Examining Linguistic Interplay in Selected Universities’ Anthems in Ghana

This qualitative study investigated the linguistic features of anthems of selected public universities in Ghana and their alignment with the institutions’ mission statements. It adopted Searle’s (1969) and Austin’s (1975) Speech Act Theory and through textual analytical design, unravelled the linguistic patterns, semantic nuances, and hidden meanings within the anthems. Five universities were purposively sampled, considering representative, variety, and significance. The findings revealed that anthems of universities serve as a beacon of hope and education, promoting unity and commitment among their members. The diverse linguistic structures such as imperative and declarative sentences reflect the universities’ dedication to their missions and societal progress. The semantic content reflects Ghana’s national identity and historical figures. The linguistic interplay also showcased consistent themes of unity, commitment, pride and aspirations for excellence. The linguistic elements conveyed assertive statements about the institutions’ backgrounds, directives for shared goals, commissive commitments to societal values, expressive emotions fostering a sense of belonging and declarative assertions of institutional ideals. The results pave the way for more studies in linguistics and discourse analysis, highlighting the value of anthems as a means of expressing meaning and fostering solidarity in academic institutions.