Voice of Governance: A Transitivity Analysis of the Mayor’s Speech in Loreto, Agusan del Sur

Voice of Governance: A Transitivity Analysis of the Mayor’s Speech in Loreto, Agusan del Sur

Raul Novo Cordova Jr., Evangeline H. Alvarez, Roxan R. Remorosa, Shiryl T. Ytoc

Master of Arts in Education major in Applied Linguistics-College of Teacher Education, Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2024.8080134

Received: 16 July 2024; Revised: 31 July 2024; Accepted: 05 August 2024; Published: 06 September 2024

ABSTRACT

This study examines Mayor Lorife M. Otaza’s 2024 State of the Municipality Address in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, Philippines, through a transitivity analysis based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics framework. Using a qualitative approach, the research analyzes the official speech transcript to identify transitivity processes, conveyed ideologies, and linguistic strategies for navigating gender and power dynamics in local governance. Analysis of 120 clauses revealed a predominance of material processes (39.2%), followed by relational (29.2%) and behavioral (19.2%) processes, indicating a balance between action-oriented rhetoric and relationship-building language. The speech conveyed ideologies of progress, community unity, environmental stewardship, servant leadership, and accountability. Mayor Otaza’s linguistic construction of her leadership identity balanced assertiveness with inclusivity, employing strategies such as collective pronouns and action-oriented language. These linguistic choices strategically navigate gender expectations while asserting competence and vision. The findings contribute to our understanding of how language shapes political discourse and leadership identities, offering insights for political communication strategies and leadership development, particularly in the context of local Philippine governance. This research opens avenues for further exploration of language use in political spheres across various levels and contexts, highlighting the importance of linguistic choices in constructing effective leadership personas, especially for women in positions of power.

Keywords: Mayor Lorife M. Otaza, systemic functional linguistics, transitivity analysis, Loreto, Agusan del Sur, Philippines, political discourse and leadership identities

INTRODUCTION

The voice of government, particularly at the local level, plays a crucial role in shaping public perception, policy implementation, and community engagement. This voice is often most clearly articulated through official speeches, with mayors’ addresses serving as key instruments for communicating vision, achievements, and priorities to constituents. As Efendi et al. (2018) note, speech is a spoken text delivered to convey ideas, thoughts, and hope using language effectively, underlining the significant role of language for human beings in the context of governance.

Mayors’ speeches, as a manifestation of the voice of government, are not merely informative; they are performative acts that construct political realities and negotiate power dynamics. These addresses serve multiple functions: they inform citizens about local initiatives, rally support for governmental programs, and establish the speaker’s leadership identity. In the Philippine context, where local governance plays a pivotal role in national development, mayoral speeches take on added significance as tools for fostering community cohesion and driving local progress. As an effective means of communication, language is realized via an informative, expressive, directive, aesthetic, and phatic functions. Language is a form of social practice and a purposeful means of communication throughout history (Adjei, Mensah, & Okoh, 2015; Fairclough, 2001). Thus, it becomes a vehicle for self-expression and for establishing and maintaining social relations. In all cultures, speaker uses language utterances to reveal his/her intentions.

Consequently, the use of these utterances is never impartial, translucent or innocent. They are always a reflection of the speaker’s conscious and unconscious ideologies (D’Amato, 1989; Taiwo, 2007). Therefore, Van Dijk (2006) and Kondowe (2014) underscore a need to closely examine language as a critical factor in discovering and understanding speaker’s explicit and implied ideologies. Human beings possess a remarkable ability that sets them apart from other species: language. This complex system allows us to create meaning and share information in intricate ways. According to Volkova (2012), language acts as an extensive network through which we interpret the world, storing our experiences as knowledge that can be encoded and decoded. This perspective highlights the cognitive aspects of language and its role in human understanding.

However, language is not merely a tool for individual thought processes. Halliday and Matthiessen (1999) emphasize its central role in the exchange and interpretation of experiences, viewing it as a set of choices available within specific contexts. This social dimension of language is further explored by Baker and Ellece (2011), who argue that language should be understood as a social practice. From this viewpoint, language is inextricably linked to the expression of ideologies and power dynamics within societies, underlining its significance beyond mere communication.

