“Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” (Orwell 9). Orwell has a very critical view on the potential dangers of language that can lead to persuasion and deception. Political speeches in particular can be examined under certain pragmatic aspects in order to find out the speaker’s intention.
With this in mind, the effect of pronouns in political speeches will be considered in the pages that follow. At first sight, the use of pronouns does not seem to suit to Orwell’s radical and immoral understanding of political language. This paper will illustrate that the choice of single linguistic units as pronouns can have a great effect on the listeners and recipients. How can atmosphere be created, political groups compared and distinguished and how can ideas and ideologies be conveyed and intensified by the judicious use of pronouns?
There is a number of linguists who have already dealt with the topic of pronouns in political discourse. Among the first were Brown and Gilman with their famous article “The Pronouns of Power and Solidarity” (1960).
A newer approach was taken by John Wilson thirty years later when he linked pronouns to political language (Wilson 1990). Pennycook points out the difficulties and meaning of pronouns in a paper called “The Politics of Pronouns” (1994) which will be one of the basic resources of my investigations.
In this paper, the use of pronouns will be examined within the scope of Barack Obama’s keynote address in 2004 since this speech made him famous far beyond Illinois, where he was senator during that time. His famous slogan “Yes we can” which he developed after that speech reflects the galvanizing power of the single pronoun "We" over a whole nation.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Pronouns in Political Speeches
2.1 Political Discourse
2.2. The characteristics of deictic use
2.3 The function of deixis in Obama’s speech
2.3.1 Summary of the speech
2.3.2 A sense of belonging
2.3.3 Construction of the Other
3 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper investigates the pragmatic function of personal pronouns within political discourse, specifically focusing on how the strategic use of deixis in Barack Obama's 2004 keynote address serves to construct group identities, create solidarity, and persuade the electorate.
- The role of political discourse analysis in interpreting speaker intentions.
- Theoretical foundations of deixis and the "deictic centre" in linguistic communication.
- The multifunctional nature of the pronoun "we" in building community vs. exerting directive influence.
- The construction of the "Other" through the contrasting use of "we" and "they".
Excerpt from the Book
2.3.3 Construction of the Other
The “Construction of the Other” (Pennycook 167) means that every sense of community expressed by We always entails a group excluded from this communality. Sometimes this is just a consequence the speaker does not consciously intend but often - especially in scripted, political speeches – it may be a technique to glorify one group by separating and disassociating it from other parties, countries, etc.
It becomes clearer if we consider Obama’s statements regarding external enemies. He claims “We have real enemies in the world” (Appendix: 82) with the United States of America as the deictic centre. In this example, We again expresses a feeling of solidarity and shared fate. Now he goes on describing the danger: “These enemies must be found. They must be pursued. And they must be defeated.” (Appendix: 83-85). By using the pronoun They he creates an external enemy without naming it in particular but only emphasizing the need to fight them. The anonymity of these enemies creates an atmosphere of fear and strengthens the wish for somebody who is strong and able to defend you.
Summarizing, Obama clearly defines groups only with the use of two indexicals, We and They. By dividing them superficially into good and evil, he makes John Kerry look very competent since he is the only one who is really mentioned with his full name in “John Kerry knows this” (Appendix: 86). The spatial deictic this in combination with Kerry’s experiences as a military leader (cf. Appendix: 87) implies that he is the right man to fight every possible enemy. It is interesting, that though Obama creates this atmosphere of menace artificially, the recipients applaud anyway when Obama assures them that Kerry wouldn’t “hesitate one moment to use our military might to keep America safe and secure” (Appendix: 87).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the critical role of political language and outlines the paper's focus on the effects of pronouns in political speeches, specifically Obama's 2004 keynote address.
2 Pronouns in Political Speeches: This section provides a theoretical framework for political discourse analysis and explores how linguistic choices influence listeners.
2.1 Political Discourse: This chapter defines the scope of political discourse analysis and highlights the persuasive function of speeches in connecting with party members and the nation.
2.2. The characteristics of deictic use: This chapter details the linguistic concepts of deixis, indexicality, and the deictic centre, explaining how pronouns define the speaker's relationship to the audience.
2.3 The function of deixis in Obama’s speech: This section applies the theoretical framework to Obama’s 2004 address, analyzing how he uses pronouns to shape the political message.
2.3.1 Summary of the speech: This chapter provides context regarding the 2004 DNC keynote address and its significance in Barack Obama's political career.
2.3.2 A sense of belonging: This chapter analyzes how Obama uses the pronouns "we" and "our" to create a sense of national unity and community, effectively shifting the deictic centre.
2.3.3 Construction of the Other: This chapter discusses how the use of "we" and "they" serves to define an "Other," creating an external enemy to foster solidarity and emphasize the candidate's strength.
3 Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that the strategic use of pronouns is a powerful, manipulative tool for persuasion in political rhetoric.
Keywords
Political Discourse Analysis, Deixis, Pronouns, Obama, Keynote Address, Pronominalisation, Indexicality, Deictic Centre, Persuasion, Political Rhetoric, Solidarity, Collective Identity, Construction of the Other, Pragmatics, Democratic National Convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the pragmatic impact of personal pronouns in political speeches, using Barack Obama's 2004 keynote address as a primary case study to illustrate how linguistic choices influence audience perception.
What are the central thematic areas discussed?
The work explores political discourse analysis, the linguistic concept of deixis, the construction of group identity through pronouns, and the persuasive strategies used by politicians to build solidarity.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to illustrate how single linguistic units, specifically pronouns, can be used by political speakers to create atmosphere, differentiate groups, and convey ideologies to their audience.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The paper utilizes a discourse analysis approach, applying linguistic theories—such as those by Wilson, Pennycook, and Mühlhäusler—to analyze the usage of referential pronouns within a specific political transcript.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body defines key linguistic terms, analyzes the frequency and function of pronouns like "we," "you," and "they" in the speech, and explores the "Construction of the Other" as a strategy for political positioning.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include Political Discourse Analysis, Deixis, Pronominalisation, Deictic Centre, Solidarity, and Political Rhetoric.
How does Obama manipulate the deictic centre in his speech?
Obama strategically shifts the deictic centre from specific party members to the entire American nation, effectively blurring the lines between specific political groups and "all Americans" to foster universal appeal.
What is the function of the "Construction of the Other" in Obama's rhetoric?
By contrasting the inclusive "we" with the exclusionary "they," Obama creates an artificial sense of external menace, which serves to unite his audience and frame his candidate as a strong protector.
Why does the author consider Obama's use of "you" to be tactical?
The author argues that Obama uses "you" to assume an "obligation pattern" or to reflect conventional wisdom, thereby creating an "I-You" opposition that bridges the gap between the politician and the listener.
- Quote paper
- N. Felicissimus (Author), 2014, Deicitc use in political speeches. The effects of pronouns in Barack Obama's 2004 "Key Note Address", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/377799
