Linguistics and Literature Studies 3(2): 66-69, 2015 http://www.hrpub.

org
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2015.030205

Mandelian Rhetoric: An Analysis of Nelson Mandela’s

Political Speeches
Amitabh Vikram Dwivedi

School of Languages & Literature, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University ,Katra, Jammu (J&K), India

Copyright © 2015 Horizon Research Publishing All rights reserved.

Abstract The paper presents an analysis of Nelson persuade and influence the people. Primarily, any good
Mandela’s political speeches in relation to the linguistic speech defines issues and problems, reconstructs the
devices used in his political rhetoric, such as metaphor, thinking, and establishes a platform for the prospective
analogies, repetition, and three-fact lists and contrastive pairs. change in the society. Secondly, a speaker shows his/her
The main goal of this study is to address how effectively this personality, knowledge, charisma, and intellect while
African leader employed these devices in the linguistic delivering the speech. To an extent this paper is expected to
persuasion. The theoretical perspective of this study has been focus on the later function, and tries to provide a contribution
drawn from the major researches conducted on political to the application of Mandela’s speech in rhetoric studies.
rhetoric, including Beard; Charteris-Black; and Gibbs. The However, the readers may find that the technical and
methodology follows discourse analysis of speeches linguistic aspects are overshadowing the beauty of his
delivered by Mandela on various occasions, supported by the language in political speeches. But overall the investigation
general principles of qualitative research. This analysis will highlight the positive aspects of Mandela’s rhetoric
becomes important as a few researches on Madiba have often which help raise the voice of millions of Africans to be
criticized him for his militant speech being formulaic and heard.
rhetorically cautious and commenting that he is a politician, Like any other speeches, his speeches were also backed up
and not an intellectual. This study also throws some light on with an ideology. Mandela was influenced by Marxism, and
how speeches are generally delivered to convince and he advocated scientific socialism, and his ideological
influence your audiences. position can be understood, considering his opposition to
privatization, capitalism, and land-ownership.
Keywords Linguistic Persuasion, Speeches, Discourse
Analysis, Rhetoric.
2. Theoretical Background
Many branches of linguistics such as descriptive
linguistics, sociolinguistics, systemic linguistics, and the
1. Introduction ethnography of communication provide analytic tools for
Every political speech becomes lively and interesting analyzing speeches and the ideologies behind them. Lecocq
when the speaker employs linguistic devices to draw the investigated many speeches, including Reagan, Nixon, and
attention of the audience. Charteris-Black states that “within Roosevelt. He studied the function of metaphor in political
all types of political system, from autocratic, through discourse [2]. Researchers, including Wenzlawski, did their
oligarchic to democratic, leaders have relied on the spoken studies on war speeches and the pragmatic rhetoric of war
word to convince others of the benefits that arise from their speeches [3].
leadership” [1]. This study aims at analyzing the linguistic Furthermore, in India, there are many works on the
feature of Mandela’s speeches. Keeping the analysis of the political speeches of Indian leaders and freedom fighters but
rhetoric in the forefront, the present paper intends to focus on they generally concerned with the political ideologies and
linguistic aspects of political rhetoric, particularly their use social issues. The present study follows the idea that a
in English language, by Nelson Mandela. In order to political speech is not necessarily a success because it is
distinctively points out the characteristics of his kind of composed of and based on the principles of truth and
English language, this paper investigates and finds out correctness; rather it may be a matter of presenting valid
linguistic features, such as allusions, metaphors, analogy, arguments. Charteris-Black argues that successful speakers,
repetition, three-fact lists and contrastive pairs. especially in political contexts, need to appeal to attitudes
Speeches communicate with audience, and its role is to and emotions that are already within the listeners [4].
Linguistics and Literature Studies 3(2): 66-69, 2015 67