Privilege speeches play a significant role in the country’s socio-political arena. Politicians use privilege speeches to influence other legislators. During sessions, politicians are given a certain period to discuss and highlight pressing issues (De Leon, 2011). Politicians often use these speaking opportunities to both educate and influence their listeners. However, it’s important to note that not every speech given under the privilege of the floor aims to persuade. In fact, some elected officials have employed their speaking time for various purposes, including sharing information and even providing entertainment to their colleagues and constituents (Cruz & Bernardo, 2015).

Study of systemic functional linguistics is very extensive and has been the interest of the researcher. From the systemic functional linguistic theories to the development of systemic functional linguistics, many scholars have made important contributions, such as Halliday, Thompson and Butt. Systemic functional linguistics is also used to analyze various texts, and systemic functional linguistics opens up a new way of text analysis. Since transitivity appears in the speaker’s reactions, cognitions, and perceptions when he/she produces speech, so it is quite interesting to have this analysis to examine speech by another powerful person to know what the speaker actually has and want to convey.

Given the importance of mayors’ speeches in articulating the voice of government, this study focuses on the linguistic strategies employed by Mayor Lorife M. Otaza in her 2024 State of the Municipality Address in Loreto, Agusan del Sur. By applying the System of Transitivity and Systemic Functional Linguistic as theoretical frameworks, this research aims to expose the representation of ideologies that reflect her experiences and vision as the first lady mayor of the municipality.

The choice to analyze Mayor Otaza’s speech is particularly significant given her status as the first female mayor of Loreto, representing a shift towards women’s empowerment in a traditionally male-dominated sphere of governance. This study not only contributes to our understanding of the transitivity system in Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) theory but also aims to raise awareness about the importance of women’s leadership in local governance.

As Mayor, Hon. Lorife M. Otaza can also be called the first lady who became the mayor of the Municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur. The purpose of this study is to examine the linguistic strategies employed in Mayor Lorife M. Otaza’s 2024 State of the Municipality Address in Loreto, Agusan del Sur, Philippines, through the lens of Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics framework. Thus, no study has been yet conducted in the province of Agusan del Sur about the speech of a leader specifically a woman leader. Moreover, this research aims to identify and analyze the types and frequencies of transitivity processes used in the speech, uncover the ideologies conveyed through these linguistic choices, and explore how the mayor’s language constructs her leadership identity within the context of local Philippine governance. By focusing on these aspects, the study seeks to provide insights into how language shapes political discourse, negotiates power dynamics, and addresses gender relations in a traditionally male-dominated political sphere. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to our understanding of effective political communication strategies and leadership development, particularly for women in positions of power, while also offering a deeper comprehension of the role of language in local governance contexts.

Research Questions

1. What are the common types of transitivity system processes found in the speech? ·
2. What ideologies are present in the speech through the transitivity system processes?
3. How does the mayor’s linguistic construction of her leadership identity negotiate power dynamics and gender relations within the male-dominated political context of Loreto?

Theoretical Lens

This study employed Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics and Transitivity models. These models will be used to explore general principles or recommendations for improving the design and content of the proposed study. These two models serve as the guideline for the researcher in analyzing the data.

Systemic Functional Grammar

The study is premised on the framework of Systemic Functional Grammar postulated by Michael Alexander Kirkwood (MAK) Halliday in the United Kingdom during the1960s, and later in Australia. The theory is called systemic for it posits that the speakers have extensive options to produce linguistic utterances either in spoken or written discourse. These expressions are determined by the social and cultural milieu where the speech act takes place. Thus, the processes of employing language is making meanings by choosing (Adjie et al.,2015). While the system functions as a network which assimilate language choice through sentence structure, this structure offers language users diverse choices (Christie, 2002). Furthermore, the theory is named functional because language fulfills numerous practical meta-functions in a variety of speech situations. These meta-functions namely: ideational, interpersonal and textual, are widely categorized into very classified and intangible functions innate in every language.

Halliday’s (1994) Transitivity System

Transitivity, a key concept in Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), is integral to the ideational metafunction of language. This semantic category reflects how humans conceptualize and represent reality through language. According to Halliday’s work in the 1980s, our linguistic representation of experience comprises three main elements: the process itself, the participants involved, and the associated circumstances. This framework suggests that humans organize their experiences into a set of manageable process types, which forms the basis of the transitivity system (Halliday, 1985; Yuqiong & Fengjie, 2018).

The transitivity system encompasses six primary process types: material, mental, relational, verbal, behavioral, and existential. These processes correspond to various ways of experiencing the world, including actions, thoughts, states of being, communication, behavior, and existence. Through these process types, speakers can linguistically encode their experiences of both the external world and their internal consciousness. The term ‘process’ in this context is broadly interpreted to include any phenomenon expressed by a verb, whether it represents a physical event, a mental state, or a relationship between entities (Halliday, 1971; as cited by Adjei & Ewusi-Mensah, 2016).

METHODOLOGY

This research utilized qualitative research approach, which is a non-numerical and interpretative method of analyzing data. Specifically, it was a descriptive qualitative study, which aims to describe and understand a particular phenomenon to identify and analyze the ideational metafunction in the speech delivered by Mayor Lorife Otaza. The primary material for this study was the speech transcript of Mayor Lorife M. Otaza’s State of the Municipality Address delivered in 2024. Mayor Lorife as the sample of the study, was chosen since among the 3 female mayors in the province of Agusan del Sur, she was the longest serving mayor and the most talked mayor for giving various contributions to the municipality. Moreover, it is with her reign that Loreto has achieved a lot of awards even in the regional and national arena. The transcript was obtained through a formal request via email to the office of Mayor Otaza. Specifically, a letter was sent to the mayor’s secretary, requesting a copy of the official transcript of the 2024 State of the Municipality Address. The 2024 speech transcript served as the primary data source for the analysis, as it captures the complete text of the speech delivered by Mayor Otaza. By analyzing the verbatim transcript and also it was during this year that she was able to include all the achievements and changes she has brought to the municipality- Loreto, the research aims to conduct a comprehensive examination of the language used in the address, focusing on the distribution and function of the ideational metafunction within the speech text. The researcher manually analyze the speech transcript to find the major theme, and it underwent peer-review debriefing sessions with 3 experts. These sessions provided an external check on the research process, allowing for critical evaluation and feedback from experienced peers in the field. This process enhanced the credibility and reliability of the study’s findings and interpretations.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This section presents the results in the study conducted titled “Voice of Governance: A Transitivity Analysis of the Mayor’s Speech in Loreto, Agusan del Sur.” This study was conducted to analyze and identify the transitivity processes present in the speech of Mayor Lorife M. Otaza.

Table 1. Transitivity Process in the Speech

Table 1 presents the distribution of transitivity process types identified in the mayor’s speech, offering a quantitative overview of the linguistic choices employed. The analysis revealed a total of 120 processes, categorized into five types based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar framework. Material processes emerged as the most prevalent, accounting for 39.2% (47 instances) of the total, indicating a strong emphasis on actions and tangible achievements. Relational processes followed, comprising 29.2% (35 instances) of the total, suggesting a significant focus on establishing identities and relationships. Behavioral processes constituted 19.2% (23 instances), reflecting actions with both physical and psychological components. Verbal processes, while less frequent, still played a notable role at 7.5% (9 instances), primarily used for announcements and emphasis. Mental processes were the least common, representing 5.0% (6 instances) of the total, but added an important dimension of cognition and emotion to the speech. This distribution provides insights into the mayor’s rhetorical strategies, highlighting a preference for action-oriented language interspersed with relationship-building and descriptive elements, thus constructing a multifaceted leadership identity.

Table 2. Examples of Material Process

Similarly to Wodak and Meyer (2009), it shows that in Mayor Lorife Otaza’s speech, Material Processes are commonly used in political rhetoric to construct a sense of agency, responsibility, and accountability. The material processes take up the highest proportion which occurred 47 times or 39.2%. Through material process, Mayor Otaza highlights the active role of various participants, such as the mayor herself, the community, and the government, taking concrete actions and initiatives. Fairclough (1995) observed that political speeches often employ a high number of Material Processes to represent concrete actions, initiatives, and accomplishments, as a means of showcasing the speaker’s or administration’s efforts and achievements.

