scholarly journals Hedging in Political Discourse: The Case of Trump’s Speeches

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 375-398
Keyword(s):  
Political Discourse ◽  
Auxiliary Verbs ◽  
American President ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Discourse Functions ◽  
One Year

This study examines the use and functions of hedging devices in political discourse by analysing two of the now former American President Donald Trump’s speeches. The study adopts Salager-Meyer’s (1997) framework to analyse the use of hedging devices and Rabab’ah and Abu Rumman’s (2015) framework to assign functions to hedges. The findings reveal that approximators and modal auxiliary verbs were the most frequently used hedging devices in the two speeches and that there is a noticeably frequent use of the modal auxiliary verbs will and must, an indication of power. In addition, the findings show that Trump used hedging devices almost equally between the two speeches although there is a one-year gap between the speeches selected . As for the functions, the analysis shows that, in addition to the five functions in Rabab’ah and Abu Rumman (2015), there emerged three additional functions; namely, emphasis, power and multi-functional hedges. Most hedges were generally used to mitigate language while some were used to indicate necessity and authority. Keywords: Hedging, Political discourse, Functions, Trump.

scholarly journals “We believe in democracy…”: Epistemic Modality in Justin Trudeau’s Political Speeches

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Tofan Dwi Hardjanto ◽  
Nala Mazia
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Epistemic Modality ◽  
Auxiliary Verbs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
Discourse Functions

This article investigates epistemic modality in political discourse. It focuses on modality markers in terms of their word classes, semantic meanings and discourse functions in political speeches. The data were taken from three speeches delivered by the 23rd Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The results show that the markers found in the three speeches are of five different types, i.e., lexical verbs, modal adjectives, modal adverbs, modal auxiliary verbs and modal nouns, with meanings ranging from possibility, probability, to certainty. The markers also indicate the speaker’s commitment whose degree reflects the function in the social context. The speaker’s commitment is divided into three degrees of engagement, each of which serves as a means to be polite, to be diplomatic, and to be persuasive. The findings suggest that Trudeau tends to use reasonable judgment expressions to sound diplomatic and persuasive in his speeches. 

scholarly journals “We believe in democracy…”: Epistemic Modality in Justin Trudeau’s Political Speeches

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Tofan Dwi Hardjanto ◽  
Nala Mazia
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Epistemic Modality ◽  
Auxiliary Verbs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
Discourse Functions

This article investigates epistemic modality in political discourse. It focuses on modality markers in terms of their word classes, semantic meanings and discourse functions in political speeches. The data were taken from three speeches delivered by the 23rd Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The results show that the markers found in the three speeches are of five different types, i.e., lexical verbs, modal adjectives, modal adverbs, modal auxiliary verbs and modal nouns, with meanings ranging from possibility, probability, to certainty. The markers also indicate the speaker’s commitment whose degree reflects the function in the social context. The speaker’s commitment is divided into three degrees of engagement, each of which serves as a means to be polite, to be diplomatic, and to be persuasive. The findings suggest that Trudeau tends to use reasonable judgment expressions to sound diplomatic and persuasive in his speeches. 

scholarly journals Promoting books and places: A study of adjectival modification in persuasion and description

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (31) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Hilkka Yli-Jokipii
Keyword(s):  
High Occurrence ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Adjectival Modification ◽  
Discourse Functions ◽  
Lexical Density ◽  
Qualitative Analyses ◽  
Place Description

This is a study of adjectival modification, that is the use of adjectives and adjectival participles, in the genres of book information and place description. Book information represents a genre with a subtle, covertly persuasive function, while place description is taken to have little or no persuasive force. The study starts out with a quantitative element, establishing lexical densities of the eight texts in the data. This is followed by qualitative analyses of the functions which adjectives have in the genres examined. Answers are sought to these primary questions: 1) What is the role of modifying adjectives in the lexical density of the texts analysed? 2) What discourse functions do these adjectives fulfil in the two genres? The conclusions of the study include: 1) High occurrence of modifying items does not automatically equal nominal style. 2) High occurrence of modifying items is not an automatic sign of high lexical density. 3) The frequent use of modifiers in non-fiction is not limited to persuasion, since adjectives are also frequent in the genre in which the descriptive function is foregrounded.

Latvijas prezidenta Egila Levita runu valodiskais profils: ceremoniālā, juridiskā vai politiskā retorika?

2021 ◽  
pp. 333-345
Author(s):  
Līga Romāne-Kalniņa ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
The State ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
European Court ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Definition Of

Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric as the art of observing the available means of persuasion is one of the most widely used quotations not only in linguistics but also in social, political, and communication sciences. Aristotle, apart from defining the elements of rhetoric (logos, ethos and pathos), has proposed three types of rhetoric that refer either to the present situation (ceremonial), the past (judicial), or the future (political). The current president of Latvia and his language use is one of the most widely discussed topics across the media and academia due to the register, style, and content of his speeches. Moreover, the president of Latvia has a direct impact on how the state is perceived nationally and internationally; thus, it is significant to investigate the linguistic profile of the linguistic expression of the ideas communicated by the president to the wider public. The current study analyses 160 speeches given by president Egils Levits on nationally significant occasions as well as internationally with the aim to investigate whether the speeches of the president of Latvia correspond to the ceremonial, political or judicial rhetoric because the president represents both legal and political discourse as the former judge of the European Court of Human Rights and the former minister of Justice, and as the head of the Republic of Latvia represents the state nationally and abroad. The study is grounded in the theories on rhetoric and Critical Discourse Analysis applied to political discourse and presidential language and discussed by scholars such as Aristotle (1959), Van Dijk (2006), Chilton and Schäffner (2002), O’Keeffe (2006), Van Dijk (2008), David (2014), Wilson (2015) and Wodak and Mayer (2016). The results of the current study reveal that the speeches are a clear representation of a combination of legal, political, and ceremonial rhetoric and cross various semantic fields that are marked by the use of field terminology in combination with topos of definition and name interpretation to explain the terms directly in the speeches. The speeches by Levits are furthermore marked by relatively frequent use of loanwords, neologisms, obsolete words, and compounds that is one of the main characteristics of the linguistic profile of his speeches. Additional characteristic features are the use of parallel sentence constructions, inverted word orders, rhetorical questions, and pronominal referencing to attract the listener's attention and emphasize the thematic areas of the speeches. Nevertheless, it has been concluded that such linguistic techniques as metaphors, metonymies, synecdoche, or hyperbole are used comparatively less frequently, thus making the speeches appear more formal and less emotional from the linguistic point of view.

scholarly journals “TRUMPISMS” – FROM OCCASIONAL TO USUAL LEXICAL UNITS

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (193) ◽  
pp. 246-252
Author(s):  
Olena Popova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Coding Theory ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
English Language ◽  
Emotional Memory ◽  
Dual Coding ◽  
Linguistic Terms ◽  
American President ◽  
The Status ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
Media Discourses

The article deals with the problem of occasional lexical units used by the 45th American President D.Trump in his political speeches, and their further possible progress to the status of usual words generally used in the American variant of the English language. Political discourse is taken as an object of the research due to its popularity, and the highest circulation in the modern democratic society that, with the help of its characteristics, guarantees maximum promulgation of the occasional words. It is stressed in the article that the study cannot be purely done in linguistic terms, as the very progress from occasional to the usual words covers the aspects of pedagogics, psychology, neuropsychology, neurodidactics. To trespass the borderline between occasional and usual, it is surely badly needed to be repeated scores of times – the task that is fully performed by the political and media discourses in concatenation - but still it alone is not enough. The newly created word should correspond not only to the communicative demands of a speaker-creator, but also with the views and beliefs of the audience. Thus, it catches declarative, procedural, semantic, and episodic / emotional memory of the addressee. Altogether, it should be of some significance as in the context of the information given by the politician, so from the prospective of the very addressee (his life values and experience). Dual Coding Theory involving the activity of verbal and non-verbal systems comes to the fore to explain the principles of successful memorization of occasional lexical units coming to life through political discourse.

PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF STYLISTICALLY COLORED LINGUISTIC UNITS IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE: ON THE MATERIAL OF V.V. PUTIN'S SPEECHES

2021 ◽  
pp. 66-77
Author(s):  
Н. Гезайли
Keyword(s):  
Political Discourse ◽  
Lexical Meaning ◽  
Pragmatic Information ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Pragmatic Analysis ◽  
Oral Speech ◽  
Special Approach ◽  
Linguistic Units ◽  
Reduced Words

