Pragmatic Act Analysis of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Speech at the Windsor Castle State Banquet on March 18 2026

Authors

Julius Olaolu BILEWUMO

Department of English, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State (Nigeria)

Olajide Felix OGIDAN

Department of English, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State (Nigeria)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100700379

Subject Category: Language

Volume/Issue: 10/7 | Page No: 5619-5626

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-07-24

Accepted: 2026-07-29

Published: 2026-08-02

Abstract

This study is a pragmatic discourse analysis of speech of president bola ahmed tinubu at the windsor castle state banquet on march 18 2026 in his honour by his majesty king charles. Drawing on jacob mey’s pragmatic acts theory (2001) as an established framework of political analysis, the study scrutinizes how illocutionary and perlocutionary forces are organised and situated within a given context to construct political commitment, regulate bilateral identity, project national pride and legitimize authority in a high-stake diplomatic setting. We employed statistical details for quantitative analysis. The practs used in the speech are itemized and grouped in the order of their frequency. The analysis reveals judicious deployment of practs such as ceremonial honour and gratitude 12.82%, historical affirmation 10.25%, commissive commitment 15.38%, legitimization and identity 7.69%, and bilateral and historical bonds 5.12 %. It is also observed that president bola ahmed tinubu’s ideology is that of a person filled with so much love, appreciation, commitment and determination through collaborative efforts to provide a better life for nigerians home and abroad.

Keywords

Pragmatic Acts, Political Commitment, Political Discourse, Tinubu, Windsor Castle

Downloads

References

1. Abdulkadir, A. U. (2023). A critical discourse analysis of selected political interviews in Nigerian news media. Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literary Studies, 3(2), 47-60. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Abolarin-Egbebiola, U. E., & Dada, O. O. (2025). Language as a tool of manipulation in Nigerian political discourse. International Journal of English Language Communication Studies, 1(3), 1-15. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Acheoh, J.E. et al (2024). A Speech Act Analysis of Bola Tinubu’s election victory speech. American Research journal of English and Literature. 9(1), 15-21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Adeoti, O. (2023). Pragmeme of political humour in selected political cartoons in Nigerian newspapers. Journal of Languages, Linguistics and Literary Studies, 3(2), 78-88. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Akinseye, T. A. (2023). Persuasion and connection of words: Discursive strategies and interpersonal resources in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inaugural speech of May 29, 2023. AJRAS, 4(2), 1-15. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do things with words. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Ayeni, A. C. (2023). An analysis of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential election campaign speech. Journal of Applied Philosophy, 23(5), 52-66. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Enemuo, O. (2025). A pragmatic study of conversational implicatures in President Tinubu’s speeches on national security and governance. Nigerian Journal of Arts and Humanities (NJAH), 5(4), 9-15. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Fafiyebi, O. D., & Dada, S. A. (2024). Pragmatic acts in the inaugural speeches of military heads of state of government in Nigeria. International Journal of Social Science and Human Research, 7(6), 3614-3622. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Kayode-Iyasare, A. W., & Ogidan, O. F. (2023). Speech acts and political commitment: An analysis of APC presidential nomination acceptance speech of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu. KIU Journal of Education (KJED), 3(1), 46-56. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Mey, J. (2001). Pragmatics: An introduction. Blackwell. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Ochulor, P. G., & Onuoha, U. D. (2025). A pragma-discourse study of the campaign manifesto of the 2023 All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential candidate. International Journal of English Language and Linguistic Research, 13(1), 92-110. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Okunade, G. A. et al (2025). A Syntactic Analysis of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu's Inaugural Speech. Awka Journal of English language and Literary Studies. 12, (l), 63-90. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Oluseyi, F. D., et al. (2023). Pragmatic acts in the language of alms begging in Southwest Nigeria. International Journal of Literature, Language and Linguistics, 6(3), 41-54. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Osisanwo, A., et al. (2024). Pragmatic acts of humour in family discourse in selected Maryam Apaokagi’s comedy skits. The European Journal of Humour Research, 12(2), 53-73. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Searle, J. R. (1969). Speech Acts: An Essay in the Philosophy of Language. Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Umeh, G.C. (2023). Speech Acts Analysis of President Obasanjo Endorsement letter of Mr Peter Obi’s presidential candidacy. Awka Journal of English Langauge and Literary Studies. 9(1), 112-128. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles