Introduction to Political Discourse

Question 1

What is language?

Answer 1

Language is vital to the process of transforming political will into social action. In fact, any political action is prepared, accompanied, controlled and influenced by language.

Question 2

How can language of politics be defined?

Answer 2

Language of politics can be defined narrowly as “the language used by institutions of governance to conduct their business, to communicate with other institutions and with the rest of society.
All the discourses produces by groups within a society which relate to issues of the management of power and of social governance.

Question 3

How many political actions or events involving the use of language can you think of?

Question 4

What types of persuasion can be identified concerning language and politics?

Answer 4

• Absolutist/totalitarian regimes: coercion and manipulation of information;
• Pluralistic democracy: persuasion in debate

Question 5

Explain what a political discourse is. (4)

Answer 5

• it is persuasive
• it aims at affecting people’s (electoral) behaviour
• there is no need to be suspicious of a persuasive speaker
• awareness of how language is used in political discourse is important

Question 6

What is the primary aim of political discourse?

Answer 6

Its primary aim is to discover and indicate the ways in which language is skillfully used for political purposes

Question 7

What is politics all about?

Answer 7

It is about trust, and trust is challenged by the current obsession with media manipulation and “spin!: we live in an age where conspiracy theories are considered to be as credible as cabinet ministers.

Question 7

What is “spin” (transitive and intransitive)?

Answer 7

It means to turn around and around, especially fast

Question 8

What is “spin” (only transitive)?

Answer 8

It means to tell a story, either to deceive someone or for entertainment.
Determining an angle on a story which is aimed at casting a person, a group or issue in a positive light.

Question 9

Where does the obsession with media manipulation and spin come from?

Answer 9

• Numerous instances of symbolic manipulation of reality for the achievement of political goals (Edelman 1971)
  -The meanings of words depend on who uses them and in what context (Pêcheux 1978)

Question 10

What does discourse equal to?

Answer 10

Text + context

Question 11

What is lexis and how can it be manipulated for political purposes?

Answer 11

Words and expressions strategically placed and used with certain political aims in mind

Question 12

How does sintax affect political discourse?

Answer 12

Syntactic forms may be used differently depending on the ideological goals of the text
* Ex. Use of active/passive/ergative forms

Question 13

How does phonology affect political discourse?

Answer 13

Selected phonological variables can carry political loading

Question 14

What is pragmatics?

Answer 14

The ways in which a text can convey a hidden/implicit meaning

Question 15

Is political discourse analysis political?

Answer 15

-Some analyses may become as political as linguistic
-“Some authors define political discourse in such broad terms that almost any discourse may be considered political.”

Question 16

What is oratory?

Answer 16

Oratory is the art of formal public speaking – in which there is a clear speaker purpose that influences the language

Question 17

What is rethoric?

Answer 17

Rhetoric is the formal study of persuasion; it includes both speech and writing.

Question 18

What is the strategic importance of the audience?

Answer 18

Public communication may contribute to the “power” that arises from connecting with audiences.

Question 19

What is the strategic importance of the medium?

Answer 19

Politicians often succeed or fail through their (lack of) expertise in the new media

Question 20

What is the individualistic nature of the speech?

Answer 20

The text behind a speech has often been produced by (teams of) speechwriters or researchers that have either tested the speech on focus groups (in the past) or analysed social media discourse identifying keywords to be strategically adopted or avoided
BUT
Skillful orators make the appearance of artifice and manipulation disappear by relating to the audience, creating dialogue with listeners as well as their self-confidence

Question 21

What are the branches of oratory? (3) What are their contexts, the responses expected from audience and their social purposes?

Answer 21

• Deliberative -> parliamentary or local governmental meetings; voting; influencing policies.
• Judicial -> law courts; passing judgement; ensuring justice
• Epideictic -> ceremonial events; applauding; celebrating sb or sth

Question 22

What kind of oratory is the deliberative one?

Answer 22

This kind of oratory is concerned with policy-making and is delivered to a decision-making body.
Its purpose is to establish the benefit or harm that may be expected from a certain course of action thus influencing the decision of an institutional body (i.e. the parliament) so that measures/norms can be implemented and policy can be made

Question 23

What is the judicial oratory?

Answer 23

“Forensic speeches are addressed to a court or legal assembly that requires judgements to be made about guilt or innocence in relation to past actions, such as crime. The orator seeks to accuse or defend a suspect by drawing on evidence and arguments for either upholding or rejecting an accusation of guilt. Forensic rhetoric considers different possible interpretations of evidence to arrive at a recommendation as to the guilt or innocence of those on whom judgement is being passed.

Question 24

What is the epideictic oratory?

Answer 24

Epideictic oratory is addressed to an audience assembled to honor or commemorate a particular
individual (weddings , funerals…).
The orator seeks to display her/his eloquence in evaluating another by praise or criticism, and arouse the emotions that are appropriate to the ceremonial occasion in the audience.
It is concerned with establishing shared values and aims at consensus-building.