Постановка задачи. В предлагаемой статье мы подвергаем прагматическому анализу употребление стилистически окрашенных языковых единиц в политическом дискурсе жанра устной речи: на материале телевизионных выступлений (таких, как заседание и интервью) Президента России. Исследование окрашенных языковых единиц в рамках политического дискурса представляет собой особый интерес, поскольку данные единицы обслуживают прагматику языка. Результаты. Прагматическая информация в политическом дискурсе распределена между всеми языковыми единицами. Однако стилистически окрашенные языковые единицы, под которыми мы подразумеваем коннотативно насыщенные слова, выражения, фразеологизмы и афоризмы, несут в себе наибольшую прагматическую нагрузку. Именно они способствуют не только привлечению внимания адресата, но и воздействию на него. Выводы. Политический дискурс, представляя собой специфический и комплексный вид коммуникации, требует особого подхода к его исследованию. Роль стилистически окрашенных языковых единиц в реализации речевой интенции адресанта в политическом дискурсе велика. В ходе исследования было констатировано, что использованные Президентом России слова, выражения, фразеологизмы и афоризмы носят в целом оценочный характер, точнее ироническую окраску (в частности, отмечается довольно частотное употребление фразеологизмов (81.81%), а иногда стилистически сниженных слов и выражений (6.06%)). Это возможно объяснить тем, что фразеологизмы, в отличие от афоризмов, являются носителями лексического значения и могут выступать в качестве эквивалентов слов. Кроме того, степень сочетаемости компонентов во фразеологизмах неодинакова, т.е. в них могут входить несвободные, но легко отделяемые по смыслу слова, и употребляться в переносном значении. Следовательно, они с большей лёгкостью создаются в процессе речи, способствуя достижению иллокутивной цели адресанта. Тем не менее фразеологизмы и афоризмы, а также стилистически сниженные слова благодаря своей экспрессивности способствуют не только привлечению внимания адресата, но и воздействию на него, производя при этом определённый прагматический эффект. Problem statement. In the proposed paper, we subject to a pragmatic analysis the use of stylistically colored linguistic units in the political discourse of the genre of oral speech: based on the material of television speeches (as meeting and interview) of the President of Russia. The study of colored linguistic units within the framework of political discourse is of particular interest, since these units serve the pragmatics of language. Results. Pragmatic information in political discourse is distributed among all linguistic units. However, stylistically colored linguistic units, by which we mean connotatively saturated words, expressions, phraseological units and aphorisms, carry the greatest pragmatic load. They contribute not only to attracting the attention of the addressee, but also to influencing him. Conclusion. Political discourse, representing a specific and complex type of communication, requires a special approach to its study. The role of stylistically colored linguistic units in the realization of the addressee's speech intention in political discourse is huge. In the course of the study, it was stated that the words, expressions, phraseological units and aphorisms used by the President of Russia are generally evaluative, more precisely, ironic (in particular, there is a fairly frequent use of phraseological units (81.81%), and sometimes stylistically reduced words and expressions (6.06%)). This can be explained by the fact that phraseological units, unlike aphorisms, are carriers of lexical meaning and can act as an equivalent of words. In addition, the degree of compatibility of components in phraseological units is not the same, i.e. they may include non-free, but easily separable words, and be used in a figurative sense. Consequently, they are more easily created in the process of speech, contributing to the achievement of the illocutionary goal of the addressee. Nevertheless, phraseological units and aphorisms, as well as stylistically reduced words, due to their expressiveness, contribute not only to attracting the attention of the addressee, but also to influencing him, while producing a certain pragmatic effect.

scholarly journals A Multicenter Study of Antifungal Use and Species Distribution and Antifungal usceptibilities of Candida Isolates in South Korea

2020 ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
Ju Hyeon Shin ◽  
Eun Jeong Won ◽  
Soo Hyun Kim ◽  
Jong Hee Shin ◽  
Dain Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Species Distribution ◽  
Multicenter Study ◽  
Candida Species ◽  
Antifungal Susceptibility ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Defined Daily Doses ◽  
One Year ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Antifungal Use

Background: Candidiasis control should include monitoring the epidemiology and resistance to various antifungal agents. In this study, the researchers investigated the Candida species recovered from clinical specimens at particular geographic areas or hospitals. Objective: The present study is geared toward the evaluation of antifungal drug usage at Korean hospitals in 2016. It is also essential that species distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida isolates should be looked into to provide important data that can help devise therapeutic strategies to control the disease. Methods: Systemic antifungal agent usage over a one-year period was investigated at 10 Korean hospitals. Identification and antifungal susceptibility tests were performed on clinical isolates of the Candida species, which were collected over a three-month period. Results: The total antifungal usage in each hospital ranged from 7.7 to 158.9 defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 patient days. Fluconazole was most commonly used (37.1%), followed by amphotericin B (30.6%), itraconazole (9.7%), echinocandins (8.8%), voriconazole (7.5%), and posaconazole (6.3%), respectively. Among 274 Candida isolates, C. albicans was the most frequently recovered (51.1%), followed by C. glabrata (15.7%), C. tropicalis (15.0%), and C. parapsilosis (13.5%), respectively. Through the application of either species-specific clinical breakpoints or epidemiological cutoff values to Candida isolates, the non-susceptibility rates to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, and micafungin were found in 20.7%, 5.6%, 0%, and 0% of isolates, respectively. Conclusion: This nationwide multicenter study showed that total antifungal use varied considerably according to each hospital. Non-susceptibility to fluconazole should be further monitored, considering the drug's frequent use in Korea.