The predominance of material process in the speech suggests an emphasis on portraying the government as an active agent, taking ownership and responsibility for crafting and adhering to their vision and agenda. This process creates a sense of tangible progress and emphasize the government’s active role in supporting municipal initiative.

Here are the examples of material process found in this speech:

Table 3. Examples of Relational Process

Table 3 shows that relational processes in Mayor Otaza’s speech holds 29.2 % of all the processes. Although being less than that of material process, the percentage is far higher than that of other processes. Relational process are used to establish relationships, attributes, or identities, such as expressing the mayor’s feelings and perceptions or defining the accomplishments as tangible improvements. This process shows a testament to links the success stories to the power of collaboration without explicitly identifying the agents involved. In the mayor’s speech resonates with the findings of Van Dijk (1997), who noted that political discourse frequently employs Relational Processes to establish relationships, attributes, or states related to governance, policies, or ideologies. Van Dijk suggested that Relational Processes serve to construct and reinforce particular representations of reality aligned with the speaker’s or administration’s goals.

The relational processes establish relationships and attributes related to governance and various sectors. It defines the initiatives as a reflection of the administration’s commitment, emphasize the importance of government productivity and nurturing the economic development as the government’s duty. Moreover, it defines the government’s priorities, values, and commitments, establishing their role and stance on various matters.

Here are the examples of relational process found in this speech:

Table 4. Examples of Behavioral Process

Behavioral processes, which share characteristics of material and mental processes, constitute a significant portion of the mayor’s speech having 19.2% of the overall identified processes. These processes often involve physiological and psychological behavior, allowing the mayor to express actions that have both physical and mental components. The use of behavioral processes aligns with Eggins’ (2004) observation that such processes are often employed in political discourse to bridge the gap between external actions and internal cognition.

The mayor’s use of behavioral processes like “extend gratitude” and “acknowledge” demonstrates what Holmes (2006) terms “relational practice” in leadership discourse. According to Holmes, these linguistic choices help leaders, particularly women, to negotiate power dynamics by combining action with interpersonal connection. Moreover, the use of “empower” as a behavioral process aligns with transformational leadership theory (Bass & Riggio, 2006), which emphasizes the leader’s role in motivating and enabling followers. This linguistic choice portrays the mayor as an active agent in community development, while also acknowledging the agency of community members.

Here are the examples of behavioral process found in this speech:

Table 5. Examples of Verbal Process

While less frequent than other process types having only 7.5%, verbal processes play a crucial role in the speech. These processes allow the mayor to highlight key points and assert her authority as a speaker. The strategic use of verbal processes aligns with Fairclough’s (2013) analysis of political discourse, which highlights how politicians use language to construct their identity and establish their position of power.

In the phrase “As I address you today”, the use of “address” as the verbal process is particularly significant in a political context, as it carries connotations of formal, authoritative speech. This choice of verb helps to establish the mayor’s position of authority while also signaling the importance of the communication event (Duranti, 2006). The use of “I want to emphasize” demonstrates what Van Dijk (2006) refers to as “ideological square” in political discourse, where speakers highlight information that positively represents their in-group or their actions.

Here are the examples of behavioral process found in this speech:

Table 6. Examples of Mental Process

Though least common having only 5.0% in total, mental processes add an important dimension to the speech. These processes, while infrequent, serve to create emotional connections and demonstrate the mayor’s thoughts and feelings, potentially humanizing her leadership style. This aligns with Iedema’s (2007) concept of “affective leadership,” which emphasizes the role of emotions in organizational discourse and leadership. The use of mental processes like “inspire” and “reflect” corresponds with Cornelissen et al.’s (2012) findings on the importance of sense making language in leadership communication. These processes allow the mayor to frame experiences and guide interpretations, crucial aspects of leadership discourse.

Furthermore, the inclusion of mental processes, albeit limited, aligns with what Baxter (2010) describes as the “double-voiced discourse” often employed by women in leadership positions. This involves balancing traditionally masculine leadership traits (represented more by material processes) with feminine-typed qualities like empathy and reflection.

