Discuss this quote in relation to Nelson Mandelas inaugural address Essay

Discuss this quote in relation to Nelson Mandelas inaugural address - Essay Example Mandela tactfully addressed a number of issues that faced the country in the past while attempting to strike a balance between the minority white and the majority blacks. The speeches raises pays a particular appeal to the pathos of the audience, an aspect that helps reduce the tension and emotions that could have arose. Mandela points out a number of issues that South Africa requires including unity, tolerance, and developing the image of the country. In his address, Nelson Mandela uses a number of linguistic devices to communicate to the people of South Africa when delivering his first inaugural ceremony in the University of Pretoria. The fact that he is not a native English speaker demonstrates an accent in his pronunciation of the English words. The punctuation of his speech is quite impressive. In addition, he demonstrates good command of language and uses a figurative language that has a good choice of semantics and lexical devices. The choice of words in every sentence has been carefully done in order to convey a specific message to the South Africans as well as the rest of the world. His speech demonstrates a dedication to unite South Africans in order that the world may have a view of what it means be have order, equality, justice, and freedom. The linguistic mastery of Mandela in this speech confirms Boussoffara-Omar’s (2011) saying that, â€Å"linguistic choices and discursive practices are never ‘value-fr ee’ or neutral, they are always situated in histories, whether they are personal, local or global†. In the inaugural speech, Mandela is very systematic in the way he presents issues. The first thing is that he presents a greeting that acknowledges all the participants in a special way. He refers to them using highly dignified words, â€Å"majesties, highnesses, distinguished guests, comrades, and friends.† This opening statement gives a special appreciation to the South Africans as well as the other individuals from the