The African National Anthem, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika: A Pragmatic Linguistic Analysis

This book entails a pragmatic analysis of the African National Anthem, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika," within a linguistic framework. By delineating the pragmatic features of the anthem, its philosophical symbolic meanings are teased out. This is important because symbols are critical in promoting social integration, fostering legitimacy, inducing loyalty, gaining compliance, and providing citizens with security and hope. Political symbols are also used as tools to address the contradictions of national consciousness and nation-building, nationhood, ideal governance, socioeconomic organization, and foreign policy preferences. The African National Anthem, "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrica" is divided into seven chapters: Historical Background and Various Versions of "Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika" On Meaning Deixis Presuppositions Implicatures Speech Acts Conclusions