Here are the examples of mental process found in this speech:

Ideologies present in the speech through the transitivity system processes

Local governance in the Philippines, particularly at the municipal level, plays a crucial role in driving sustainable development and improving the quality of life for residents. The 2024 State of the Municipality Address by Mayor Lorife “Aping” Magadan Otaza of Loreto provides a comprehensive overview of the municipality’s achievements and priorities. Through a thematic analysis of her speech, five major themes emerge: Progress and Development, Community and Unity, Environmental Stewardship, Servant Leadership, and the Transparency and Accountability.

Progress and Development

The speech emphasizes Loreto’s commitment to advancement and improvement. Mayor Otaza highlights various initiatives across sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and public services. This focus on progress is evident in statements like: “From revitalizing key infrastructure to implementing innovative programs, we have strived to make Loreto a better place for all.” The mayor also details specific developments, such as: “Infrastructure Development and Eco-tourism have seen substantial investments, with Php120,134,203 in 2022 and Php500,248,623 in 2023. Our dedication to building a more developed and accessible Loreto is evident through our infrastructure projects.”

Community and Unity

The speech consistently emphasizes the collective effort and shared experiences of Loreto’s residents. Mayor Otaza frequently uses inclusive language to reinforce this sense of community. For example, she states: “Together, we have faced challenges, celebrated triumphs, and worked tirelessly to enhance the quality of life for everyone in our community.” This theme of unity is further reinforced when she says: “Our community transcends mere geography; it is a vibrant tapestry interwoven with the diverse cultures, traditions, and histories of our Indigenous brothers and sisters.”

Environmental Stewardship

The mayor places significant emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable practices. She outlines several initiatives aimed at preserving natural resources and promoting eco-friendly practices. This commitment is clearly stated: “Our collective efforts in tree planting, Vermi cast production, waste analysis, and waste segregation showcase our commitment to Natural Resources Conservation and Environmental Protection.” She further elaborates on specific actions: “We have invested a substantial amount, amounting to Php5,046,200.00, in the construction of a septic vault and the pre-inspection of the proposed Sanitary Landfill at the Municipal Eco Park.”

Servant Leadership

Mayor Otaza positions herself as a servant of the people, emphasizing her role in fulfilling the community’s needs and aspirations. This attitude is reflected in statements such as: “It is both an honor and a privilege to stand before you as your municipal mayor for a second term.” She also demonstrates this servant leadership mentality when discussing various initiatives, saying: “These accomplishments are stepping stones toward a more sustainable and resilient future for our community and the planet at large.”

Transparency and Accountability

The speech showcases a commitment to open governance and responsibility to the public. Mayor Otaza provides detailed information about various projects, expenditures, and achievements. This transparency is evident when she states: “Today, I stand before you not just as your mayor but as a representative of a community that has demonstrated resilience, unity, and a shared commitment to progress.” She also provides specific financial details, such as: “We spent Php3,743,000.00 on the Parcelization of Lands for individual titling (SPLIT) Project.”

Table 7. Major Themes found in the Speech of Mayor Lorife “Aping” Magadan Otaza

Mayor’s linguistic construction of her leadership identity negotiate power dynamics and gender relations within the male-dominated political context of Loreto

While the speech doesn’t explicitly address gender or her status as the first female mayor, her linguistic choices can still be analyzed through the lens of gender and power dynamics. Her language reveals a careful balance of showcasing competence, fostering collective responsibility, respecting existing power structures, and navigating gendered expectations in policy focus.

Use of Inclusive Language

Throughout the speech, Mayor Otaza consistently uses inclusive language to foster a sense of shared ownership and collective responsibility. This is evident in phrases like: “Together, let us forge ahead with determination, resilience, and an unwavering spirit of service.” She also refers to the community as “we” and “our” frequently, as in: “Our accomplishments are not just statistics on a report; they are the tangible improvements in the lives of our residents.”

Emphasis on Action

The speech is filled with references to concrete actions and initiatives, demonstrating a proactive approach to governance. This is clearly stated when the mayor says: “We will stick to our vision which is the 5-Point Development Agenda that we crafted under the acronym APING:” She then proceeds to list and elaborate on each point of this agenda, showing a clear plan of action for the municipality.

