Metaphor as Persuasive Device in The Inaugural Speech of President Goodluck Jonathan

• Tajudeen Jinadu ADEGOKE Ph.D.

  Adeyemi Federal University of Education Ondo

  Author

Abstract 

Presidential inaugural speeches which embody persuasive political strategies and linguistic devices reflect in leaders’ political agendas as evident in Nigeria. Previous studies on Presidential inaugural speeches in Nigeria often focused on persuasive effect of metaphor from the stylistic, pragmatic and sociolinguistic perspectives. However, this study was designed investigate metaphor from the cognitive perspective with a view to identifying the conceptual metaphors projected in them. The theoretical framework adopted for the study is Conceptual Metaphor Theory suggested by Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. (1980). The methodology applied is the Critical Metaphor Analysis (CMA) by Charteris-Black (2004, 2005). The quantitative analysis of the metaphors reveals eight source domain metaphors namely: Journey, Building, Personification, Family, Conflict, Business, Plant and Food metaphors. Four of these metaphors were resourceful. The conceptual metaphors realised from the source domain metaphors are: NIGERIANS AS TRAVELLERS ALONG A PATH TOWARDS A DESTINATION, NIGERIA AS THE VANGUARD OF DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA, NIGERIA NATION AS A BUILDING IN PROGRESS, NIGERIA SOCIAL CHALLENGES AS ENEMIES/OPPONENTS, NIGERIA AS A FAMILY AND AFRICAN NATIONS AS MEMBERS OF NIGERIA EXTENDED FAMILY. Through the use of this cognitive tool, the socio-political realities of the Nigerian nation were well described to inspire and persuade the Nigerian citizens. 

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