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A Pragmatic Analysis of Deictic Expressions in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 Presidential Campaign Speeches

Cite this article as: Balogun, Z. (2025). A pragmatic analysis of deictic expressions in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign speeches. Sokoto Journal of Linguistics and Communication Studies (SOJOLICS), 1(1), 81–87. www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i01.011

A PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF DEICTIC EXPRESSIONS IN BOLA AHMED TINUBU’S 2023 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SPEECHES

By

Balogun Zainab

abdullahi.zainab89@gmail.com

University Of Ilorin

Abstract
This study investigates the use of deixis in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign speech, examining how contextual reference shapes meaning in political communication. Grounded in pragmatic theory, particularly Levinson’s account of deixis as context-dependent interpretation, the research adopts a qualitative content analysis approach to identify and interpret deictic expressions in the speech. Data were sourced purposively from publicly available campaign materials, including official platforms and media publications. The analysis reveals that person, spatial, temporal, demonstrative, possessive, and exophoric deixis are strategically deployed to construct proximity, assert authority, and foster solidarity with the audience. The findings show that (i) deictic expressions create immediacy and strengthen the speaker–audience relationship; (ii) deixis enhances message relevance by anchoring political promises in shared contexts; (iii) deictic choices help articulate concrete political commitments; and (iv) deictic ideology supports inclusivity and persuasive alignment. The study concludes that deixis plays a central role in shaping the grammatical and rhetorical structure of the campaign discourse. It recommends deeper attention to deictic strategies in political communication studies, as inadequate contextual interpretation may lead to misunderstanding of political intent and message framing.

Keywords: Pragmatics, Political Discourse, Politeness Strategies, Deixis, Speech Acts

1. Introduction

Language is one of the most complex human-specific phenomena. Beyond its semiotic capacity to convey information, language also functions as an art form and as a social instrument that shapes interpretation through voice modulation, pitch, gesture, and context. As Taylor and Taylor (1990) note, language is a system of signs used to convey messages, enabling individuals to express thoughts and negotiate meaning in daily interaction. It is therefore central to human communication, serving as a medium through which relationships are constructed and maintained.

Understanding language in use requires attention to context, who is speaking, where the utterance occurs, and when it is produced. These dimensions collectively form the deictic centre of linguistic events. Meaning cannot be fully recovered from linguistic form alone; instead, it depends on the deictic expressions that anchor utterances to specific spatial, temporal, and personal coordinates. As Verschueren (1999) explains, expressions such as pronouns, adverbs of place and time, and other context-dependent forms are deictic because their interpretation relies on contextual information. The listener must therefore infer intended meaning through pragmatic reasoning, applying principles that characterize cooperative communication. In this way, meaning emerges from contextual sense-making, and every utterance reflects the inherent complexity of language as a socially embedded activity.

Political discourse offers a particularly rich arena for examining the intersection of language, context, and power. Language politics refers to the strategic and ideological use of linguistic choices in the political domain. Orwell’s 1984 famously illustrated how political actors reshape vocabulary to influence public thought, while Chomsky (2004) argues that language functions as a currency of power in elections, governance, and public persuasion. Political discourse operates indexically: every lexical and structural choice implicitly or explicitly encodes a political stance. Such discourse is inherently interactional, involving debate, alignment, negotiation, and often deliberate vagueness designed to persuade or obscure.

Chilton (1998) further notes that while language is a universal human capacity, politics is the art of governance; thus, political language becomes a tool through which actors pursue interests, construct legitimacy, and influence behaviour. Political communication therefore involves linguistic strategies,conscious and often subtle forms of manipulation,designed to shape public perception. From a pragmatic perspective, these strategies rely heavily on the perlocutionary effects of speech acts, using language not only to inform but also to persuade, align, compel, or manage ideological commitments.

Against this backdrop, deixis becomes a crucial analytical lens, especially in political texts where reference to persons, times, and spaces is strategically manipulated to project authority, construct solidarity, and frame national narratives. A pragmatic study of deixis in political discourse thus reveals how contextual anchoring is used to shape interpretation, align audiences, and negotiate power.

2. Literature Review

The concept of deixis derives from the Greek deiknunai, meaning ‘to show’ or ‘to point’, and in linguistics it refers to the capacity of certain expressions to anchor meaning to context. Deictic expressions such as this, that, here, now, and I require contextual information for their interpretation, since their reference shifts across situations of use. Central to this notion is the “canonical situation of utterance,” in which the speaker occupies the origo,the deictic centre from which spatial, temporal, and personal reference is oriented (Levinson, 2004). Deixis therefore represents one of the most fundamental operations speakers perform through language, namely the linguistic act of situating people, objects, and events in relation to the communicative setting (Yule, 1996).