3. Research Design and Samples This strong metaphor might make think some critics on
Mandela to consider it an example of “militant speech” being
This study employs qualitative methods to analyze and “formulaic and rhetorically cautious,” and to make easy
classify data in order to find out the distinctive linguistic judgments that “he is a politician… … …and not an
features of Nelson Mandela's speeches. Furthermore, intellectual [7]. But the fact remains that his weaponless
methods of descriptive linguistics are used to provide an struggle and fight was against injustice, exploitation, poverty,
elaborate description of some linguistic features of his and starvation for which the white government was
speeches. responsible. He thinks that it is only through political
The data for this study were downloaded from various freedom these various forms of segregations will come to an
websites on the Internet. I selected ten speeches in the end. Moreover, he states his future plan of action. He
present work from Google search with techniques of staunchly believes that “Only through hardship, sacrifice and
browsing, searching, selecting, downloading, and coping. militant action can freedom be won.”[8]
On his release from prison at Cape Town in South Africa
on 11 February 1990, he says:
4. Data Analysis and Research “The sight of freedom looming on the horizon should
Objectives encourage us to redouble our efforts. It is only through
disciplined mass action that our victory can be assured.
The data for this paper is investigated with selecting and We call on our white compatriots to join us in the
collecting sentences or phrases containing linguistic features. shaping of a new South Africa. The freedom
The method which was used in the study was mainly the movement is a political home for you too.” [9]
qualitative approach. The procedure for the study is:
(1) Selecting, collecting and classifying data:read, select Though Mandela was unjustly sent by white government
and collect speeches by Mandela to prison where he served 27 years yet his fight was not
(2) Sorting out the data: classify and take notes of the data against the white people. He had been fighting for freedom,
by linguistic functions, such as Analogy, Metaphor, justice and racial discrimination against black. On his release
Repetition, and Rhetorical Questions; and from the prison he addressed both black and white to join a
(3) Analyzing data:point out the linguistic and stylistic disciplined mass action for “shaping of a new South Africa.”
features of his speeches. He believes that both white and black will together build an
apartheid-free country.
The paper tries to seek two important research questions to
His release from the prison was not a sign of freedom for
fulfill these objectives:
the country. In fact, he does not consider it as a freedom at all.
(a) What are the linguistic features of Mandela’s speeches
He calls for to redouble the efforts to establish democracy in
in English?
South Africa. Though he envisages that freedom is near yet
(b) How does he use language to make the audience
he knows that it can only be achieved through continuous
assent?
efforts. Similarly, in the same speech, he says:
The method of analysis was to find out linguistic “Our march to freedom is irreversible. We must not
expressions, such as words, sentences or paragraphs where allow fear to stand in our way.” [10]
he employed as if these choices had been suggested to depict
concepts and ideas in certain ways. Each selected text from There is no substitute to freedom. A pervasive metaphor
the speech was analyzed separately. “march” defines his role as a freedom fighter, and he
includes all the countrymen it this struggle. He also mentions
a vague metaphor “fear” which includes all kinds of
5. Findings and Discussion inhibitions, including all WH-questions and ifs depicting the
unpredictability of the future time.
Metaphors Used in Mandela’S Speeches During an address to the United Nations General
Since the conceptual system of human beings is Assembly at New York in USA on 3 October 1994, he says:
metaphorical, metaphors are often used to provide concrete “In all we do, we have to ensure the healing of the
labels to abstract ideas. The user of the language finds a wounds inflicted on all our people across the great
perceived similarity between objects and concepts, and thus dividing line imposed on our society by centuries of
employs them together. Lakoff and Johnson believe that they colonialism and apartheid. We must ensure that
are not only linguistic instruments but they permeate thought, colour, race and gender become only a God-given gift
perception, and behavior [5]. to each one of us and not an indelible mark or attribute
During a press statement issued while underground in South that accords a special status to any.” [11]
Africa on 26 June 1961, Mandela says:
This passage has important implications for how Mandela
“The struggle is my life. I will continue fighting for perceives his victory against apartheid and suppression (as
freedom until the end of my days.” [6] this speech was delivered after 4 months of his presidency).
68 Mandelian Rhetoric: An Analysis of Nelson Mandela's Political Speeches

