Speech Act Realization in Imran Khan’s UNGA Address: A Pragmatic Study

This research analyzed Ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan’s address to the United Nations General Assembly (2019) through the critical lens of Speech Act Theory by Austin and Searle. It was qualitative research, and the data was collected from the official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure its accuracy, reliability, and authenticity. The speech was carefully examined and six excerpts were selected, on the basis of important issues that were strategically presented and discussed by him. The chosen excerpts included themes of Kashmir, Islamophobia, climate change, and financial corruption and COVID 19. Each selected excerpt was critically analyses in terms of speech acts and their performative functions. After the analysis it was revealed that the speech was dominated by assertive speech acts, which enabled Khan to establish credibility and present logical and fact-based arguments. Directive speech acts were also used by him to compel the world powers and institutions to act on problems such as: emotional intensiveness, ethical concern, empathy, and urgency to bring out the humanitarian aspects of world issues. The further use of commissive speech act defined the dedication that the country was ready to participate in the global events in a responsible and beneficial way. The conclusive findings reveal that the use of these speech acts and their functions were intentional, and was chosen by Imran Khan to convince and repackage the international perceptions about Pakistan. This research can help to convince the global audience that the use of specific speech acts can help leaders to successfully communicate their concerns and influence global community at the international level.