WEEK FOUR: Donald Trump and the Language of Politics
How far did Trump present a change from the norm?
Trump 'advertised' himself as something different. He wanted to offer people a break from the 'swamp' of Washington (as he called it) and the political establishment. Despite his millions, he tried to present himself as an 'ordinary American', a man just like the millions of voters who had felt disenfranchised and unrepresented by the (as they viewed it) corruption of the 'political classes'. Interestingly, many people link the outcome of the UK's Brexit referendum to a similar trend.http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/brexit-eu-referendum-people-regretting-leave-vote_uk_5770e6b3e4b08d2c56397a46)
TASK: How did Trump use language in his speeches that was different to the 'political norm'? And what impact would you imagine this had on the voters/outcome?
Find the text of or watch three 'conventional' political speeches. Read them through and take note of the different types of language used (techniques, vocabulary, structure, content, audience etc.) Examples could be: David Cameron, Justin Trudeau, Theresa May, John Major, Margaret Thatcher, Peter Mandleson, Ed Milliband, Phillip Hammond, Jeremy Hunt
Then, find the text online or watch three of Trump's campaign speeches. How is his language use different or the same? What immediately stands out about his language? Why do you think he choose to use language in this way? What do you imagine/what does research show you to be the impact on voters?
*It might also be interesting to watch a speech by Jeremy Corbyn, who uses a combination of these two styles *
Comment below outlining what you have found from exploring Trump's language.
Several studies have identified a set of word categories that are associated with people telling the truth. For example, I-words (e.g., I, me, my) often signal that the person is speaking from the heart. Interestingly, when we listen to a person who uses authenticity language, we are more likely to believe them. They come across as more personal and understanding.
ReplyDeleteFrom the first debate over 18 months ago, Trump has consistently used words associated with authenticity at very high rates. Indeed, this is his appeal. He shoots from the hip and many people feel he is talking directly to them. Presidents have differed widely in the authenticity of their inaugural addresses. Presidents such as Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, surprisingly, gave straightforward addresses clearly laying out their thoughts. Other presidents such as Eisenhower and Truman were more distant and impersonal in their speeches. As shown in the figure below, Trump rivals George “I cannot tell a lie” Washington in his use of authentic language.
However, authentic language does not always mean honest or truthful. Trump has a long history of making up often-outlandish facts and talking about them with complete sincerity. His language suggests that he actually believes them.
Trump, then, may be objectively deceptive but his language reveals that he is generally an authentic individual. He says what he believes without trying to be evasive. He is quick to respond with his open and honest opinion; for Trump, there is no hiding behind rhetoric.
Trump’s inaugural address reflects his unorthodox campaign and likely signals the beginning of a different approach to the presidency. Trump continues to buck conventions and differentiate himself from the prototypical politician. His language in the campaign was a departure from the political norms. It is unsurprising that his first speech as president veered so far from the norms.
The language in Trump’s inaugural address matches his language from the election debates suggesting how he approached the campaign is likely to be how he approaches the presidency. Trump likely won’t change his style to appease critics or garner support; he simply is who he is: a straightforward individual who speaks his mind and relies on his gut instincts. Given this remarkable consistency of Trump’s language, the president will likely continue to be a unique political figure. This had a large effect on the voters as a change to the conventional political system would have encouraged people to vote for the new and exciting way that America is likely to be run.