A Comparative Analysis of US Presidential Debates 2016 on the Use of Speech Acts and Grice Maxims by Clinton and Trump
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Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
University of Management and Technology
Abstract
The language plays an important role in winning the hearts of the people and gaining
their support. The political speeches/debates made by various politicians have been analyzed
from different perspectives by the researchers at national and international level. In politica l
speeches/debates politicians interact with the audience with the help of language. Language is
used by politicians not only as a medium of communication but also as a tool to influence the
public. The present research attempts to analyze US presidential debates 2016 made by Hillary
Clinton and Donald trump during the US election 2016. The debates have been analyzed within
the framework of Searle's Typology of Speech Acts and Grice Maxims. The data consisted of
the answers of the questions asked by both the candidates. Moreover, the questions have been
categorized according to the main themes of the debates. The study analyzes the use of speech
acts by the candidates in order to make their language more influential and persuasive. They
employed assertive, commissive, directive, declarative and expressive speech acts while
answering the questions. The study revealed that Trump employed more assertive and directive
speech acts as compared to Hillary whereas she employed more commissive speech acts as
compared to Trump. The study also revealed that candidates followed/violated maxims of
quantity, relevance and manner consciously or unconsciously in order to hide certain
information or to show commitment to their words and promises. Trump violated more and
followed less number of maxims as compared to Clinton. The employed speech acts and
followed/violated maxims by both the candidates have been presented in the form of a table
along with each question. The percentages of the employed speech acts and followed/viola ted
maxims have been presented in the form of bar-charts and pi-charts.
Description
Professor Shahzad Ahmed
Keywords
language,political speeches, US presidential debates 2016 made by Hillary Clinton, Master