A Comparative Analysis of the Role of Cohesive Devices in Conflict Resolution: A Study of Late Major General Ikemba Ojukwu’s and Late Kofi Annan Former United Nations Secretary General’s Speeches

This paper examined the use of cohesive devices in the speeches of Late Major General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and Late Kofi Annan (Former United Nations Secretary general) to achieve wholesome meaning. The paper compares the role of cohesive devices in different approaches to conflict resolution through force and peaceful contexts respectively. Scholarly review on the use of cohesive devices and connects their relevance to the study. This paper anchored on Cohesion frame work of Halliday and Hassen. It adopted a purposive method of data collection. The paper discovered that cohesive devices are dependent on context of use to demonstrate their meaning. This paper analyzed data descriptively using cohesive framework and discovered that cohesive devices are inevitable in spoken and written discourse to be able achieve coherence. Specifically, the use of cohesive devices reveals the intelligibility in humans to coordinate discourse, thereby elevating man superiorly far above animals. Differences or similarities in the meaning import depends largely on the individual and context these devices are employed, vise vasa. The paper therefore recommends studies in interdisciplinary contexts to discovers further aspects of cohesive tools.