‘Speaking on the Floor’: An Analysis of Selected Parliamentary Proceedings in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana

Abstract:

This study explores the communicative dynamics of selected proceedings of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana through the lens of Dell Hymes’ Ethnography of Communication theory. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, the study examines how parliamentarians employ language to construct meaning, negotiate power, and perform their institutional roles within the parliamentary speech community. Four purposively selected parliamentary proceedings were analysed through document analysis, while textual analysis was employed to interpret the data. The findings reveal five major communicative tones within parliamentary discourse: formal, informal, emotional, conflictual, and consensual. Among these, the formal tone emerged as the most dominant, underscoring the institutional and procedural character of parliamentary communication. By adopting an ethnographic perspective, the study provides deeper insight into how language use within parliament both reflects and shapes power relations, governance processes, and societal norms. The study contributes to existing scholarship on political discourse and institutional communication by demonstrating how parliamentary communication extends beyond legislative functions to mirror broader social values, influence public perception, and shape policy outcomes. The findings offer valuable implications for policymakers, communication practitioners, and scholars interested in political communication and discourse studies.