The power of stance: Linguistic strategies in Donald Trump’s election campaign
Vol.18,No.2(2025)
Discourse and Interaction
Language is the primary tool for shaping public discourse and driving political engagement. This research investigates how Donald Trump, as a Republican candidate, manipulates power dynamics and persuades audiences by strategically employing stance features as language resources in his election speeches. The analysis relies on the transcripts from rev.com and applies Hyland’s (2005) stance framework. The study utilizes a mixed-method approach to analyze the frequency, function, and linguistic realization of specific linguistic features in Trump’s speeches. The balanced use of stance markers suggests a deliberate effort to project confidence, express emotions, and cultivate a particular image. The article concludes that Trump’s straightforward, emotional, and personal language style effectively communicates his ideas with clarity and conviction.
election; stance features; political discourse; Donald Trump; rally speeches
Olga Boginskaya
Irkutsk National Research Technical University
Olga Boginskaya is Doctor of Sci. (Philology), Full Professor at Irkutsk National Research Technical University, Russia. She specializes in professional discourse analysis and linguistic semiotics. She is presently involved in a study of interactional aspects of political and academic discourse.
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