Coherence and Cohesion in English Discourse

part of the interactants
.
2. Claiming common ground, narrative of belonging and humour/joke
On less ceremonial occasions the use of direct appeal may be combined with 
claiming common ground, narrative of belonging and the humour/joke strategy 
to reflect an effort to create a less formal and more immediate relationship 
between the speaker and the audience. In his resignation speech (2) delivered in 
2007 at his Sedgefield constituency Tony Blair does not use forms of address. 
Still, he addresses the audience by a conventional act of thanking and a formulaic
 
opening phrase which shows deference (
it’s a great privilege
) and appeals to 
the audience by the pronominal form 
you
, while anchoring the discourse in a 
shared deictic centre (
here
, 
today
), and asserting mutually favourable evaluation 
(
wonderful and warm welcome
). The speech is delivered in a rather emotional 
way, which is indicated among other things by the non-fluent delivery of the 
opening part in which the speaker thanks his friends and family. The relationship 
with the 
audience is further strengthened by mentioning specific individuals 

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and reinforced by a joke concerning Maureen’s wish for ‘four more years’, 
which really makes the audience laugh, thus expressing sympathy and implying 
that they all know what kind of speech is about to be delivered. Another joke 
referring to a list of priorities concerning John Burton’s loyalty enables Blair to 
express explicitly his feeling of belonging 
to the Labour Party, Sedgefield, to 
my constituency, where my political journey began 
and to assert that he shares 
common background knowledge, ideology and experience with the audience. 
The purpose of the speech – to resign – stated declaratively and anchored in the 
moment of speech, the relationship of the resigning leader with his supporters 
and their common experience provide the frame for a coherent interpretation of 
the unfolding discourse which reviews the most important events during Blair’s 
terms of office.
(2) 
Thank you all very much.
It’s a great privilege to be here with you again today and to thank all of 
you for such a wonderful and warm welcome. 
And especially Maureen and her friends, who gave me such a wonderful 
welcome. The only thing is, when I was coming in she said “Four more 
years!”, and I had to say, “Maureen, that’s not on message for today”. 
I just have to say a special word of thanks for John Burton. John has been 
my agent for many years now and he is still the best political adviser I 
have got. In all the years I have known him he has always been steadfast 
in his loyalty to me, to the Labour Party, and to Sunderland Football 
Club, not necessarily in that order. We won’t get into that. It has been my 
great good fortune at certain points in my life to meet exceptional people, 
and he is one very exceptional person. […]
So, I have come back here to Sedgefield, to my constituency, where my 
political journey began and where it is fitting that it should end. Today I 
announce my decision to stand down from the leadership of the Labour 
Party
(Blair, resignation speech, 2007)
An important aspect of a resignation speech is that it offers the speaker one 
of the last opportunities to use the institutional voice assigned to him/her by 
virtue of the office held and to reflect on his/her legacy. Blair’s speech shows the 
coexistence of the official voice (