A Critical Discourse Analysis of Selected Speeches of Three Egyptian Leaders: Saad Zaghloul, Mohamed Nageeb and Hosny Mubark

Abstract

Language is a powerful means which shapes politics. Both of them interact and depend upon one another. Hence, the present research examines the linguistic usage of the political speeches of three Egyptian leaders during the three revolutions, to clarify their domination of their people's mind. It applies the analytical tools of Wodak's Discourse Historical Approach (DHA) within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG). After comparing the three speeches, the differences become clear. The results reveal that, on the one hand, the first two speeches of Saad Zaghloul and Mohamed Nageeb are declared for the sake of the people's freedom. They utilize certain discursive strategies to convince the public of their ideas, and this appears vividly in their lexical and grammatical choices. On the other hand, the results show that the third speech of Mubarak is declared to impose his ideologies. He uses manipulative discursive strategies in an attempt to control and dominate his people and influence their opinion and knowledge. In the first two speeches the people encourage their leaders, while, in the case of Mubarak, they insist on his stepping down.