A Generic Structure Analysis of Nigerian Presidential Inauguration Speeches from 1999 to 2015

Abstract

The article focuses on a generic structure analysis of Nigerian presidential inauguration speeches from 1999 to 2015. The data for the study comprised five (5) Nigerian presidential inauguration speeches that have been delivered from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2015. The selected Nigerian inauguration presidential speeches were subjected to Halliday and Hasan's Generic Structure Potential Theory and ten (10) discourse elements were identified. Out of the ten (10) discourse elements, eight (8) obligatory elements were identified: Title (T), Opening Acts (OA), Protocol (P), Recognition of Predecessors (RoP), Manifesto (M), Call for Support (CfS), Closing Acts (CA), and Customary Declaration (CD). Two (2) optional elements were identified: Theme (TH) and Acknowledgement of God (AoG). The GSP for Nigerian presidential inauguration speeches from 1999 to 2015 yielded: [T.(TH)]^[(AoG)^OA]^{P^RoP^}^{M}^[CfS^CA^CD].