scholarly journals English Personal Pronouns as a Manipulation Strategy in Political Discourse: A Critical Discourse Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (44) ◽  
pp. 1-20
Author(s):  
Raid Muhammad Jasim ◽  
◽  
Sabah S. Mustafa ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Political Discourse ◽  
Shared Responsibility ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Personal Pronouns ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
State Of The Union ◽  
American President ◽  
Ideological Influence ◽  
Manipulation Strategy

Manipulation is a discursive concept which plays a key role in political discourse by which politicians can impose some impact on their recipients through using linguistic features, most prominent of which are personal pronouns (Van Dijk, 1995). The aim of this study is to investigate how politicians utilize the personal pronouns, namely; We and I and their possessive forms as a tool of manipulating the audience's mind based on Van Dijk's "ideological square" which shows positive-self representation and negative-other representation (Van Dijk,1998:p.69). To this end, American President Donald Trump's 2020 State of the Union speech was chosen to be the data of analysis. Only (8) examples out of (226) extracts of his speech involving the use the personal pronouns along with their indications were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Results reveal that Trump uses these pronouns to exercise an ideological influence on his audience, basically to present himself positively. The study concludes that Trump strategically uses personal pronouns as a functional indication of collectivity, nationalism, and direct/shared responsibility. Findings might help linguists and political analysts to understand how politicians have the ability to exploit the linguistic characteristics in their language to fulfill their ends manipulatively.

Metoclopramide: An Analysis of Inappropriate Long-Term Use in the Elderly

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 977-979 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald B. Stewart ◽  
James J. Cerda ◽  
Mary T. Moore ◽  
William E. Hale
Keyword(s):  
Screening Program ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Health Screening ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Annual Visit ◽  
One Year ◽  
Health Screening Program ◽  
Geriatric Research

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of possible metoclopramide-induced tardive dyskinesia and document the frequent use of metoclopramide for inappropriate lengths of treatment in elderly, ambulatory subjects. DESIGN: Descriptive study that identified long-term users of metoclopramide among a population of 4515 elderly subjects. SETTING: Participants in an ambulatory health-screening program in Florida (Florida Geriatric Research Program). PARTICIPANTS: Individuals (2898 women and 1617 men) over the age of 65 years who volunteered for annual health screening. INTERVENTIONS: All medication histories for participants were reviewed to identify subjects who reported metoclopramide use on at least one visit to the program. RESULTS: Thirty-four participants (0.75 percent) reported the use of metoclopramide during at least one visit. Eleven subjects (32.4 percent) reported that they had used this drug for longer than one year. Nine of the 34 subjects (26.5 percent) also reported the use of metoclopramide at their next annual visit. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that metoclopramide is frequently prescribed inappropriately to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Long-term use of this drug exposes patients to an unnecessary risk of adverse drug reactions.

Use of Metacognitive Reading Strategies by Gifted Learning Disabled Students: An Exploratory Study

1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Lesley McGuire ◽  
Carolyn R. Yewchuk
Keyword(s):  
Reading Instruction ◽  
Gifted Students ◽  
Learning Disabled ◽  
Metacognitive Strategies ◽  
Frequent Use ◽  
Elementary Gifted ◽  
Student Profiles ◽  
Metacognitive Reading Strategies ◽  
One Year ◽  
Grade Placement

This study examines the use of metacognitive strategies by four upper elementary gifted students with reading disabilities during a reading comprehension think-aloud task. The students had WISC-R Verbal or Performance IQs above 125 and standardized reading achievement scores at least one year below grade placement. The results indicated that, although in general the four students actively monitored their reading and reported frequent use of evaluation, paraphrase, and regulation metacognitive strategies, they were not proficient in executing the strategies effectively. Analysis of student profiles revealed significant individual differences in implementation of strategies, indicating a need for individualized reading instruction matched to student profiles.

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