John Benjamins Publishing Company
Chapter 1. Genres in political discourse
Abstract
The first part of this chapter provides an overview of the current state of genre theory in various fields of linguistics and discourse analysis. Based on this overview, a set of common features of genre definitions is presented that provides the theoretical basis for the empirical investigation. In the empirical part, the inaugural speeches of three Austrian chancellors (representing the two big Austrian political parties) during the last ten years are analyzed. After a short discussion of relevant contextual features (production process, audience design), lexical characteristics, generic and topical structures, and the co-articulation of topics are analyzed. Results show that, although delivered by politicians from two different political backgrounds, the speeches share many features in terms of lexis and generic structure. Differences become manifest at the topic structure and the co-articulation of topics. In conclusion, it is argued that a politically sensitive genre analysis must not only focus on generic features of political texts but also investigate registers and discourses which are realized in these texts.
Abstract
The first part of this chapter provides an overview of the current state of genre theory in various fields of linguistics and discourse analysis. Based on this overview, a set of common features of genre definitions is presented that provides the theoretical basis for the empirical investigation. In the empirical part, the inaugural speeches of three Austrian chancellors (representing the two big Austrian political parties) during the last ten years are analyzed. After a short discussion of relevant contextual features (production process, audience design), lexical characteristics, generic and topical structures, and the co-articulation of topics are analyzed. Results show that, although delivered by politicians from two different political backgrounds, the speeches share many features in terms of lexis and generic structure. Differences become manifest at the topic structure and the co-articulation of topics. In conclusion, it is argued that a politically sensitive genre analysis must not only focus on generic features of political texts but also investigate registers and discourses which are realized in these texts.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Analyzing genres in political communication 1
-
Part I. Theory-driven approaches
- Chapter 1. Genres in political discourse 29
- Chapter 2. Political interviews in context 73
- Chapter 3. Policy, policy communication and discursive shifts 101
- Chapter 4. The television election night broadcast 135
- Chapter 5. Analyzing meetings in political and business contexts 187
- Chapter 6. Presenting politics 223
-
Part II. Data-driven approaches
- Chapter 7. Legitimizing the Iraq War through the genre of political speeches 239
- Chapter 8. Macro and micro, quantitative and qualitative 267
- Chapter 9. Reframing the American Dream 297
- Chapter 10. The late-night TV talk show as a strategic genre in American political campaigning 321
- Chapter 11. Multimodal legitimation 345
- Chapter 12. Blogging as the mediatization of politics and a new form of social interaction 379
- Index 423
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Analyzing genres in political communication 1
-
Part I. Theory-driven approaches
- Chapter 1. Genres in political discourse 29
- Chapter 2. Political interviews in context 73
- Chapter 3. Policy, policy communication and discursive shifts 101
- Chapter 4. The television election night broadcast 135
- Chapter 5. Analyzing meetings in political and business contexts 187
- Chapter 6. Presenting politics 223
-
Part II. Data-driven approaches
- Chapter 7. Legitimizing the Iraq War through the genre of political speeches 239
- Chapter 8. Macro and micro, quantitative and qualitative 267
- Chapter 9. Reframing the American Dream 297
- Chapter 10. The late-night TV talk show as a strategic genre in American political campaigning 321
- Chapter 11. Multimodal legitimation 345
- Chapter 12. Blogging as the mediatization of politics and a new form of social interaction 379
- Index 423
