1. Introduction to Political Discourse
Prof. Cristina Pennarola
Università di Napoli Federico II
Introduction to Political Discourse

2. OUTLINE Definitions of politics Overview of political language
Evaluation
Meanings
Rhetorical structure
Political phraseology

3. WHAT IS POLITICS?
ideas and activities relating to gaining and using power in a country, city etc.
the activities associated with the governance of a country or area
“Politics is no exact science, the art of the possible” (O. von Bismarck)
“Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.” (R. L. Stevenson)

4. LANGUAGE IN POLITICS can transform decisions/proposals into actions
is meant to create consensus
has an aesthetic dimension
is often the job of professional speechwriters

5. Language conveys…. Content meaning: the literal information
Emotive meaning: what the participants feel
Ideological meaning: the speaker’s sociocultural political/religious viewpoint
EXAMPLES
Terrorist or freedom fighter ?
mission or operation ?
leader or tyrant ?
stubborn or uncompromising ?
international community or western countries & the UN ?
The PM explained/claimed that the measure was necessary.

6. DENOTATION vs. CONNOTATION
Compare these two ways of expressing disagreement:
You’re completely wrong.
I’m afraid I don’t agree with you.
We usually distinguish two different levels of signification:
Denotation: the literal informative message
Connotation: the added emotional message
EXAMPLE:
I must do this: I feel this is my duty.
I have to do this: I feel this is necessary.

7. EVALUATIVE LANGUAGE
This nation of ours has got a solemn duty to defeat this ideology of hate. And that’s what they are, this is a group of killers who will not only kill here but kill children in Russia. That will attack unmercifully in Iraq hoping to shake our will. We have a duty to defeat this enemy. We have a duty to protect our children and grand-children. (G.W. Bush, 2004)
EVALUATION: a) the indication that something is good or bad
b) the very basis of persuasion (Partington 2006)

8. RHETORICAL STRUCTURE
BINOMIALS = two words or phrases with the same grammatical function joined by “and”/ “or” government and parliament stocks and shares BICOLONS = parallel phrases With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph – so help us God (Roosevelt 1945) TRICOLON = repetition of three parallel phrases First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you. Then you win (Mahatma Gandhi)

9. POLITICAL PHRASEOLOGY
Euphemism: polite word or expression used to avoid shocking someone
The fallen / casualties/ collateral damage
Question-Begging: rhetorical questions
How much longer must our people endure this injustice?
Vagueness: indefinite expressions
It’s time we put the economic crisis behind and we resume our world leadership..

10. METAPHOR
A rhetorical figure in which a quality is attributed to something which is not literally applicable on account of some common feature eg. icy glance, nerves of steel (Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary)
Crusade against terror
Long night of slavery
Paper tiger
Puppet government
Shadow government
Shadow economy

11. POLITICAL PHRASEOLOGY
In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. Things like the continuance of British rule in India, the Russian purges and deportations, the dropping of the atom bombs on Japan, can indeed be defended, but only by arguments which are too brutal for most people to face, and which do not square with the professed aims of the political parties. Thus political language has to consist largely of euphemism, question-begging and sheer cloudy vagueness. Defenseless villages are bombarded from the air, the inhabitants driven out into the countryside, the cattle machine-gunned, the huts set on fire with incendiary bullets: this is called pacification. Millions of peasants are robbed of their farms and sent trudging along the roads with no more than they can carry: this is called transfer of population or rectification of frontiers…Such phraseology is needed if one wants to name things without calling up mental pictures of them.

12. Two very different speeches

13. POLITICAL SPEECHES: in/formal?
It’s time for America to bind the wounds of decision
I’ve gotten to know our country so well. Tremendous potential.
I will harness in the creative talents of our people and we will call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talent for the benefit of all.
I want to thank my family very much. Really fantastic . Thank you all. And Lara, unbelievable job.
Thanks a lot guys!
I hope you have a great time
I promise you that I will not let you down. We will do a great job. We will do a great job.

14. RESOURCES
George Orwell Politics and the English Language
Alan Partington Persuasion in Politics. Milano: LED.