From a pragmatic perspective, deixis is indispensable because it demonstrates how utterance meaning depends not only on linguistic form but also on the extralinguistic environment. Levinson (1983) situates deixis firmly within pragmatics, emphasizing that deictic expressions reflect the relationship between linguistic structure and the contexts in which language is deployed. On this account, understanding utterances containing deictic terms requires access to information about who is speaking, to whom they are speaking, the temporal and spatial coordinates of the utterance, and the broader discourse environment. Deixis thus serves as a bridge between linguistic form and communicative function, illustrating directly how meaning is shaped by the speech situation.

Karl Bühler’s classical formulation (1934), expressed in the triad “Here–Now–I,” further clarifies the structure of the deictic system. In his framework, here marks spatial deixis, now temporal deixis, and I personal deixis, all organized around the origo that determines how reference is computed. Bühler’s contribution underscores the centrality of deixis to context construction: deictic expressions embed the speech situation into language, allowing interlocutors to coordinate space, time, and identity within interaction.

Contemporary research has expanded the pragmatic significance of deixis beyond referential anchoring to include ideological, rhetorical, and persuasive dimensions. Scholars have demonstrated that deixis plays a crucial role in political communication, where speakers manipulate deictic choices to construct collective identities, align audiences, and project authority (Chilton, 2004; Cap, 2013). In political speeches, personal deixis becomes particularly salient. The alternation between I, you, and we can index shifts in responsibility, authority, and solidarity, enabling leaders to frame themselves as agents of action or as members of a unified collective. Spatial and temporal deixis also contribute to political positioning by invoking images of national space (this nation, our land) and by situating political action within strategic temporal frames (now is the time, in the coming years). Through such choices, deixis functions as a subtle but powerful instrument for producing ideological alignment.

Within Nigerian political discourse, deixis has been shown to influence the framing of national identity, the distribution of agency, and voter persuasion. Campaign speeches in particular deploy deictic expressions to construct proximity between politicians and the electorate, to contrast present hardship with promised future improvement, and to assign responsibility for national challenges. These rhetorical strategies reveal that deixis is not merely a linguistic mechanism but a socio-political tool used to shape perceptions and mobilize support. Consequently, analysingdeixis in political communication,such as in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign speech,provides insight into how candidates construct relations with citizens, legitimate their ideological positions, and narrate the nation’s challenges and aspirations.

Types of deixis have traditionally been classified into five major categories: person deixis, spatial deixis, temporal deixis, social deixis, and discourse deixis (Yule, 1996; Levinson, 1983). Person deixis encodes participant roles (e.g., I, you, they), while spatial deixis orients utterances in physical space (e.g., here, there). Temporal deixis situates events in time (e.g., now, then), and social deixis reflects relational and status-based differences between interlocutors. Discourse deixis, meanwhile, refers to parts of the unfolding text itself (e.g., as mentioned earlier, in this section). Each category plays a significant role in shaping interactional meaning, but in political discourse, person, spatial, and temporal deixis are especially central to the construction of ideological stance and rhetorical force.

Thus, deixis constitutes a core pragmatic phenomenon that ties linguistic form to contextual interpretation. Its role in political discourse extends far beyond reference, serving as a strategic resource for crafting identity, negotiating solidarity, and persuading audiences. Analysing deictic usage in political speeches therefore illuminates the underlying ideological and rhetorical mechanisms through which political actors construct meaning and influence public perception.

3. Theoretical Framework

This study is anchored in pragmatic theory and political communication, with a particular focus on the role of deixis as articulated by Levinson (1983). Levinson’s framework identifies person, spatial, temporal, discourse, and social deixis as key categories whose interpretation depends on contextual information and the broader phenomenon of indexicality. These categories guide the analysis of how meaning shifts according to speaker, audience, time, and communicative setting. Complementing this is Bitzer’s (1968) rhetorical situation theory, which posits that political rhetoric derives its force and meaning from the specific circumstances in which it is produced. In this study, deictic expressions are therefore examined not only for their referential function but also for their rhetorical work, how they construct speaker–audience relationships, shape public perception, foreground campaign priorities, and reinforce ideological positioning within the political context of the 2023 Nigerian presidential election.

