Critical Discourse Analysis of Gamal Abdel Nasser’s 1967 Speech

Ibtesam AbdulAziz Bajri^1, and Layla Mohammed Mariesel¹

¹Faculty of Languages and Translation, Department of English Language, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Cite this paper:
Ibtesam AbdulAziz Bajri and Layla Mohammed Mariesel. Critical Discourse Analysis of Gamal Abdel Nasser’s 1967 Speech. Journal of Linguistics and Literature. 2020; 4(1):45-49. doi: 10.12691/jll-4-1-5

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate Gamal Abdel Nasser’s 1967 stepping down speech using Fairclough’s [1] model of critical discourse analysis. The paper focuses on the dimension of text, which contains lexical items, rhetorical devices, and metaphors. The analysis shows how Abdel Nasser employs all of these linguistic tools to his favor and shows a thematic use of the lexical items. Also, the analysis exhibits the use of rhetorical devices such as euphemism, which serves as a means of mitigating the intensity of the situation. Other rhetorical devices include dysphemism, digression, and rhetorical questions. Metaphors are used to describe the defeat, to glorify the revolution, or to describe the sacrifices of the fallen soldiers on the battlefield. This study is limited to the dimension of text; therefore, recommendations are due for further analysis that includes all the dimensions of Fairclough's [1] model.

Keywords:
critical discourse analysis text lexical items rhetoric and metaphors

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