Analysing Political Discourse: Theory and Practice

by Paul Chilton

Overview

In today’s world, analysing political language is more important than ever. This revised edition, while retaining the historically significant case studies, adds new analyses that reflect the 2010s and 2020s. It retains the original analytical tools, including the discourse space model, and in a fresh chapter advocates development of tools from neuroscience.

The book begins by exploring some fundamental questions concerning the relationship between language and politics, putting forward the idea that society, language and politics are closely intertwined. There cannot be any politics, as we know it, without language. The following chapters focus on key aspects of language in relation to political institutions, practices and ideologies: the interaction between speakers and hearers, the projection of different world-views, and the arousal of political emotions. The final chapters are devoted to historical examples of perennial political issues: racism, international conflict and the role of religion.

Written in a lively and engaging style with summaries and further reading to aid learning, this book provides an essential introduction to political discourse analysis for students of language, communication, politics sociology, international relations and applied linguistics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415314725
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/11/2003
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Paul Chilton is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University, Associate Member of the Linguistics Faculty, University of Oxford and Associate Fellow at the University of Warwick. His publications include Language, Space and Mind (2014), Religion, Language and the Human Mind (co-ed. 2018) and Brexitspeak: Demagoguery and the Decline of Democracy (2024).

Table of Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Foreword to the Second Edition

Preface

Acknowledgements

Part I: Political animals as articulate mammals

1. Politics and language

2. Language and politics

3. Interaction

4. Representation

5. Emotion

Part II: The domestic arena

6. Political interviews

7. Parliamentary language

8. Foreigners: ethnocentrism and racism

Part III: The global arena

9. Distant places

10. Worlds apart

11. The role of religion

Part IV: Concluding thoughts

12. Language and politics in the contemporary world

Appendix

Bibliography

Name Index

Subject Index

Editorial Reviews

'In just a short time, this book has become indispensable reading for those interested in the use of language in the world of politics; as much as for its clarity and readability as for the relevance of its theoretical paradigm for political discourse analysis.' - Suvremena lingvistika (Contemporary Linguistics)

'Analysing Political Discourse is provocative and offers readers a unique international perspective. The author's in-depth linguistic analyses of various contemporary samples of political discourse bring to light different mental representations of political thought and behavior. Given its broad scope, Analysing Political Discourse would be a valuable resource for researchers in the fields of discourse analysis, English, linguistics, sociolinguistics, and communication studies.' - Linguist List

'In just a short time, this book has become indispensable reading for those interested in the use of language in the world of politics; as much as for its clarity and readability as for the relevance of its theoretical paradigm for political discourse analysis.' - Suvremena lingvistika (Contemporary Linguistics)

From the Publisher