LEADERSHIP SPECTRUM CONSTRUED IN INAUGURAL SPEECHES BY MALAYSIAN AND FRENCH PRIME MINISTERS

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Language is a form of discourse utilised in various situations, including leadership. Across borders, inaugural speech represents a common form of discourse delivered by leaders as an introductory address to their audiences. The theme of leadership is central to inaugural speeches and it is influenced by or/and influencing social aspects. This study aims to analyse leadership spectrum, namely attributes and agendas, as construed in discourse from the linguistic and social aspects.   Methodology: This study compares inaugural speeches by the Ninth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Twenty-Fifth French Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne through the application of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) by Fairclough (2010).   Findings: In total, the leaders utilised 21 clauses which can be interpreted for their attributes and agendas. The discourses by both leaders reveal five attributes and six agendas. Some of the attributes are shared between the leaders, with differences exist in other attributes and agendas. Further explanation links those attributes and agendas to social aspects in Malaysia and France.   Contributions: This study contributes to a new domain in Malaysia-France comparative research and the study of inaugural speeches. In which case, it examines opaque leadershipspectrum in discourses by Malaysian and French leaders through the lens of critical discourse analysis (CDA).   Keywords: Critical discourse analysis, inaugural speech, leadership spectrum, Malaysia, France.   Cite as: Dinie Asyraf, S., Mohammad Fadzeli, J., & Suziana, M. S. (2024). Leadership spectrum construed in inaugural speeches by Malaysian and French prime ministers. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 9(2), 241-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol9iss2pp241-266