Balance of Authority and Humility

Mayor Otaza strikes a balance between asserting her leadership role and acknowledging the collective effort of the community. This is evident when she says: “As I address you today, I am filled with gratitude for the trust and confidence you have placed in me and our dedicated team.” She also demonstrates this balance when discussing achievements, often attributing them to the community as a whole rather than taking sole credit.

Focus on Achievements

The speech dedicates significant time to highlighting the accomplishments of Loreto under the current administration. This is particularly evident in the section on awards and recognition: “In terms of awards and recognition, our municipality has received numerous accolades, including the Excellence Award in the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) Seed Program, Gawad Kalasag Seal of Excellence in 2023 and 2022, Best Implementer of Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program (CBDRP) in 2022, and the 1st Year Green Banner Seal of Compliance Award in 2023.”

Emotional Connection

Mayor Otaza uses emotive language to create a strong connection with her audience. This is particularly evident in the closing sections of her speech, where she says: “Thank you all for your contributions, your hard work, and your belief in the potential of Loreto. Together, we will continue to make our beloved municipality shine for generations to come.” This emotional appeal serves to inspire and motivate the community, ending the speech on a hopeful and unifying note.

Table 7. Mayor’s linguistic construction of her leadership identity

CONCLUSION

The application of transitivity analysis in Mayor Lorife M. Otaza’s speech provides valuable insights into the linguistic strategies employed in political discourse within the context of local governance in the Philippines. The findings revealed a sophisticated use of language that balances action-oriented rhetoric with relationship-building and reflective elements. The prevalence of material processes (39.2%) underscores a focus on tangible achievements and initiatives, while the significant presence of relational (29.2%) and behavioral (19.2%) processes highlights the importance of establishing connections and demonstrating leadership through action. This linguistic pattern aligns with contemporary theories of transformational leadership, emphasizing the mayor’s multifaceted approach to governance.

The ideologies conveyed through these transitivity processes – progress and development, community and unity, environmental stewardship, servant leadership, and transparency and accountability – reflect a comprehensive vision for local governance. Mayor Otaza’s linguistic choices strategically navigate the complex terrain of gender and power dynamics in a traditionally male-dominated political sphere. By employing inclusive language, emphasizing concrete achievements, and balancing authority with humility, the mayor constructs a leadership identity that effectively addresses gendered expectations while asserting her competence and vision for Loreto.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the critical role of language in shaping political discourse and negotiating leadership identities, particularly for women in positions of power. The findings contribute to our understanding of how linguistic choices can be strategically employed to establish credibility, inspire community engagement, and navigate gender dynamics in political contexts. Future research could explore how these linguistic strategies evolve over time and how they compare to those used in other political contexts, both within the Philippines and internationally. Such investigations would further enrich our understanding of the interplay between language, gender, and power in political leadership.

Implications for Practice

The findings of this study offer valuable insights for political communication strategies and leadership development, particularly in the context of local governance in the Philippines. The prevalence of material processes in Mayor Otaza’s speech underscores the importance of action-oriented communication for local leaders. This suggests that leadership training programs should emphasize the articulation of concrete achievements and tangible plans, especially for female leaders who may face additional scrutiny in male-dominated political spheres.

The balanced use of different process types (material, relational, behavioral, verbal, and mental) indicates that effective leadership communication is multifaceted. Practitioners in political communication should develop frameworks that help leaders craft messages that not only highlight actions but also build relationships, express empathy, and foster reflection. This could involve creating communication templates or guidelines that ensure a balance of different process types in speeches and public statements.

The study’s findings on how Mayor Otaza navigates gender dynamics through linguistic choices are particularly relevant for leadership development programs. These programs should incorporate modules on gender-aware communication strategies, teaching leaders how to use inclusive language, balance authority with humility, and leverage traditionally feminine-coded traits like empathy and relationship-building without reinforcing stereotypes.

