‘We all have a role to play’: A comparative analysis of political speech acts on the COVID19 crisis in the South Pacific

ABSTRACT

This article compares government communication on the COVID19 crisis in three countries: Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. It analyses six speeches made by each country’s leader , from March to June 2020, using speech act theory and discourse analysis. The study aimed to compare the discursive strategies used , to discuss these in relation to their respective socio-political contexts, and to examine the application of speech act theory to political crisis management, which is currently underexplored. To achieve these objectives, the research used an eclectic combination of crisis communication theory and speech act theory, examining how speech acts were used in crisis ‘base response’ strategies, such as ‘instructing’ and ‘adjusting’ information. The study found some notable differences in the degree of assertiveness, hesitation, and sympathy, which relate to differences in the political ideology of each government. It also found some similarities, especially in inclusion techniques and using media briefings as a promotional tool.

KEYWORDS:

• Crisis
• COVID19
• political speeches
• speech acts
• discourse
• pragmatics
• South Pacific
• strategic communication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sky Marsen

Sky Marsen, PhD is the Director of the Communication Program at Flinders University, Australia, and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Business Communication. She has an educational background in applied linguistics, cognitive science and communication studies, and has lectured on these subjects internationally. Her research interests include crisis communication, organizational communication, semiotics, and discourse analysis.

Zakia Ali-Chand

Zakia Ali-Chand PhD is an Assistant Professor at the College of Humanities and Education, Fiji National University. Dr Ali-Chand has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of the South Pacific and a Master of Applied Linguistics from the University of New England. Her research interests include language learning strategies for second language learners, error analysis, diasporic writing, discourse analysis, gender studies and women’s leadership in higher education.