4. Methodology

The study adopts a qualitative content analysis approach to investigate the use of deictic expressions in Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign discourse. This methodological choice enables a detailed examination of the pragmatic and rhetorical functions of language within naturally occurring political communication. The analysis focuses on identifying, categorizing, and interpreting instances of deixis, paying attention to how each form operates within its immediate and broader contextual environment. Data were sourced from publicly available campaign materials and analysed through iterative coding to capture patterns, thematic relevance, and pragmatic implications. Reliability was enhanced through cross-checking of deictic categories, while validity was supported by grounding interpretations in established pragmatic theory. Ethical considerations were maintained by using only publicly accessible campaign materials without altering their content.

A purposive sampling strategy was employed to capture deictic usage across varied communicative situations within the campaign. Materials were selected based on their relevance to major campaign events and thematic significance. These included rally speeches, policy declarations, media interviews, and other public addresses associated with the 2023 presidential campaign. This sampling approach ensures that the dataset reflects the full range of contexts in which the candidate deployed deictic expressions, thereby enabling a comprehensive and contextually grounded analysis.

Data were systematically collected from publicly accessible sources, including official campaign websites, news outlets, and social media platforms. Only materials directly relevant to the campaign period were included. The gathered data were organized according to predefined categories to effectively track and analyze the evolving use of deictic expressions throughout the campaign.

S/N

Date/ Platforms

Bola Ahmad Tinubu’sPreseidential Campaign Speech For 2023 Election

1.

Tweets

 October 21, 2022.

We recognize that no Nigerian wants empty answers to hard questions at this hour. Nigerians seek true and innovative solutions that address specific challenges of each of our 36 states and our 200 million people. We need our own miracle on the Niger river.

25th February 2023 is a contest to define the soul of the Nation and to determine our collective Fate. Given the chance, I will build a Nigeria where all citizens will be able to build a decent life from the fruit of their individual and Collective endeavor.

2.

November 15, 2022

Governing Nigeria is a sacred Trust, which I do not take lightly. Such responsibility requires the best brains and the most skilled hands from across our nation. Most importantly, it requires the right leader.

3.

November 18, 2022

We will build an ecosystem, where Traders will have access to credit facilities and create more and better jobs for our youths as well as support more high quality homegrown goods. My government will build industrial hubs in ABA and owerri.

4.

November 26, 2023.

We know the road and where it leads. On February 25th, let us take the first step on that journey to the National home which only progressive good governance can build.

What we did for Lagos, we must now do for our beloved nation. I promise this country and economic rebirth like the one we delivered here

5.

Yenogoa campaign Rally

December 1, 2022

I am an expert, I know the road. I took on Lagos; I clean it up, I develop it; face the Atlantic and conquer the Atlantic for Lagos.

6.

BBC Africa interview

December 6, 2022

I’m different. I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I have governed Lagos. I’ve built a modern state that could be a country on its own. I’ve led an administration that is so prudent. From 600 million internally generated revenue to 5 billion a month. That’s a record Nobody else can brag about that. They have no track record. None of them is qualified except me. 

7.

NESG interview with Dr. OsasuyiDirisu

January 13, 2023

Do we believe in ourselves or do we continue to make mass migration?

If you hire 500 new employees why can't I as a government give you some tax incentives to offset that payroll and the pension contribution that may be associated with it.

8.

January 13, 2023

I don't want to sit here and reveal all my strategies. I don't want to give you a comprehensive plan that I have because others are coming.

9.

January 13, 2023

I did well and I did it well. I'm proud. In Lagos 600 million Naira a month internally generated revenue, today 50 billion Naira every month. I'm making it the 5th largest economy.

10.

January 13, 2023

I don't know how old you are. When we started PIA. Look at how many years it took us to conclude on it. No, you don't accept that. That is not growing a nation.

11.

Rivers state rally

February 15, 2023

You want the president.Here I come. I will be by the grace of God become your president by the power of your votes.

12.

February 15, 2023

I know already that you are looking for president, you will vote for me as your president.Today I'm here. I don't want to leave you in doubt; I am running for president.

13.

Ogun state Rally

Eḿini o kán - It is my turn

14.

Ogun state Rally

I have served enough. I do not want to become history. It is my turn to become president. It is a matter of right to me. … Bring it on’

 

15.

Lagos state Rally

We might be hungry, but we can manage our hunger.

16.

Live Broadcast on NTA

June 7, 2022

I have the expertise. My record of corporate leadership, my financial expertise and my experience as an executive governor make me unique among the aspirants; giving me the requisite skills to accelerate progressive reforms that will change the face of the national economy

17.

June 7, 2022

The other candidates are all good men. But I sincerely believe I am the person this moment calls for.

18.

Bayelsa Rally

Live Broad Cast on TVC News.

