Indeixicality in Political Discourse in Ghana: The Case of Former President John Mahama’s Speech at the National Memorial Service for Victims of June 03, 2015 Flood and Fire Disaster

Abstract

This paper examines the indexicals in President John Dramani Mahama's speech, which was given on June 3, 2015, amid the flood and fire incident in Ghana, which resulted in the deaths of over 150 people. The speech's use of various indexicals—including their types, frequency, and effects—is covered. The study makes the case that, by using first-person pronouns like "I" and "my," the speaker successfully achieved self-projection and demonstrated empathy in his speech. The speech also used all indexicals, including person, spatial, temporal, discourse, and social, at different rates. Additionally, Deixis was used to make emotive appeals to the audience's emotions, an elusive emotional scale that compels one to support him. Without considering the value of their discourse, politicians frequently employ this tactic to gain the public's trust.