Structurally, he employs two metaphorical expressions to Palmer says that discrimination means being rude and
recount the diversity of his country, namely “God-given gift” cruel to someone because he or she is different [16].
and “an indelible mark.” With an active reference to the past Individuals have likes and dislikes, and when one’s likes and
injustice, he hopes that racial discrimination will be end from dislikes are guided by the preferences of race then it is
this world forever provided all the nations will stand against known as race discrimination. South Africa’s system of
apartheid and colonialism. apartheid was the purest form of racial discrimination. The
Similarly, in Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Lecture at New fact remains that a small white community was against the
Delhi in India on 25 January 1995, he says: majority of blacks in their own country, and using various
“If we are able today to speak proudly of a rainbow discriminatory measures of repression and suppression.
nation, united in its diversity of culture, religion, race, Mandela stood his voice against this unjust system and he
language and ethnicity, it is in part because the world was consequently sentenced to life imprisonment. In his
set us a moral example which we dared to follow.” speech he made an analogy and included “the overwhelming
[12] majority of mankind” to support his argument.
On his release from prison, Cape Town, South Africa on
Mandela compares unity in diversity of India with a 11 February 1990, he says:
rainbow where many people reside in a democratic set up,
and he takes it a moral example to follow for a younger “It is only through disciplined mass action that our
democracy of South Africa. But he enumerates that any such victory can be assured. We call on our white
nation with diversity should ensure reconstruction and compatriots to join us in the shaping of a new South
Africa.”[17]
development for the people then a goal for a better life can be
achieved. Mandela was not only a leader of the South African people
Disregarding the political agenda of Mandela, we find in but of the world. He joined both the whites and blacks in his
many of his metaphors he communicates at an emotional movement against racial discrimination. The struggles for
level through his speeches, and takes standpoints that seem independence around world across nations recount that it
morally correct in his situation. However, the study claims only through a disciplined mass action the foreign oppressor
that no speech can connect to an audience solely by lexical was forced to leave the nation. He takes help of this historical
means, although it an important factor yet the issues fact to emphasize and support his argument.
addressed to the listeners must be relevant to the context. Repetition, Three-Part Lists, and Contrastive Pairs
Analogies Used in Mandela’s Speeches Repetition is another important feature of Mandela’s
speech. Jones and Wareing argue that “repeating certain
Analogies compare two situations-contemporary with the
phrases contribute towards making the ideas contained in
mythical or historical. Beard states that concepts and ideas
them seem ‘common sense.” [18] During a press statement
get their proper meaning when the speaker compares the
issued while underground in South Africa on 26 June 1961,
present situation with the well-known phenomena. [13]
Mandela says:
These myths and historical events support the arguments of
the speaker. Mandela was a champion of analogies. “Those who are voteless cannot be expected to
During a press statement issued while underground in continue paying taxes to a government which is not
South Africa on 26 June 1961, Mandela says: responsible to them. People who live in poverty and
“Any serious politician will realize that under starvation cannot be expected to pay exorbitant house
present-day conditions in this country, to seek for rents to the government and local authorities.” [19]
cheap martyrdom by handing myself to the police is Similarly, during the court statement at Pretoria in South
naive and criminal.” [14] Africa between 15 October and 7 November 1962 he uses
Mandela justifies his act of hiding underground, and three-pair lists:
decides not to surrender himself to the repression of the “I hate the practice of race discrimination, and in my
government. He does not compare himself with any specific hatred I am sustained by the fact that the
personality or act but he makes a generalization, had in this overwhelming majority of mankind hates it equally. I
situation any other serious politician fighting for freedom hate the systematic inculcation of children with colour
would have done the same. He further emphasizes that to prejudice and I am sustained in that hatred by the fact
surrender without fighting against the unjust would be “naïve that the overwhelming majority of mankind, here and
and criminal.” abroad, are with me in that. I hate the racial arrogance
During the court statement at Pretoria in South Africa which decrees that the good things of life shall be
between 15 October and 7 November 1962 he says: retained as the exclusive right of a minority of the
“I hate the practice of race discrimination, and in my population, and which reduces the majority of the
hatred I am sustained by the fact that the population to a position of subservience and
overwhelming majority of mankind hates it equally.” inferiority, and maintains them as vote less chattels to
[15] work where they are told and behave as they are told
Linguistics and Literature Studies 3(2): 66-69, 2015 69

by the ruling minority. I am sustained in that hatred by repetition are the most frequently employed linguistic
the fact that the overwhelming majority of mankind devices in his speeches. Metaphors are twice frequent than
both in this country and abroad are with me.” [20] repetition in ten speeches. Metaphors, ranging from
Mandela also uses contrastive pairs in his speeches, such signaling discrimination to motivate the fellow-countrymen,
as during a press statement issued while underground in generally employed to include their emotions against racial
South Africa on 26 June 1961, Mandela uses contrastive discrimination. Three-pair lists occur least in the speeches;
pairs: moreover their pattern does not follow the three-stages.