The identified ideological themes provide a roadmap for constructing comprehensive political narratives at the local government level. Communication strategists could use these themes (Progress and Development, Community and Unity, Environmental Stewardship, Servant Leadership, and Transparency and Accountability) as a checklist to ensure that local leaders’ communications cover all key areas of governance and resonate with diverse constituent needs.

Moreover, the findings suggest that local leaders should be trained in using transitivity processes strategically to frame their governance approach. For instance, using material processes to discuss environmental initiatives can emphasize active stewardship, while relational processes can be employed to reinforce community bonds.

Implications for further Research

The analysis of Mayor Otaza’s speech through transitivity processes has opened up several avenues for further research. While this study has provided valuable insights into the linguistic construction of leadership identity and power dynamics in a local Philippine context, it also raises new questions about the broader implications of language use in political discourse. Future research could explore how transitivity processes vary across different political levels in the Philippines, from barangay to national leadership, to understand the nuances of linguistic choices in various political contexts.

Methodologically, a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative corpus analysis with qualitative discourse analysis could provide a more comprehensive understanding of transitivity patterns in political speeches. Expanding the research scope to include a longitudinal study of mayoral addresses over time could reveal how linguistic strategies evolve in response to changing social and political landscapes. It’s important to acknowledge the limitations of the current study, which focused on a single speech by one mayor; a larger sample size would enhance the generalizability of findings.

Temporally, future studies could examine how transitivity processes in political speeches shift during election periods versus non-election years, potentially revealing strategic linguistic adaptations. Comparative elements could be introduced by analyzing speeches from mayors of different genders, ages, or political affiliations, providing insights into how these factors influence linguistic choices.

Finally, an interdisciplinary approach incorporating insights from political science, gender studies, and sociolinguistics could offer a more holistic understanding of how language, power, and identity intersect in local Philippine governance. Such research would not only contribute to our understanding of political discourse but also inform strategies for effective and inclusive leadership communication in diverse cultural contexts.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

As I conclude this study on the transitivity processes in Mayor Lorife M. Otaza’s speech, I am struck by the profound impact that language has on shaping our political landscape. Throughout this research journey, it has become increasingly clear that the words chosen by our leaders are not merely vessels for conveying information, but powerful tools that construct realities, forge identities, and navigate complex power dynamics. The intricacies of political discourse, particularly at the local level, offer a fascinating window into the heart of democracy and governance.

What I find most compelling is the delicate balance that effective leaders must strike in their communication. They must simultaneously project authority and empathy, articulate grand visions while remaining grounded in local realities, and navigate the often-treacherous waters of gender expectations and cultural norms. This research has reinforced my belief that political leadership is as much an art as it is a science, requiring a nuanced understanding of language that goes far beyond mere rhetoric. It is my hope that studies like this one will contribute to a growing body of knowledge that can inform more inclusive, effective, and responsible political communication practices.

Looking forward, I am excited by the potential for further research in this field. As our political landscapes continue to evolve, shaped by technological advancements, changing demographics, and shifting global dynamics, the role of language in leadership will only grow in importance. I believe that continued interdisciplinary research in this area has the potential not only to enhance our academic understanding but also to make tangible improvements in the quality of our democratic processes. By better understanding how language shapes political realities, we can work towards fostering more transparent, inclusive, and effective governance at all levels. It is my sincere hope that this study will inspire others to delve deeper into the fascinating world of political discourse analysis, contributing to a more nuanced and impactful understanding of leadership communication in the 21st century.

Moreover, the author declare that there has no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this research.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my profound gratitude to Mayor Lorife M. Otaza for allowing me to use her Speech transcript that formed the basis of this study, and also to her secretary Ms. Mary Dave A. Velez for helping me convinced Mayor Lorife. My heartfelt thanks go to my research advisers, Dr. Evangeline Alvarez, and Dr. Roxan Remorosa, for their invaluable guidance, unwavering support, and insightful feedback throughout this research process. I am also deeply grateful to my MAED-Applied Linguistics classmates in Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology, for their encouragement and constructive critiques, which significantly enhanced the quality of this work. Also, to my mains- Claire, Jemimah, and Marvin, for enduring with for the past months. Above all, to our Almighty God, for His continuous guidance and for showering me with knowledge and wisdom that helped in making this research a very possible one.

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