A Stylistic Analysis of President Mahama’s 2024 Electoral Victory Acceptance Speech

Abstract

An acceptance speech acts as an opportunity for speakers to relate, share their journey and express gratitude to others. Speakers utilize these speeches to show appreciation, personal reflection, motivational elements, and resonate with the audience while celebrating their achievements. For politicians, their vision, ideology, and relationship with the electorate are encapsulated in their pivotal political acceptance speeches. Due to the multi-purpose nature of this speech, writers employ several stylistic devices aimed at portraying their unique idiosyncrasies while also persuading the audience. They use implied language as a means of expressing ideas, emotions, and desires. This study analyses the language and stylistic elements found in President-elect Mahama’s acceptance speech following the 2024 electoral victory. It examines how the speaker's idiosyncratic nature and particularity are reflected in his language use. The analysis employs the analytical frameworks mainly in a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) fashion with other related frameworks serving as associations. (Fairclough 1992, 1993, Halliday 1978, Wodak, 2002,1999). The data reveals the use of stylistic devices such as over-wording, cohesion and coherence, logical connectors, repetition, pronouns, and the use of active sentences in conveying the themes of hope, unity, progress, and confidence. The president-elect skillfully applies these techniques to enhance the effectiveness of his message and relate to his listeners on both intellectual and emotional levels.  This creates a narrative of optimism, resilience, and inclusiveness, qualities needed by the speaker as he sets out on his journey of resetting the country.