“Will you come along with us, or are you going to

cooperate with the government in its efforts to
suppress the claims and aspirations of your own
people?” [21]
REFERENCES
[1] Charteris-Black, J., 2005, Politics and Rhetoric: The
And a sort of three-part lists is used in his address to the Persuasive Power of Metaphor. Houndmills, Basingstoke,
United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid at Hampshire, New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
New York in UNS on 22 June 1990; where he says:
[2] Lecocq, C., 1985, An Investigation of Several Speeches by
“Let us travel it together. Let us, by our joint actions , Roosevelt, Nixon, and Reagan,With regard to the Function of
vindicate the purposes for which this Organization Metaphor in Political Discourse. UniversiteLibre de Bruxelles
(Belgium), Undergraduate Dissertation.
was established and create a situation where in its
Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human [3] Wenzlawski, J., 2011, Words at War - The pragmatic rhetoric
of war speeches: A comparison of war speeches by Winston
Rights will become part of the body of law on which Churchill and George W. Bush. Munich: GRIN Verlag GmbH.
will be based the political and social order of a new
South Africa. Our common victory is assured.” [22] [4] Charteris-Black 2005, Op. cit.

In long speeches words and phrases repetition is employed [5] Lakoff, G. and M. Johnson, 1980, Metaphors We Live By.
Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
to hold the speech together, and to help draw listeners’
attention to the arguments. Three-part lists are a modified [6] Mandela, N., Asmal, K., Chidester, D., & James, W., 2003, In
form of repetition where the speaker introduces new ideas in his own words. New York, N.Y: Little, Brown and Co.
a sequence. The first part introduces the arguments, and the [7] Boehmer, E. Nelson, 2008,Mandela: A Very Short
last two complements and closes it. Mandela does not strictly Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
follow the three-part lists but he modifies it according to the [8] Mandela, N., Asmal, K., Chidester, D., & James, W. G., 2003,
context. In his own words. New York, N.Y: Little, Brown and Co.
[9] Ibid., p. 14
6. Conclusions [10] Ibid., p. 14

Linguistic analysis relates the linguistic behavior to [11] Ibid., p. 19

political behavior. At micro-level, we can seek which [12] Ibid., p. 22
strategic functions, language structures serve, or at
[13] Beard, A., 2000, The Language of Politics. London:
macro-level we can seek which linguistic structures, the Routledge.
function of the text fulfills. The use of metaphors, contrastive
pairs, repetitive words and phrases are variations of the [14] Mandela, N., Asmal, K., Chidester, D., & James, W. G., 2003,
In his own words. New York, N.Y: Little, Brown and Co.
literary and ordinary speech. But this usage makes the
argument more effective and striking. The purpose of most [15] Ibid., p. 10
of the Mandela’s speeches was not to provide news and [16] Palmer, Ezra., 1995,Everything You Need to Know About
information to the public as mostly presidents and prime Discrimination. New York: Rosen Pub. Group.
ministers of various nations do, but to motivate the people
for an ongoing struggle against poverty, discrimination, [17] Ibid., p. 22
segregation, and injustice. [18] Jones, J. and S. Wareing, 1999, Language and Politics. In
His usage of metaphors, analogies, repetition, and Thomas, L. et.al (eds), Language, Society, and Power. London:
contrastive pairs might not be fresh or new but his speeches Routledge. pp. 31-47.
would become successful to create mental images in the [19] Mandela et. al. 2003, op. cit. p. 8
minds of his fellow countrymen against oppression and
[20] Mandela et. al. 2003, op. cit. p. 10
suppression. For that reason, whenever we remember him we
remember him as a global citizen who had a firm belief in [21] Mandela et. al. 2003, op. cit. p. 8
freedom, justice, and human equality.
[22] Mandela et. al. 2003, op. cit. p. 18
The qualitative method suggests that metaphors and