Abstract
More often in political debates, participants do not readily expound their identities and attitudes; they employ language structure that requires the analysis of the placing of self/other in certain positions for comprehension. Hence, this study aims at exploring identity construction through positioning act strategies and the identities projected in the discourse practices by two vice presidential debate candidates in defining selves/others, parties’ stance and group categorization. The study used Langenhove and Harre (1999) positioning theory. The data for the study are delimited to five excerpts randomly selected from thirty-two online-transcribed discourses between two debate participants. Findings reveal that the candidates made use of first and second order performative and accountive positioning acts to implicate self/party’s moral order and positive stance and the other’s immoral attributes. The modes of positioning are moral, personal, intentional, deliberate self and other and forced self-positioning. The discursive practices involved are such that are strategically manipulated to divulge the individual’s attitudes to the socio-economic and political development of the nation, thereby portraying the following identities: Scrupulous, dogged, competent, loyalist and committed (self/group) identity and corrupt minded, incompetent, failure and uncommitted (others) identity. In conclusion, the knowledge of the concepts of positioning and its applicability to the understanding of political debates is essential for the understanding of the politicians’ ideologies and identities as well as their stance on the nation’s growth.
Highlights
Identities are manifested in varying facets of language structures employed by individuals in their communicative acts
This study aims at exploring identity construction through positioning act strategies and the identities projected in the discourse practices by two vice presidential debate candidates in defining selves/others, parties’ stance and group categorization
The analysis of the findings reveals that first and second order performative and accountive positionings are exploited by the candidates in positioning selves/group and others, but the use of second order accountive is found to be mostly employed by the candidates
Summary
Identities are manifested in varying facets of language structures employed by individuals in their communicative acts. Scholars have enormously embarked on researches on political discourse, but inasmuch as language use is paramount in the reconstruction of politicians’ identities and stance in national development in a Nigeria situation, not enough work has addressed or examined the language structure of Nigerian vice-presidential debate discourses for identity reconstruction, for better understanding and choice of candidates. This is as a result of its (politicians’ identity and stance) consequence being pivotal in subsequent implications in the progress or dwindling of a country’s socio-economic and political development. This is because political discourse is a complex human activity that deserves critical study because of its central place in the organization and management of society” (2013:43)
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