Exploring Gendered Linguistic Strategies in White House Press Briefings: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Authority, Inclusivity, and Ideology

Subject Areas : All areas of language and translation

Ahmed Hamad Kareem ¹ , Sahar Najarzadegan ^{2 *} , Mahmood Kadir Ibrahim ³ , Fatinaz Karimi ⁴

1 - Department of English Languages, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
2 - Department of English Languages, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
3 - English Department, Baghdad, Imam Ja’afar Al-Sadiq University, College of Education, Kirkuk, Iraq
4 - Department of English Languages, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran

Received: 2024-11-23 Accepted : 2024-11-25 Published : 2024-08-13

Keywords: Gendered language, political discourse, Critical Discourse Analysis, pronouns, White House press briefings,

Abstract :

 

 

 

This study explores the gendered linguistic strategies employed in White House press briefings by spokespersons Sean Spicer and Karine Jean-Pierre. Through the application of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the research aims to identify distinct language patterns that reflect authority, ideology, and inclusivity. Through an analysis of pronouns, modal verbs, and specific lexical choices, this study highlights how gender inflects communication dynamics and power relations in the domain of political discourse. The findings also showed major differences in the languages used by both male and female spokespersons, evidencing the subtle ways in which gendered expectations shape public communication. Contemporary research on gender, hedging, assertiveness, and authority in political language supports these findings and is useful for contributions to sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and gender studies. The implications of such a study would further suggest that political communicators can benefit from heightened awareness of these language patterns to ensure the application of more inclusive and effective engagement strategies within the public sphere.

 

Contemporary research on gender, hedging, assertiveness, and authority in political language supports these findings and is useful for contributions to sociolinguistics, applied linguistics, and gender studies. The implications of such a study would further suggest that political communicators can benefit from heightened awareness of these language patterns to ensure the application of more inclusive and effective engagement strategies within the public sphere.

 

 

 

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