Abstract
This paper aims to analyze the speeches of Michael Obama in the light of Van Dijk CDA model. The fine relation
between identity and pronouns, and the way they are being implemented are the focal points investigated in the paper.
Teun Van Dijk is quiet a known name in discourse studies, and his model of CDA analysis is one of the powerful
approaches in the domain. His model involves three dimensions of ideology analysis, namely, discourse, sociocognition
and social analysis. Two of the speeches of Michelle Obama have been selected randomly. First speech has been
addressed to “Democratic National Convention” (2012) and the second speech is taken from “Democratic presidential
nominee’s campaign rally in Salem, N.C. To evaluate her speeches discussion has been done by using CDA model of
Van Dijk. (2001) and qualitative approach has been used. Speech has been analyzed at different levels. It has been
found that Micheal Obama uses a lot of pronouns like “I”, “You” and “We” etc in a variety of ways that reflects
identity and a strong sense of belonging. She is trying to endorse values and ethics by using powerful and watchfully
chosen pronouns which reveal identity and leave therapeutic effects on her audience. She smoothly drifts from “My”
to “Our” and “I” to “You” to demonstrate a strong connection between people and her life, particularly by using real
life examples. She skillfully uses repetition in her speeches to leave mark on her audience’s mind. Thus, it proves that,
a politician’s pronominal use of pronoun explains about one’s diverse identity, particularly one’s combined and shared
identity. This also strongly reflects a politician’s aim to connect to the audience by certain sociocognition practices, to
which they can relate. The schema of this research is to demonstrate the fine amalgamation of identity and pronoun
through the prism of Van Dijk CDA model. Furthermore, this study will open doors for the innovative entities in terms
of analyzing speeches through a different dimension. Basic purpose is to seek meaning via certain grammar tools
mentioned above as well as to build a certain paradigm in order to clarify certain vistas with regard to probe the
meaning under the surveillance of Van Dijk CDA model.
Rida Sarfaraz, Faiza Abid, Naheed Ashfaq. (2019) DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE SPEECHES OF MICHAEL OBAMA: A REFLECTION OF PRONOUNS AND IDENTITY, Journal of Social Sciences & Interdisciplinary Research, Volume 8, Issue 1.
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