A Critical Discourse Analysis Of The Mission Statements Of Selected State-Owned Entreprises In Namibia

ABSTRACT

This thesis is a critical discourse analysis of the mission statements of state-owned enterprises. The purpose of the study was to investigate the English language employed in the mission statements of state-owned enterprises. The study also explored the various linguistic components of mission statements, as well as the way they employ the English language to relate to stakeholders and convey meaning. This research was qualitative in nature and was a desktop study which employed discourse and content analysis, as well as critical discourse analysis, as methods of data collection. Data collected were critically examined and analysed according to the English language employed in the mission statements of state-owned enterprises. The study was informed by the critical discourse analysis theory, and discloses all levels of grammar, syntax, semantics and pragmatics relative to the research problem. Noticeably, the logic behind the framework was exposed, interpreted, understood; it reveals hidden meanings and unpacks social, economic and political issues through discourse. In this research, critical discourse analysis explored systematically the linguistic constructs and their subsequent social implications for readers. The thesis reveals the following findings: firstly, the use of various linguistic components in the mission statements, such as noun phrases (goals, customers, stakeholders, employees, principles and values), just to illustrate the enterprises’ identity and uniqueness; verb phrases for expressing dedication and action, infinitives for assurance and persuasion for long-lasting relationships between these enterprises and stakeholders; prepositional phrases for relationships and standing points of objects in the mission statement. Secondly, the linguistic constructs of the mission statements were formulated both paradigmatically and syntagmatically to relate to stakeholders. Possessive pronouns were utilised to depict unity, solidarity and harmony.