A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF LANGUAGE AND POWER IN PRESDIENT BUHARIS’S #ENDSARS SPEECH

Abstract

Language is the most fundamental medium of communication whether spoken,written, demonstrated or indicated in any other form, for the purpose of expression and bonding. It builds social constructions and promotes group relationships in the society. Language is also an instrument of power and dominance by the people in civil, military or political authority to fulfil and enforce their governance objectives and perhaps other personal interests. The way we make use of language speaks volumes of a person’s choice of discourse style towards any important issue whether political social, local, national and international. The crux of this study is to trace and identify the nexus between language and power, especially among persons exposed to high political influence and to establish if any abuse of language has occurred in this particular language instance of a national broadcast made by Nigeria’s president in the month of October, 2020. Finding shows that Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is a strong approach that is used to challenge and resist the excessive use of power, oppression and inequality prevailing in the society.