Analysing Political Speeches - 2nd Edition by Jonathan Charteris-Black (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Exploring speeches by public figures such as Emma Watson, Tony Blair, Donald Trump, Julia Gillard and Lady Gaga, this engaging textbook explains the ways in which political speeches can be analysed. It examines the role of language in speeches and how it can be used to challenge or reinforce prevailing social, cultural and political attitudes. Each chapter introduces a particular discourse approach and then applies this in a model analysis of a passage of text. The chosen texts concern issues of social, cultural and political importance that address topics of significant importance to the audience to which they were delivered. Students are encouraged to engage with the text and consider how approaches to text analysis, such as cohesion, context analysis and metaphor analysis, may be adapted to provide a more critical perspective.

This text will be essential reading for students of English language, linguistics, communication studies and politics on critical discourse and discourse analysis modules.

From the Back Cover

'Both ambitious and appealing, this truly innovative book is a must-read for students and scholars across the social sciences.' - Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University, UK

What makes a political speech 'great'? Which approaches can be used to analyse discourse? How can you use these to become a more persuasive communicator?

Exploring speeches by public figures including Emma Watson, Tony Blair, Donald Trump, Julia Gillard and Lady Gaga, this engaging text explains the ways in which political speeches can be analysed. It examines the role of language in speeches, and how it can be used to challenge or reinforce prevailing social, cultural and political attitudes.

• investigates a wide range of traditional and critical approaches to discourse analysis
  
• illustrates discourse theories with worked examples
  
• deconstructs famous political speeches in each chapter
  
• features exercises with commentaries, suggestions for further reading and an extensive glossary
  
• contains a new chapter on ad hominem arguments and impoliteness
  

Analysing Political Speeches brings theory to life with its practical, hands-on analysis of political discourse. It will be an indispensable resource for students of language and communication at all levels.

Jonathan Charteris-Black is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the West of England, UK.

Review Quotes

"Both ambitious and appealing, this truly innovative book is a must-read for students and scholars across the social sciences." --Ruth Wodak, Lancaster University, UK

"A masterly introduction to the critical linguistic analysis of political speeches and political discourse in general." --Andreas Musolff, University of East Anglia, UK

About the Author

Jonathan Charteris-Black is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the West of England, UK. He is the author of Corpus Approaches to Critical Metaphor Analysis (2004); Politicians and Rhetoric: The Persuasive Power of Metaphor 2nd edition (2011); The Communication of Leadership (2010) and (with Seale, C) Gender and the Language of Illness (2010) as well as numerous articles and book chapters.
Jonathan Charteris-Black is Professor of Linguistics at the University of the West of England, UK. He is the author of Corpus Approaches to Critical Metaphor Analysis (2004); Politicians and Rhetoric: The Persuasive Power of Metaphor 2nd edition (2011); The Communication of Leadership (2010) and (with Seale, C) Gender and the Language of Illness (2010) as well as numerous articles and book chapters.