INTRODUCTION 3
CHAPTER I. FEATURES OF ORAL POLITICAL DISCOURSE 6
1.1. Concept of oral political discourse 6
1.1.1. Basic characteristics of oral political discourse 6
1.1.2. Public speech in political communication 11
1.1.3. American political text 15
1.2. Mechanisms of speech influence in oral political discourse 19
1.2.1. Persuasion and suggestion 19
1.2.1. Speech acts theory and speech genre theory 23
1.3. Communicative strategies and tactics. Agitation in political speeches 27
1.4. Simultaneous interpretation of political speeches 30
CONCLUSIONS ON CHAPTER I 32
CHAPTER II. MANIFESTATION OF AGITATION STRATEGY IN ORAL POLITICAL DISCOURSE 34
2.1. Cultural and political dimensions of agitation: a comparative analysis of Russian and American political discourse 34
2.2. Ways of rendering call-to-action tactics in target text and its simultaneous interpretation 36
2.3. Ways of rendering promise tactics in target text and its simultaneous interpretation 46
CONCLUSIONS ON CHAPTER II 55
CONCLUSION 58
BIBLIOGRAPHY 60
The graduation paper examines the ways agitation strategy is manifested in the English language as well as the ways of rendering them into Russian. Nowadays, politics and diplomatic relations play a crucial role, making political discourse increasingly topical. Politicians are able to influence the electorate, other political leaders and the general population through public speeches given at various high- level meetings, press conferences and the like. Effective communication is essential, as it is the only way a speaker can achieve their personal objectives, or encourage a group of people or an individual to take certain actions. Politicians resort to different means of rendering information and use some techniques and strategies to achieve their political goals. In this paper, I attempt to explain the mechanisms of agitation, persuasion and manipulation, as well as various linguistic tools through which the agitation strategy and its tactics are manifested in political texts. The present paper also deals with the ways they are transmitted into Russian in the course of simultaneous interpretation.
Relevance of the research is determined by a critical role of developing intercultural relations, diplomatic ties, as well as political leaders, who constantly use different linguistic devices along with means of persuasion and elements of argumentation manifested through communicative strategies and tactics. The analysis of speech strategies allows to detect explicit and implicit intentions in a dialogue, as well as to elucidate how true intentions are hidden in the text and how to recognize them.
Scientific novelty suggests a comprehensive analysis of American political discourse, focusing specifically on recent State of the Union address speeches. The paper provides valuable insights into how political messages are constructed and communicated, as well as the ways agitation is rendered in simultaneous interpretation of English speeches into Russian. This analysis contributes to the field of political discourse analysis by examining the rhetorical strategies, linguistic devices, and persuasive and argumentative techniques used by political leaders.
Object of the research is the State of the Union Adress speeches delivered in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024 by Donald J. Trump and Joseph R. Biden, and their simultaneous interpretations executed by Current Time TV and Voice of America’s interpreters.
Subject of the research is the agitation strategy and its tactics, as well as the ways they are interpreted both in American and Russian political discourses.
Goal of the research is to identify and analyze the linguistic means by which agitation strategy and its two corresponding tactics are implemented both in English and Russian.
Meeting the goal suggests accomplishing the following objectives:
- to analyze specifics of oral political discourse;
- to examine distinctive features of American political discourse;
- to consider the mechanisms of speech influence present in political texts;
- to define agitation in political discourse and the ways it is rendered in the two languages via communicative tactics;
- to study cultural and linguistic features of English and Russian political texts;
- to understand linguistic and cultural specifics of simultaneous interpretation of political texts from English into Russian;
- to compare the source and target texts for agitation in them.
Theoretical significance of the research is to provide a detailed description of the means of organizing political discourse, such as communicative strategies and tactics, and to examine speech impact on the audience. Therefore, the conclusions and observations presented in the work make a contribution to the development of political linguistics, communication theory, discourse theory, psycholinguistics and intercultural communication theory.
Practical significance of the results of the research consists in the possibility of using the conclusions to prepare speeches, writing texts or reports within the framework of political discourse. The data collected can be used in the teaching of simultaneous interpretation, rhetoric of the English language, and practice of intercultural communication...
To sum it up, agitation plays a crucial role in political discourse as it is a powerful tool for mobilizing and engaging the audience. By using agitation strategies, political speakers aim to evoke strong emotions, create a sense of urgency, and mobilize support for their ideas, policies, or political agendas.
Agitation, manifested through call-to-action and promise tactics, helps politicians motivate the audience to take specific actions or to commit to certain courses of action. By appealing to the emotions and shared values of the audience (such as anchors and political myths), agitation strategies help politicians mobilize support for their political goals and agendas. What is more, agitation creates a sense of shared purpose among the audience, fostering a sense of patriotism, unity and collective action.
At linguistic level, agitation is rendered with the help of grammar, lexical and syntactic means. They might include imperatives, predicates with modal, evaluative, emotive, futural components, different stylistic devices, slogans, and so on. Normally, these means of expression of the three levels tend to intertwine in one sentence, creating a powerful tool for expressing ideas necessary to render call-to-action and promise tactics.
Moreover, several key factors must be taken into account to ensure accurate and effective communication of agitation in the process of simultaneous interpretation of American political texts into Russian.
First of all, we must consider cultural context. Understanding the cultural nuances and political context of both the source and target languages is essential for successful interpretation. Differences in political culture, rhetorical styles, and communication norms between the United States and Russia must be taken into consideration.
Next, American political discourse often employs various rhetorical devices, such as metaphors, epithets, rhetorical questions, repetitions, etc. to persuade and engage the audience. Interpreters must be able to recognize and effectively convey these rhetorical strategies in Russian while maintaining the intended impact and tone of the original message.
Besides, simultaneous interpretation requires quick thinking and linguistic precision. Interpreters must have a strong command of both languages to accurately convey the nuances of the source text while ensuring grammatical and stylistic coherence in the target language. Given the dynamic nature of political discourse, interpreters must also be adaptable and flexible, able to adjust their interpretation in real-time to reflect changes in tone, emphasis, or context. By considering these factors and remaining vigilant throughout the interpretation process, interpreters can effectively bridge the linguistic and cultural divide between American and Russian political discourse, facilitating clear and accurate communication across language barriers.
Overall, this graduation paper has provided a comprehensive analysis of oral political discourse, focusing on its features, mechanisms of speech influence, and the manifestation of agitation strategy in political speeches, both in source and target texts. This paper contributes to the understanding of oral political discourse by providing a theoretical framework and analysis of key concepts and mechanisms involved. By examining the manifestation of agitation strategy in political speeches, the graduation paper sheds light on how language is used to persuade, influence, and mobilize audiences in different cultural and political contexts.
Future research in this area could explore other strategies and tactics of political communication and their effectiveness in achieving political goals. Additionally, further comparative studies could be conducted to analyze oral political discourse in other cultural and linguistic contexts, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the role of language in political communication.
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