
- Date: 2023-10-13
- Subjects: Balance of power , Individuation (Psychology) , Corpora (Linguistics) , Systemic functional linguistics , Presidents Inaugural addresses , Emotive (Linguistics)
- Language: English
- Type: Academic theses , Doctoral theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/432399 , vital:72867 , DOI 10.21504/10962/432399
- Description: The focus of this study is the analysis of unequal power relations, affiliation, and individuation in selected coup, secession, and inaugural speeches of Nigerian leaders. The data comprises 16 speeches, which represent the total population of Nigerian presidential coup, secession ,and inaugural speeches made by Nigerian leaders from 1960 to 2015. The written text of these speeches was collected from Internet sources. Corpus Linguistics (CL), and Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) were used to do a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data. Specifically, SFL’s Appraisal framework was used to analyse how the speakers coupled Ideational and Interpersonal meanings, in the Appraisal sub-systems of Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation, to realize unequal power relations, affiliation, and individuation. CL and SFL were combined using Bednarek’s three-pronged approach to discourse analysis to carry out macro-, meso-and micro-analysis of the speeches. This allowed for a perspective on the development of discourses over time (phylogenesis) and the way meaning-making resources were employed in the unfolding of individual speeches (logogenesis). Bednarek’s three-pronged approach was readapted into a four-pronged approach to allow for two levels of meso-analysis, one comparing speeches before and after the Nigeria-BiafraWarand another comparing three genres of speeches: coup, secession, and inaugural speeches. Keywords, collocates and concordance results were used to compare the different and similar features of the linguistic resources used in the pre-and post-war speeches, and the three genres of speeches. Key findings show that the inaugural speeches used civil-oriented words and expressions to reproduce unequal power relations covertly and affiliate with all Nigerians, such as: “we will create greater access to quality education”. The coup speakers used mainly militaristic words and expressions to reproduce binary power asymmetry overtly, to create in-group and out-group affiliation and individuation, using expressions such as: “You are hereby warned”. The secession speaker affiliated with Biafrans and individuated away from Nigeria with overt power asymmetry in a militaristic fashion, using expressions such as: “totally dissolved”. This study contributes to the understanding of Nigerian political discourses by unravelling the interconnectedness of the couplings of linguistic resources in coup, secession, and inaugural speeches, and Nigeria’s sociopolitical experiences over time. The study can guide political speech writers and other contributors to political discourse in choosing appropriate lexemes and clause complexes for communicating citizens during different sociopolitical periods. , Thesis (PhD) -- Faculty of Humanities, Linguistics and Applied Language Studies, 2023
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2023-10-13
Reimagining constructions of gender dysphoria: a dual systematic review using analytical psychology’s concept of individuation
- Authors: Couch, Matthew
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Gender identity disorders , Gender identity , Individuation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MScoSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95184 , vital:31125
- Description: The process of conceptualization has long served to capture and represent our perceptions of the social world. Conceptual categories help to make sense of subjective experiences, and through discursive practices may come to construct conventional frameworks of knowledge. Consequently, frameworks operating as natural and immutable run the risk of ignoring the dynamic and diverse experiences of many individuals. Today, conceptual frameworks for gender identity are found as inadequately representing progressive social views on the existence of gender identities manifesting outside of the prevailing male-female binary. Within this space of conceptual contention, the diagnostic category of gender dysphoria has received considerable inspection and critique. In particular, it has been criticised as fundamentally controversial by classifying issues of identity within a clinical framework and, consequently, as contributing to the pathologization of all gender diverse individuals. Thus, efforts to reconceptualise and reimagine gender dysphoria may be found. In this research the concept of individuation, as understood within a framework of analytical psychology, is discussed as a potential consideration in reimagining the concept of gender dysphoria. An overarching framework of social constructionism was adopted within this research in examining how constructions of conventional knowledge come about through regulatory discursive and performative practices. The theoretical orientation of analytical psychology was used to frame the concept of individuation and its application to gender dysphoria. This perspective consulted queer theory as a further critical orientation toward the construction of gender identity. The chosen methodology took form as a dual systematic review using critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) to construct representative frameworks. Psychological literature on gender dysphoria (review 1) and individuation (review 2) was reviewed and synthesised. Review 1 identified conceptual inferences within the literature and assessed their role toward problematic