Critical discourse analysis of the second inaugural speech of Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate language use in Abiy Ahmed’s second inaugural speech. The study aims to identify the critical discourse analysis elements reflected in the text, as well as the specific socio-cognitive elements used to facilitate communication. To meet these objectives, the study employs CDA as a research method and theoretical framework. As analytical frameworks, Van Dijk’s multidimensional critical discourse analysis and socio-cognitive model were used. The study revealed that at micro-level analysis, lexical items, pronouns, figures of speech, and sayings were used to construct unity—the dominant ideology. Similarly, themacrostructure analysis has shown that topics and macro structures were designed to show unity ideology. To create a unity discourse, cognitive elements such as authority, evidentiality, polarization, and victimization were used by the speaker. However, the text represents the in-groups positively and the out-groups negatively. In short, the language used in the inaugural speech has been used to build unity discourse. The speaker used history as a source of unifying rhetorical devices to persuade the audience and to achieve, exert, and maintain power over them. Furthermore, Abiy’s inaugural speech is primarily comprised of praise for his inner circle and criticism for his outer circle.