PERSUASION STRATEGIES IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

Linguistic communication, characteristic of only human beings, is easily accomplished, but not so easily explained. Its serious investigation is an exciting, enjoyable and, at the same time, a rewarding experience leading to a better understanding of ourselves as well as the world as a whole. The present paper focuses on the analysis of the linguistic means of persuasion used in political discourse. Persuasion is an inevitable part of our life. Be it a daily conversation with family members or friends, colleagues and business partners we make use of strategies to convince the others that whatever we say or imply is true. Persuasion is an inherent form of human interaction encountered everywhere, starting from domestic instances when a person negotiates his views with the others up to the media propaganda, etc. Thus, everyone is aware of the persuasion but not everyone is able to implement its strategies. The aim of the present study is to analyze the peculiarities of the use of the techniques of persuasion and pinpoint the ones that prove to be the most effective in the process of communication with special reference to political discourse.