December 1, 2022

Blessed thy soul, it is time we sweep them out. Broom revolution. Sweep them away, follow me..  and vote for me I will make your lives better.

19.

Presidential Campaign Flag-off in Warri / TVC News Live November 19, 2022.

Your fish industries are not for sale but for development. Warri is going down due to bad leadership. We know the way. Go to Lagos and see development and progress and prosperity.  Let me see your hands up if you will vote for me.

20.

Presidential Campaign In Kaduna

December 13, 2023

All those kidnappers in Kaduna. I assure you we will eliminate them. A leader without a good successor is not a leader. El Rufai has done a good job in Kaduna

5. Data Analysis

The analysis of deictic expressions was carried out in a systematic manner, beginning with the identification of expressions such as personal pronouns (e.g., “we, you, they”), demonstratives (e.g., “this, that”), and temporal markers (e.g., “today, now”) across the campaign materials. These expressions were then coded and categorized based on their function within the discourse, including inclusive pronouns, persuasive strategies, and temporal references. Each expression was further analyzed in context, taking into account the intended audience, rhetorical purpose, and emotional appeal. Finally, a comparative analysis was conducted to identify patterns and changes in the use of deictic expressions across different phases of the campaign, highlighting shifts in emphasis and strategy.

In Bola Tinubu's presidential campaign speeches presented above, deictic expressions played a crucial role in conveying meaning and engaging the audience. Personal pronouns and temporal expressions such as “this hour,”“our 36 states,” and “our 200 million people” emphasized urgency, fostered a sense of inclusivity, and created shared national identity, while statements like “I am an expert,”“I will build a Nigeria,” and “I know the road” highlighted his personal agency and commitment. Tinubu also used self-adulation, for example, “I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” to establish credibility and remind the audience of his governance experience. Inclusive language, such as “our nation” and “we recognize,” promoted unity, and the Yoruba phrase Eḿini o kán (‘it is my turn’) asserted readiness and excluded competitors, reflecting audacity and determination. Overall, deictic expressions served persuasive and rhetorical purposes, connecting with the audience, emphasizing shared responsibility, and highlighting key national issues, though some phrases like “true and innovative solutions” and “build a Nigeria” were general, limiting assessment of feasibility.

The Roles of Deixis in the Choice of Tinubu's Presidential Campaign Expressions

1. Spatial deixis is evident in Tinubu’s campaign, as it references specific locations to emphasize connection with regions and the nation. For instance, in datum 19, “Go to Lagos and see development and progress and prosperity,” Lagos is highlighted as a model of success, implying similar achievements can occur elsewhere. Similarly, the phrase “Governed Lagos” (datum 6) conveys responsibility tied to a specific geographical entity, reinforcing a sense of trust. Tinubu also focuses on economic development in cities like Aba and Owerri, showing a spatial strategy to replicate Lagos’s industrial success. Spatial comparisons appear in statements like “What we did for Lagos, we must now do for our beloved nation,” while references to specific achievements, such as internally generated revenue growth from 600 million to 5 billion Naira monthly (datum 1), further underscore spatial ties. Campaign rally locations, including Yenegoa and Rivers (datum 5), demonstrate a deliberate use of spatial deixis to connect with voters across regions.

2. Demonstrative deixis is evident in statements like “It is my turn to become president. It is a matter of right to me. Bring it on” (data 13–14), where “it” emphasizes a tangible, immediate claim to the presidency, conveying determination and certainty. Temporal deixis appears throughout the campaign, anchoring messages to specific times and creating urgency. Phrases such as “…hard questions at this hour” (datum 1) highlight immediate challenges, while references to future plans, like providing credit facilities for traders (datum 3), project his vision forward. Past achievements, e.g., “When we started PIA” (datum 10), illustrate the time invested in policy development, adding perspective and anticipation.

3. Exophoric references, such as “I don’t know how old you are,” direct the audience to reflect on personal circumstances, engaging them individually. Possessive deixis, including “I have the expertise. My record of corporate leadership, my financial expertise,” emphasizes personal ownership and reinforces credibility by highlighting Tinubu’s individual experience and qualifications.

 

Effects of Deictic Elements on the Audience

The deictic elements in Bola Tinubu's campaign speeches significantly influence both listeners and readers. Personal pronouns and self-references, such as “I am,” “I know,” and “I am Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” establish a direct personal connection, fostering familiarity and relatability. References to achievements, like increasing Lagos’s internally generated revenue from 600 million to 50 billion Naira, emphasize personal responsibility and build credibility. Statements such as “I’m different” and “None of them is qualified except me” highlight his uniqueness, positioning him as a standout candidate. Phrases like “It is my turn” and “Bring it on” create urgency and determination, motivating audience engagement. By addressing issues such as mass migration and tax incentives, Tinubu demonstrates awareness of audience concerns, strengthening connection and trust. Calls to action like “follow me” and “vote for me; I will make your lives better” foster a sense of collective responsibility, while emotionally charged expressions such as “Blessed thy soul” and “sweep them out” enhance emotional resonance, increasing the persuasive impact of his campaign messages.

