Sumra Farheen2018-11-222018-11-222018https://escholar.umt.edu.pk/handle/123456789/3413Professor Shahzad AhmedThe 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.enlanguage,political speechesUS presidential debates 2016 made by Hillary ClintonMasterThesis