Critical Political Discourse Analysis of Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs' Speech at the 58th Munich Security Conference

Subject Areas : Applied Linguistics

Afsaneh Rahimi Tehrani ¹ , Azizeh Chalak ²

1 - Department of English, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - گروه انگلیسی، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد اصفهان (خوراسگان)، اصفهان، ایران

Received: 2021-08-04 Accepted : 2021-11-06 Published : 2022-10-01

Keywords: Modality in CDA, Pronouns in CDA, Critical Discourse Analysis, Political Discourse,

Abstract :

Critical Discourse Analysis is the analysis of ideology and power. It emphasizes obtaining the hidden meaning beyond a text and investigates how speakers/writers use the discourse power to take the readers’/listeners’ attention. The present study was a non-experimental descriptive one conducted in 2022 that investigated the salient linguistic features of the political speech of Iran’s minister of foreign affairs at the 58th Munich Security Conference to search for his political attitudes and ideologies. Fairclough’s CDA model was employed to investigate three interrelated analysis tactics and three dimensions of his discourse. The data were selected from this conference’s video and were examined to check the word choice, personal and plural pronouns I and We, and the modal verbs used. The findings showed that the Islamic Republic of Iran, Government, Iran, and relations were among the most frequently used words to show his ideology about his nation and people.Moreover, We was used more frequently than I to create a positive image for the country. Aware of the difference between the meanings conveyed through these two pronouns, the minister preferred to avoid self-representation or speaking about himself as an individual to prevent all the blaming on him. Considering the modal verbs, would was used more frequently than the others to express his opinion and wishes to show medium politeness in his speech. This study could have implications for practitioners in the field to increase critical thinking and raise awareness of learning and producing appropriate political language

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