EXPLORING TENOR VARIABLE AND INTERPERSONAL MEANING IN PRESIDENT GEORGE WEAH’S INAUGURAL SPEECH

Abstract

The inaugural ceremony of the newly-elect president George Manneh Weah has made Liberia the focus of international attention as well as leading newspapers, television and radio stations across the globe. His speech was greeted with thousands Liberians waving flags and dancing through the various streets and communities across the country. It has been described as one of the best inaugural orations in modern history. Thus this speech deserves scrutiny. Drawing on Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) Theory, this research work deals with Exploring Tenor Variable and Interpersonal Meaning in President George Weah’s Inaugural Speech. This study aims to explore how tenor dimension and interpersonal meaning are realized in the selected speech so as to provide an interpretation for a deep understanding of the messages conveyed. Basing on quantitative and qualitative methods, this research work has helped reveal that George Weah has used exclusively declarative and imperative moods in his speech and the core messages conveyed are related to his gratitude, promises, and calling for National Unity for the building of a “New Liberia”.