gender discourse, while review 2 served as a contributory tool to critically assess whether the conceptual space was accommodating of the concept of individuation. Findings in review 1 identified contemporary gender dysphoria literature as reinforcing of problematic gender discourse. The prevailing clinical framework on gender dysphoria and gender nonconformity was iterated through conceptual constructs emphasising an experience of pathological distress or life dissatisfaction. As such, a cyclical pathologization of gender diversity is reconstructed through current representations within the literature. However, it was deduced that there are signs of resistance in the literature to the clinical model which challenge and counter the impact of problematic gender discourse. In review 2, individuation was framed by the literature as an intrapsychic facilitator supporting the integration of all aspects particular to the individual personality so that conscious identity becomes congruent with internal nature. Resultantly, one may experience psychosocial maturation and contribute to collective societal progression. For some, individuation prompts a differentiation from collective expectations in integrating one‘s inherent nature into expressed identity. Thus, gender nonconformity may be viewed as an expression of this differentiation when individuation drives the realization of this feature to be intrinsic and natural for the individual. Individuation was determined as incompatible with the category of gender dysphoria, but of value within the conceptual space where efforts to reimagine gender dysphoria are in place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
- Authors: Couch, Matthew
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: Gender identity disorders , Gender identity , Individuation (Psychology)
- Language: English
- Type: text , Thesis , Masters , MScoSc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/95184 , vital:31125
- Description: The process of conceptualization has long served to capture and represent our perceptions of the social world. Conceptual categories help to make sense of subjective experiences, and through discursive practices may come to construct conventional frameworks of knowledge. Consequently, frameworks operating as natural and immutable run the risk of ignoring the dynamic and diverse experiences of many individuals. Today, conceptual frameworks for gender identity are found as inadequately representing progressive social views on the existence of gender identities manifesting outside of the prevailing male-female binary. Within this space of conceptual contention, the diagnostic category of gender dysphoria has received considerable inspection and critique. In particular, it has been criticised as fundamentally controversial by classifying issues of identity within a clinical framework and, consequently, as contributing to the pathologization of all gender diverse individuals. Thus, efforts to reconceptualise and reimagine gender dysphoria may be found. In this research the concept of individuation, as understood within a framework of analytical psychology, is discussed as a potential consideration in reimagining the concept of gender dysphoria. An overarching framework of social constructionism was adopted within this research in examining how constructions of conventional knowledge come about through regulatory discursive and performative practices. The theoretical orientation of analytical psychology was used to frame the concept of individuation and its application to gender dysphoria. This perspective consulted queer theory as a further critical orientation toward the construction of gender identity. The chosen methodology took form as a dual systematic review using critical interpretive synthesis (CIS) to construct representative frameworks. Psychological literature on gender dysphoria (review 1) and individuation (review 2) was reviewed and synthesised. Review 1 identified conceptual inferences within the literature and assessed their role toward problematic gender discourse, while review 2 served as a contributory tool to critically assess whether the conceptual space was accommodating of the concept of individuation. Findings in review 1 identified contemporary gender dysphoria literature as reinforcing of problematic gender discourse. The prevailing clinical framework on gender dysphoria and gender nonconformity was iterated through conceptual constructs emphasising an experience of pathological distress or life dissatisfaction. As such, a cyclical pathologization of gender diversity is reconstructed through current representations within the literature. However, it was deduced that there are signs of resistance in the literature to the clinical model which challenge and counter the impact of problematic gender discourse. In review 2, individuation was framed by the literature as an intrapsychic facilitator supporting the integration of all aspects particular to the individual personality so that conscious identity becomes congruent with internal nature. Resultantly, one may experience psychosocial maturation and contribute to collective societal progression. For some, individuation prompts a differentiation from collective expectations in integrating one‘s inherent nature into expressed identity. Thus, gender nonconformity may be viewed as an expression of this differentiation when individuation drives the realization of this feature to be intrinsic and natural for the individual. Individuation was determined as incompatible with the category of gender dysphoria, but of value within the conceptual space where efforts to reimagine gender dysphoria are in place.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2019
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