Most Prominent Deictic Elements in Bola Tinubu's Campaign Speech and their Linguistic Reasons

Several deictic elements are prominently used in Bola Tinubu's campaign speeches to convey messages effectively, each serving specific linguistic purposes. Personal pronouns (I, we) directly involve the speaker and the audience, creating engagement and inclusivity, as in “I am an expert” and “Given the chance I will build a Nigeria.” Temporal deixis (e.g., February 25th, today, this moment, now) anchors the speech in specific times, adding immediacy and relevance, illustrated by “25th February 2023 is a contest” and “When we started PIA.” Spatial deixis (e.g., Lagos, our beloved nation, Aba, Owerri, Warri, Kaduna) establishes connections with specific locations, appealing to regional identity, as seen in “Go to Lagos and see development” and “We must now do for our beloved nation.” Demonstrative deixis (this, that, these, those) emphasizes particular ideas or concepts, e.g., “I’m making it the 5th largest economy” and “Do we believe in ourselves?” Possessive deixis (our, my, your) conveys ownership and inclusivity, e.g., “Our 36 states,” “My government will build industrial hubs.” Interrogative pronouns (who, what, how) engage the audience and prompt reflection, as in “Do we believe in ourselves?” and “How many years it took us to conclude on it?” Imperative verbs (follow, vote, bring) encourage specific actions, e.g., “Follow me” and “Bring it on.” Metaphorical language (Broom revolution, face the Atlantic, conquer the Atlantic) adds vividness and symbolism, making the message memorable, e.g., “Broom revolution” and “Conquer the Atlantic for Lagos.” Finally, exophoric references point to entities or events outside the discourse, demonstrating awareness of the socio-political context, as in “El Rufai has done a good job in Kaduna” and “All those kidnappers in Kaduna.”

6. Findings

The study aligns with Hanks (2005) Deictic Field Theory, which explains how speakers use deixis to refer to themselves, the addressee, third-party referents, and objects within a communicative act. The data from Bola Tinubu’s campaign speeches reveal a persuasive narrative rich in deictic expressions, yet the political messages often leave room for interpretation. A notable limitation lies in the ambiguity of proposed solutions and plans. Phrases such as “true and innovative solutions” and “build a Nigeria” lack specific details, making it difficult to assess the feasibility and practicality of the proposed actions. Providing more concrete and actionable plans could enhance voters’ understanding of how these changes would be implemented and reduce skepticism.

The dominant deictic expressions in the speeches include spatial deixis (e.g., “in Lagos,” “here”), temporal deixis (e.g., “today,” “when we started PIA,” “already”), and personal deixis (e.g., “I,” “you,” “my,” “me”). These expressions create immediacy and foster a personal connection between the speaker and the audience, making the message contextually relevant and more engaging.

Tinubu also builds trust through strategic secrecy, with the deliberate choice not to reveal all strategies or comprehensive plans. This approach can convey caution and strategic thinking in a competitive political environment, reinforcing credibility. However, potential pitfalls in the speeches include the risk of appearing self-centered, exhibiting regional bias, vagueness, creating perceived pressure, generating varied interpretations of metaphors, and potential alienation due to specific references. Effective communication, therefore, requires balancing these linguistic elements with clarity, inclusivity, and adaptability to maintain audience engagement and persuasive impact.

7. Conclusion

The analysis offers important insights into the use of deictic expressions in Bola Tinubu's campaign speeches, highlighting how linguistic choices shape audience engagement, inclusivity, and persuasive impact. However, the study has limitations. It focuses exclusively on a single political campaign, and broader analysis encompassing other candidates and campaigns could provide a more comprehensive understanding of deixis in political discourse. Furthermore, examining a larger and more diverse dataset may reveal additional patterns and nuances, offering deeper insights into how deictic expressions function across different political contexts.

References

Bola Tinubu Tweets handle of October 21, 2022, November 15, 2022, November 18, 2022, November 26, 2023, Yanogoa campaign rally of December 1, 2022, BBC Africa Interview of December 6, 2022, NESG interview of January 13, 2023 and Rivers State rally of February 15, 2023.

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